The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-04
WEATHER BUREAU.
Perfect Organization of the
Signal Service.
SYSTEM or CIPHER REPORTS.
study OF the Barometer, Thermometer
wind and Rain Gaages-Tempera-
ture Of the Water.


occupation. The science Of the weather is
not new one. From the earliest writings
We have information concerning weather
lore. From the Bible we have weather
proverbs, and this has been carried down
10 the present day. The crude system Of
observation made by the ancients was
gradually improved upon. One instrument
followed another. until today we have all
phases of the weather recorded automat-
ieally. 1t was left to the United
States to develop the system of
weather observation and reports and to
give to the world an impetus for further.
wider and more extended investigation
as TO the law of storms and their
movements. On February o, $50, a reso-
luton was passed by congress TO provide
for taking meteorological observations,
with view to giving notice by telegraph
and signals of the approach and force of
storms" This was the nrst legislation OF
the United States COVE rnment inaugural
ing a national weather service. The pecu-
liar geographical extension Of the country,
stretching over fifty-seven degrees of lon
gitude and twenty-five of latitude, af-
forded exceptional advantages for investi-
eating and predicting the storms which
cross its broad area; for experience and OBJ
servation has shown that they generally
move from west to east; but the vast extent
of the storm-neld, coupled with the fact
that the law of storms was then but
roughly outlined, made the execution of
their task very difficult and tedious
work, calling for great caution and the
most accurate observation. Espy, Red
held, Loomis and Ferree, in the United
States, as well as many distinguished me-
teorologists abroad, had investigated the
general laws of storms, but their demon
stration on the wide continental l4eld OF
America, as well as the discovery of many
details affecting their practical application
to weather prediction, awaited further,
more extensive and more exact research.
On November 4, 1870, the Lrst weather
bulletin in the United States was issued.
On that day, at twenty-four stations IN the
United States, systematized simultaneous
observations of the weather by trained sig
nal service observers were first taken and
telegraphed to the central Office at Wash
ington City. These attempts to introduce
the novel system of practical weather
telegraphy were vigorously followed up,
and the success realized so early in the
operation of the service was gratifying 10
the pubic in general From this has
grown the present organization of the sig
nal service, composed of 500 persons and
lis stations, besides which nearly every
state has local organization, known as
the state weather bureau, which cooper
ates with the national service, and which
has collectively more than 1000 voluntary
observers. Twenty years work has
changed the superstition into facts or has
cast them aside. SO that the work is no
longer experimental, but it has been for
years very practical
The primary work of the weather bu-
reau is the forecasting of the weather and
giving notice of the approach of storms TO
mariners and others interested. Within
the past ten years the forecasting of the
approach of cold waves, so destructive to
produce, and uncomfortable as well as
dangerous TO the human race has been sue
cessfully carried on. The gauging of
rivers and giving notice of their probable
rise also forms an important factor IN the
work of the signal service.
Within the past eight years there has
been inaugurated system OF weather
crop reports which, during the growing
season. are issued weekly, giving the gen.
eral weather condition during the past
week. its effect on crops, together with
become one of the most popular features
of the work of the weather bureau. The
various observations, reports and statistics
collected by the weather bureau are pub
lished each month, giving IN permanent
form concise statements of facts, which
prove of value to the student who Is in
vestigating for the benent of science and
humanity and for the American practical
plan Of advertising the climate and pro-
duction OF the various sections for the pur-
pose of attracting immigration.
The amount of work involved 10 get at
the facts which are presented to the people
is truly stupendous. Seif-registering in
struments carry on the continuous records,
but they need frequent attention and COM
parison with standard non-self-registering
instruments. When the night comes on
the average citizen nnds rest and comfort
at his home, while the practical weather
observer works away in the lonely hours,
with pencil and paper, making notes OF
the ever varying weather conditions.
Promptness, accuracy and reliability are
the indispensable adjuncts 10 the success
full weather observer. While the work can
not be said TO be laborious, still the con-
slant routine, the same carefuiness in
taking obsery atoms. the compilation of re-
ports all tend to make the life of q con-
scientious weather observer one of some
labor. There are but two legitimate causes
which Will excuse the regular observer
from taking observations on time, and they
are sickness and death.
Ii was found that the best results were
obtained from simultaneous observations,
and in order TO utilize their value and
furnish 10 the people that information de-
rived. they or some of them must be tele-
graphed 70 a central point and there pre-
pared for deductions. The central office
for the national weather bureau is st
Washington City, and 10 that point every
regular Office of the signal service tele-
granhs the observations made daily at S
a. III. and p, m. - dogs. meridian time,
or ) a. m. and 5 y. M. PACING coast time.
From these telegraph reports the forecasts
are issued, which are published In the
daily morning and evening papers
The observations are teIegraphed in a
cipher code. which code answers two
purposes. lessening cost for telegraph
service and insuring accuracy. 4 tele-
graphic report consists. AZ each station,
of from ave 70 nine words, which conveys
the atmospheric pressure, the temperature,
the maximum or minimum temperature
the dew point, the direction of the wind
the velocity of the wind. the highest yeloc-
i;y since the preceding observation, the
amount. kind and direction Of the clouds
the amount Of rain or snow fall and the
state of the weather. The cipher is made
of ordinary words. The values are OBJ
| tanned from the vowels and their immedi-
ate preceding consonsnts, and also from
the position of the word in the message
\ cipher report Is like the following:
Oregon The name Of the station, Fort
- E<-4 eves~ IA s.wn