The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-01-27
The Signal Service and the Forecasts OF
the Weather.

the Weather.
The signal service was established by
the government in 1870 for the benefit of
commerce and agriculture, placed under
the supervision of the war department,
and in charge of the late illustrious Off
Ger, Brigadier-General Albert J. Meyer,
its creator, as the chief signal officer,
with headquarters at Washington, d. G.
At the death of General Meyer, General
William B. Hagan was appointed chief
signal officer and remained in charge
until Lieut.. A. w. Greeley relieved him.
Since then the service has made great
portance as an educator on meteorologi-
cal phenomenon. Its study has devel-
oped it's usefulness, and it's benefits, not
only to agriculture but to commerce.
The past year has shown to the seafaring
that its observance has not only saved
priceless lives, large number of vessels
'at the mouth of the Columbia river and
at Puget sound, but vessels were safely
moored for weeks through the forecasts
of terrible storms that were approaching
our shores the past year.
How can such predictions or forecasts
be made with such accuracy asks the
reader. The signal officer at San Fran
cisco which is the real head for this
coast is in telegraphic communication
with every signal officer on the Pacific
slope, and at p. NJ. every day receives
report of the days readings of the
barometer, thermometer, relative hu-
midity, direction and velocity of the
wind, from Spokane, Walla Walla, Boise
City and Baker City in the interior,
and Port Angeles, Olympia, Fort Candy,
Wash, Portland, Roseburg, Bandan,
Coos Bay, Or. Red Bluffs, Sacramento,
Los Angeles, San Diego, CAL, Virginia
City, Nevada and Salt Lake, Utah.
From these readings the center of calms,
of storms, of rain or snow, or cyclone, or
whatever the changes to be expected are
arrived at, and the forecasts are sent
out at O'Clock p. NJ. of each day
to all offices, except in some instances,
their application is made for morning
forecasts, for the benefit of the farming
districts.
No. 1, white flag, six feet square, in
dicates clear or fair weather. No. 2,
blue flag, six feet square, indicates rain
or snow. No. 3, black, triangular flag,
four feet at the base and six feet in
length, always refers to temperature
when placed above numbers1 or 2 it in
dicates colder weather; when not dis
played, the indications are that the tenn
perature will remain stationary, or that
the change in temperature will not vary
four degrees from the temperature of the
same hour of the preceding day. No.
4, white flag, six feet square, with black
square in centre, indicates the approach
of sudden and decided fall in temper
ature. The signal is not to be displayed
unless it is expected that the temper
ature will fall to forty-five degrees, or
lower, and is usually ordered at least
twenty-four hours in advance of the
cold wave. When number 4 is displayed,
number 8 is always omitted.
When displayed the signals should be
read downward.
INTERPRETATION OF DISPLAYS.
No. 1, alone, indicates fair weather,
stationary temperature.
No. 2, alone, indicates rain or snow,
stationary temperature.
No. 1, with No. 3 below it, indicates
fair weather, colder.
No. 2, with No. 8 above it, indicates
warmer weather, rain or snow.
No. l, with No. below it, indicates
fair weather, cold wave.
%
dicates warmer, fair weather, followed
by rain or snow.
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