The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-09-17
FOSTERS FORECASTS.
a STORM WAVE TO CROSS THE CONT
NENT ON THE FOURTEENTH.
Mr.. Foster Gives His Opinion on the Methods
and Theory of Melbourne, the Well
Known Australian Rairmaker,
Now is this Country.


!
September Sth to 18th, and the next
will be due to leave the Pacific coast
about the 14th, cross the Rocky-Alle
gheny valley from 18th to 18th, ano
reach the Atlantic coast about the
18th. 1t will be at its greatest force il
the eastern states about 18th or 18th
when it will make i record as more
than an ordinary storm. Destructive
frosts will follow this storm, especially
in the western states, and will reach
much further south than is usual fol
the time of year. This storm wave
and the one following it will be what
has been termed equinOctial storms as
they will occur when the earth is neal
its equinoctial. Not the greatest
storms of the year, but notable
weather events were calculated for
September and will be greatly sur
prised not to see long accounts in the
newspapers, with display heads, re-
lating notable weather events.
WEATHER AND SCIENCE NOTES.
| have now completed all arrange
ments for giving lessons in meteoro-
logy by mail. These lessons will be
given to individuals or clubs at $3.50
for thirteen lessons. In club Of five
this will cost the members only 30
cents each. No person must be adj
mitted into these clubs who is not a
subscriber TO this paper and each
must keep file OF my published
weather letters. Each lesson will con-
sist of weather map, two astronomi-
cal illustrations and letter Of special
instructions. | have good number
of subscribers to commence with and
members can begin the studies at any
time in the future.
NV long range weather forecasts
have stood the test for number of
years and many persons, especially
those interested in agriculture, fruit
raising, coal mines, ice houses, etc,
are in favor Of adding this
feature to the national weather
bureau. | would not desiret to make the
officers Of the national weather bureau
responsible for my theory 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
prevent me from freely presenting my
views. l am not begging the people
of the United States for government
support, and | enter into no lOgroll-
ing scheme for that purpose. My
work is giving me a good sup
port, and | am not dissatisfied
with my efforts and opportunities.
But there would be some advantages
to the public, and toward perfecting Il
system of long range weather fore
casts iii establishing bureau of agri-
cultural meteIOlogy. | estimate that
such Il bureau can he put in operation
at an expense of $4,000 annually.
One man cannot cover all the ground
and give to the subject that careful
study necessary to perfect the system
and make it of practical utility to all
interests.
There are three natural divisions Of
labor in these long range forecasts,
and each of these divisions should
have man at its head peculiarly
fitted for the work. One of these de-
partments includes the periodical
storm waves that cross the con-
tinents, the changes of the weather
accompanying them and the cold
waves, hot waves and frOstS. Another
department would include rainfall
and drouths, and a 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 ag-
ricultural meteorology accountable di-
rectly to the people and prevent it
from becoming tool in the hands of
cereal spectators, l propose that its
chief be elected biennially by the
lower house of congress and that the
chief appoint his clerk and two assis-
tants.
Should such bureau be established
I would probably be a candidate for
the first place, and Prof. Blake of
Topeka, Kas., would be my choice for
the department of rainfall and drOuth.
He is a remarkably well informed
man on these subjects, besides being
a man of very considerable ability in
other matters. My choice for the de-
partment of plant life would be Prof.
Mansill of Rock Island, Ill. He is
well informed in astronomy, meteor
olOgy, geology and chemistry, and
would be u valuable man in that
work.
This bureau would use the informa-
ton gathered by 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 lat
ter pursue their work. At most there
could only be Il rivalry between 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 tC
the Western arid regions. | cannot
intelligently discuss his efforts fol
want of information which he has moi
yet given the public. 1 have not
doubted that rainfall may be pro