Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-17
WEATHER.
The Next Storm Wave Leaves
the Pacific September "a.
NOTABLE WEATHER EVENTS.
The Newspapers VIII Have Big Heads
Relating to September Weather
Befor the Month Has
Passed.
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
ST. JosEPH. Mo, Sept. l2-My last let
ter gave forecasts OF the storm wave due to
cross the continent from September ) to
Il, and the next will be due to leave the
Pacific coast about the 18th, cross the
Rocky-Allegheny valley from the 18th to
18th, and reach the Atlantic coast about the
18th. II will be at its greatest force in the
Eastern states about the 18th or 18th, when
1t will make record as more than an or
binary storm. Destructive frosts will fol-
low this storm, especially i'll the Western
states. and viii reach much further South
than is usual Ion the time of YEAR This
storm wave and the one following it will be
what has been popularity termed equinOc
tial storms, as they will occur when the
earth is near its eQuinOctial. Not the great
est storms Of the year, but notable weather
events were calculated for September, and
| will be greatly surprised not to see long
accounts in the newspapers, with display
heads, relating notable weather events.
i WEATHER AND SCIENCE NOTES.
| have now completed all arrangements
for giving lessons in meteorolOgy by mail
These lessons will be given to individuals
or clubs at $50 for thirteen lessons. In
4 club of five this will cost the members
only 30 cents each. No person must be ad-
l.littcd into these clubs who is not q SUP
scriber to this paper, and each must keep a
file of my published weather letters. Each
lesson will consist of weather map, two
astronomical illustrations and letter of
special instructions. | have good num-
Der of subscribers to begin with and men,
bers can begin the studies at any time in
the future.
My long range weather forecasts have
stood the test for a number of years, and
many persons, especially those interested
i'll agriculture, fruit railing, coal mines. ice
houses, etc, are in favor of adding this
feature to the national weather bureau. |
would not desire to make the offices OF the
national weather bureau responsible for my
theories of weather changes because they
know nothing about the principles upon
which my forecasts are based, and for the
same reasons | would not accept any posi-
ton in the weather bureau that would pre-
vent me from freely presenting my views.
l am not begging the people OF the United
States for government support, and | will
enter into no log-rolling scheme for that
purpose. My work is giving me Il good
support and | am not dissatisfied with my
efforts and opportunities. But there would
be some advantages to the public and
toward perfectlng system Of long range
weather forecasts i'll establishing a bureau
of agricultural metreorolOgy. / estimate
that such a bureau can be put into opera
ton at an expense of 1000 annually. One
man cannot cover all the ground and give
to the subject that careful study necessary
to perfect the system and make il of practi-
cal utility 20 all interests. There are three
natural divisions of labor i'll these long
range forecasts. and each of these divisions
should have man at its head peculiarly
fitted for the work. One of these depart
mentS includes the periodical storm waves
that cross continents, the changes of the
weather accompanying them and the cold
waves, hot waves and frostS. Another de-
partmenJ would include rainfall and
drouths and d third department would give
special attention to plant life, making
estimates of the effects that coming weather
will have on the growing crops of the
world. If we could know the future of the
weather, farmers would better know
what kind of crops to plant.
In order to make this bureau of
agricultural meteorology accountable
directly to the people, and prevent
it from becoming tool in the
hands of cereal spectators, | propose that
its chief be elected biennially by the lower
house of congress, and that the chief APP
point his clerk and two assistants. Should
such a bureau be established. would prob
ably be candidate for the first place, and
Professor Blake of Topeka, Kan, would be
my choice for the department of rainfall
and drouth. He is remarkably well
man on these subjects. besides be-
ing a man of very considerable ability in
ment of plant life would be Professor Man
sill of Rock Island Ill. He is well informed
in astronomy, meteorology, geology and
chemistry, and would be valuable man in
that work.
This bureau would use the information
gathered by the the present weather
bureau, and as it would not make daily
weather predictions. there would be no
conflict between it and the weather bureau
officials. Let the latter pursue their work.
At most there could only be a rivalry be-
tween the two systems. and the public
would soon determine which can furnish
the most valuable weather forecasts.
Melbourne, the Australian weather
maker, has moved his operations to the
Western arid regions. / cannot intelli-
gently discuss his efforts for want of infor- |
nation, which he has not yet given the |
public l have not doubted that rainfall |
may be produced both by explosions and by |
the discharge of gases into the atmosphere. |
but there is a serious question, because of |
the expense, as to either of these being |
practical From the published descriptions |
of Melbourne's efforts. he must use some |
kind of gas which either greatly expands |
in coming in contact with the atmosphere |
Or that causes the atmosphere to rapidly |
contract Expansion and condensation are |
the means used by nature as the origin of |
force, and the rain-makers must necessarily |
adopt one of the two. / can only say that |
Melbourne should have every opportunity |
and encouragement to show his theories to |
be practical. w. I. FOSTER.