The record-union., 1891-01-20
STATE WEATHER BUREAU.

In June, 1889, the RECoRD-UNIoN con-
sidered at length the subject of a State
Weather Bureau, and at that time was
favorably impressed with the idea of such
systems and their usefulness to the pro-
ducers of the country, and asked the peo-
pie to think upon the subject. We
then stated that score of States had
the matter under consideration of estab-
fishing their bureaus, and many already
had them in operation. Two of these are
on this coast-Oregon and Nevada. Since
that time intelligence upon the subject
has much broadened and the high value
of State meteorology has been more gem
orally confessed.
In April, 1889, the State of New York
established Meteorological Bureau and
Weather Service. The first annual report
of this bureau is before us, and is of 100
compact pages of profound interest. 1t is
wholly volunteer service, and for the
first year cost New York but Sl,737 a.
In view of what it has already accom-
plished this sum is insignificant.
The bureau reports that it accomplished
in its first year far more than was ex-
pected, and that now it has bought the
necessary instruments, established its
correspondence, located it's stations and
got all its machinery in order, it is certain
to wonderfully enlarge its usefulness in
the study of climate, agricultural produc-
ton, capacities of soils, profitable cult
ures, etc. and in giving weather warn
ings of inestimabie value. One of the es-
pecially interesting features about its
work was the hearty cooperation with it
of the National Signal Service, which
furnishes blanks, postage, instruction
books and the like free of cost to the
State.
1t is impossible in the limits of this ar
ticle to even sketch the report to show
with any fullness how the New York Bu-
reau operates; how it sends out its pre-
dictions, gathers its statistics, conveys
information to the people in emergencies,
secures unsaiaried observers, interests
other volunteer aid, receives and dissem-
mates the national reports, prepares and
publishes its weekly bulletins of crop
conditions in every county, systemati-
cally collects data and sends abroad in
formation derived therefrom of highest
value to farmers, horticulturists, ento-
mologists, viticulturists, biologists and
others.
In Iowa the State Bureau saved horti-
culturists from further embarkation in
the introduction of Russian apples for
cultivation, under the belief that the
Iowa climate and that of the apple belts
of Russia were alike in climate and soil.
BY its exposure of the error the bureau
saved Iowa horticulturists in one year
more than the service will cost the State
in ten years. Missouri has, through her
bureau, secured the Inauguration of
new industry calling for very heavy
money investments, that but for the Bu-
reau would never have been made.
The New York Bureau says it has
great quantity of testimony on file from
the people, from agricultural societies,
the press and scientific bodies, justifying
its existence and confessing its great use
fulness. One instance is given in which
by information sent out the farmers of
the State were able to do work that saved
crops which had been given up for lost.
The cordiality and freedom with which
the National Weather Service Company
operates with the State service is stated
in strong terms, and the value of such
aid confessed-indeed, Without it the
State service would be of but very limited
usefulness.
The States that have established local
Weather Bureaus are Alabama, Arkansas.
Colorado, Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ne
braska, New Jersey, Nevada, North Caro-
lima, Ohio, Oregon. Pennsylvania
South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
BY the bill of Mr.. Robertson it is
now proposed to extend the roster
by adding California. The bill
provides that the service shall be super
vised by the Director of the State Agri-
cultural Society. The central station to
be at Sacramento, with Chief, an assist
ant and q Sub-Director, the first to be the
Secretary of the State Agricultural So