The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1891-07-03
NOW UNDER UNCLE JERRY
WEATHER BUREAU TRANSFERRED
TO AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
Genef al Greedy Retires - Secretary Rusk
Outlines His Plans and Appoints Pro-
TessOr Mark W. Harrington as Chief.

General Greedy Ketires - Secretary kusk
Outlines His Plans and Appoints Pro-
Eessor Mark W. Harrington as Chief.
for of the weather bureau from the war
department to the agricultural depart
ment, under an act Of the last congress,
took place this morning. General Greedy
then relinquished the duties as chief of the
bureau, and Secretary Rusk assumed them
on behalf of the department of agricul-
ture The secretary was asked for state
ment of his views and intentions regard
ing the future conduct of the weather bu-
reau, and, referring to his last report to
the president he pointed out the following
passage:
deem it evident from the discussion which
attended the passage of the act, and from the
wording of the act itself, that in making this
transfer OF the weather bureau to this depart
ment, 1t was the intention of congress that the
work of the bureau should be extended in so
far as might be necessary to full cO-opera-
tion of this branch of the service with the
work of the several divisions already estab-
lished in this department for the benefit of
agriculture, without in any way restricting it's
general scope
He added that he proposed to carry out
to the full, as he understood it, the OBJ
jects which congress had in view in trans
ferring the bureau to the department of
agriculture. The secretary said that he
could see great many ways in which
meteorological science could be made
helpful and cooperative with many of the
present divisions of the department and he
believed that in course of time his expecta-
ton can be fully realized. In the mean
time he proposes to perfect as much as
possible the prompt dissemination Of the
weather forecasts throughout the agricul-
tural districts, and one of his first efforts
will be directed to the accomplishment of
this purpose. He declares himself, how
ever, fully impressed with the fact that
the work of the meteorological service of
the United States government
Must Go Far Beyond Il
the mere forecasting of the weather, and
be 30 extended as to include thorough in
into the climatic conditions
of the various sections nf - coun-
Try, In order that Al khawl-
sdge Of them and Co. effScts
upon plant growth should be available for
The farmers. Whatever reorganization Of
The bureau and its personnel becomes |
with it's transfer to the depart
ment of agriculture will, therefore, be in |
line with the ideas thus expressed.
The first official act under the new dis |
pensation was the appointment of the |
new chief, Professor Mark w. Harrington |
of Michigan. Professor Harrington is now
and has been for the last twelve years
professor of astronomy in the University
Of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and editor of
The American Meteorological journal,
and is man of about 43 years of age He
is regarded as An accomplished student of
and climatic problems He
was graduated in 1868 at the University of |
Michigan. In 1871 he was acting as as
of the United States coast |
survey on the coast of Alaska. After this
be returned to the University of Michigan,
acting as instructor in the biological de-
partment. In 1876 Professor Harrington
went to Germany to pursue his studies, re-
naming in Europe about two years.
While in Europe he was offered the posi-
sion of professor of astronomy and mathe-
matics in the school of the Chinese
foreign Office at Pekin, and as director of
the observatory there he introduced into
China the first large telescope which had
been seen in that country. In 1878 he ac-
cepted the professorship of biological
science in the Louisiana State university.
He returned to Ann Arbor in 1S79 taking
the position which he has held up to the
present date. st