Telegram-herald., 1891-03-23
IT COSTS A MILLION
To Support the Weather Bureau Of
the United States.
THE AGRICULTURAL NErEOROLoCY
Foster Gives the Governments some yaIa-
able Suggestions ia Regard 10 the Di-
sisiSa OF the seryics into UssTui
Departments
Special TO the T.lssA.4Hsz.LD.


SF. J0sEPH, Mo-. March 2i.-My last
letter gave dates and other forecasts OF
the last great storms OF March due To
cross the continent from 24th 10 2sth.
These storm waves cause all the
changes OF the weather, including the
winds and their changes, the cool
weather and cold waves, the warm
DAYS, frosts. rain, hail. snow, sleet and
wnen their tracks continue far to the
north great drouths result. | can not
explain all the effects OF the storm
waves IN every letter. and TO secure the
full benefits of these forecasts the
reader must study my science notes
and discussion on the beginnings OF cre-
alton and the physical forces. A scrap
boob of these articles would be conyen-
lent for reference.
The next period of weather disturb
ances Will inaugurate the great rain
storms, which occur about every fifty
two days, covering a period of about
two weeks-April 10 Ii. The storm
wave that Will start this ram period
Will be due TO leave the Pacific coast
about March 80, cross the great valley
ftom March 81 10 April =, and reach
the Atlantic coast about the Sd. The
storms of April will all be severe, both
from minor causes and the effect of
the powerful electric currents from tine
equators of Saturn and Jupiter, which
viii begin to have light effect on our
earth. Mercury will pass the suns
equator on April 2. and the influence
OF Venus, which will have crossed the
suns equator on the 2Sth of March,
Will extend to this first April storm,
and Il will be of more than average
force. lt Will effect most parts of the
United States. causing great
variety OF weather, but the low bar
ometer, with its accompanying gales,
Is expected 10 cross the continent
through the northern part OF the
United states
Agricultural Meteorolosy.
July / the weather bureau of the
United States VIII pass from the de-
partment of the Secretary of War to
the Agricultural Department, and
under the general supervision OF Secre-
make this change in hopes that Agri-
cultural meteorology viii at least re-
ceive recognition. The weather bu-
reau Is costing over a million of dollars
annually, and "a IL has been recording
the weather for more than twenty
years, the agriculturaiists feel that the
data that has been gathered should be
made use of in developing that branch
of the science which will give the farm
ers some Of the benefits OF the expendl-
ture.
Agricultural meterology may be di-
vlded into two parts, the effect OF the
weather on plant life and long range
forecasts. Those who speculate largely
in cereals employ weather experts whose
business IT IS, every day, to estimate the
effects of the weather on the growing
crops of the world so that the specula-
tor may know how to operate his busi-
ness These weather experts have ac-
cess to the weather reports at all times
and heavefrosts, destructive hailstorms.
great ram falls with their probable ef-
fects on the crops are known to the
Spectators long before the news can
rearch the producers and those experts
NAV, for speculative purposes, MI srep-
resent the effects of these weather
chsnges in the interest of the specula-
tors. There should be suitable de-
partment of agricultural meteorolcgy
that would study the relation OF plant
life and the weather in the interest OF
agriculture.
Causes of Drouth and Rain.
BY careful investigation, using the
record of the weather made by the
weather bureau, We ought TO discover
the causes of drouth, excessive rairs.
destructive storms, wet years, dry
years. etc. If tins cannot be accom-
plished what good is there In the twenty
wears of weather records that have
been made at enormous expense? And
II some of our professional meteorolO
gsts had the opportunity they would
soon demonstrate that the causes oi
these weather changes may be known
and their dates correctly foretold. The
time has certainly come when the
weather bureau must demonstrate IL
utility to agriculture or 60 down. ano
il can only do this by establishing sr
agricultural department in the weather
service with some competent meteorolo
gist ut ia head.
This will not Interfere with Genera
Greeley's work, Il he should be mad,
chief OF the weather bureau. The worI
now beng done by that bureau should
continue. They have a tornado de
partnent with Lieutenant Finley at IL
head. and why not a department. o
agricultural meteorolgy' An expendI
tnre OF $4,000 year out of the s. 600.
GOO appropriated would he ample a.
starter for the fret year of this worl
and the bureau would better retrencl
IN some other direction than 20 wholly
ignore this universal demand OF tn
arr.,.ttltural sfates