The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-12
STATE WEATHER BUREAU.
4 Letter from Capt. Dunwoody Regarding
Annual Appropriation.


Annual Appropriation.
The following letter has been received by
Major Richard Y. Gaines from the United
states Signal Office with reference 10 the
State Weather Bureau
am directed bY the Chief Signal Officer
10 acknowledge receipt Of your c0mmunica-
ton Of a recent date. and in reply to your
inquiry relative tO the amount OF annual
appropriation for the maintenance Of this
service, enclose copy of the Chief Signal
Officers annual report for the year 1881,
which contains "a table showing the amount
appropriated for each branch Of the work.
The Signal Service maintains bat two reg
ular stations in \irginia-Lynchburg and
Norfolk.
The voluntary stations ia the state are as
fOllOwss
Bolar, Birdsnest, Christiansburg, Dale
Enterprise, Lexington. Liberty Middle
town. MossingiOrd. NOttowaY. Petersburg.
Richmond, Smithhcld, Spottsyille. summit
University Of Virginia. WythcNille
The voluntary stations are usually sup
piled with thermometers and rain-gaugcs.
The Signal Service does not attempt 10 or
ganile state services without cooperation
from State officials, or the officials Of col
legcs or local societies of the state. The
duties Of the Signal Service are more espe-
cially 20 give warning Of approaching
storms 20 commercial, agricultural and ma
rine interests. and 90 issue forecasts Of the
weather for the country. The aid of yOun-
tary observers has been called in 90 assist
the service 10 better perform the duties re-
quired and 90 aid in the study OF climate
conditions. The number Of voluntary sta
tions in Virginia is not sufficient. and the
aid Of the state is required 40 perfect the
local system, and also 90 enable the citizens
of the state 10 obtain more benefit from the
general weather service by a proper Organi-
cation for the distribution Oi the frost and
other warnings In the agricultural REGIONS.
a large number Of States have already
established local services, and they derive
much benefit from them, and as ] stated IN
ms previous communication. Virginia may
Doe greatly benefited by such system Of
observations.
This service has no finds available for
the organization Of State services, although
the chief signal officer is willing 90 cooper
ate i'm furnishing forms. instructions and
instruments for taking observations, Dut be
Is not prepared tO publish the state bullo-
tins which should DE under the control Of
state officials who should issue special
weekly reports during the growing season
for the benefit of the farmers Of the state.
and regular monthly bulletin for the study
Of the climate of the State. ] am, very re-
spoctfully. II. II. G. Dunwoody, Captain,
Fourth artillery. signal officer and assis-
tant.
The appropriations for 1857 were: OBJ
seryatiOn and report Of storms. S26i.3jO; re-
pair telegraph lines. S2i,Oo0; Signal Service.
United State, army. $1,000.
The expenditures for 1887 We're: lnstru-
ments, $1,000; telegraph reports, Sl2o,
600: expense Of storm signals, $4,000;
cotton region reports, $1,000; liie-saying
stations. $3.50: shelters $1,000: reef out
side Washington. $4,000; river and fl0Odre-
port. $1,000: maps and bulletins. $4,000:
Cape Charles-ilenry cable, $4,000.