The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-02
OUT OF TIE ARMY NOW.

Signal Observer Gorgas No Longer
a Sergeant, But a Private CITIZEN
Si1nal Observer Gorgas has been notified
If his transfer fror the war department 70
the weather bureau Of the agricultural de-
partment. He is sergeant" no longer
but IS simply private citizen. de Is Will
ing 70 dispense with title which was only
a title. however, because he Is no longer
compelled to obey al order transform ing
him from the frozen wastes OF North Da
kota TO the sweitering regions Oh the SouSn
Atlantic.
About 300 other observers and assistant OBJ
sarvars are transferred in like manner from
the war department TO the agricultural
deoartnent. This is in accordance with an
act of congress passed Oct. 2, 1871, 70
transfer the signal service corps from the
war to the agricultural department,
this being the department TO which II more
properly belonged, as its chief services at
present are rendered in giving Information
concerning the weather for the benefit OF
conmerce aud agriculture. Il IS now the
weather bureau of the agricultural depart
ment.
The connection Of the weather prophets
with the army has for some time appeared
rather remote TO the common mind. This
service, however, originated in the army
aUQ was COleUy uSSu az hlSt AOI kANAhS
signals az long distances. The observation
of the weather at the various signal stations
and the forecasts Of probable changes soon
became very important part of the work
aud was gradually extended, as its
benefits became apparent over the
whole country. These signal service
stations are not simply Of use for the in
formation they afford the localities in
which they are situated, but the weather
81 oil fr0T
a scientific standpoint. The scientist who
has the observations of the weather
throughout the whole country for a long
number Of years. is able 70 gain very
exact idea of the atmospheric conditions
and movements at the various seasons 10
this section Of the world.
About fifty Of the NEST skillful
observers will remain with the war
department and will form the
army signal service corps. Their work will
be mainly army signaling, consisting al
most altogether of heliograpic work, sys'
tenn Of sun signals by means Of mirrors, by
which communication can be established
between two points elevated above the sur
face of the surrounding country at dis
lance of forty to 100 miles apart. With
flash signals according TO the Morse tele-
graph code messages can be transmitted as
easily as by wire. Gen. A. w. Greeley
will remain in command of the army corps.
NJ. w. Harrington was yesterday APP
pointed chief of the weather bureau Of the
agricultural department. Mr.. Harrington
was editor>in,chief of the american
Meteorological Journal of Ann Arbor,
Mich, and director of the astronomical
observatory Of the Ann Arbor college.
NJ G.. Renno Of Albany, n. Y, has ar
rived, and is now engaged in assisting Mr..
Gorgas in the signal office in Ss-
vannah. He takes the place of Mr.. benson
who was promoted to position at Albany.
The daily weather reports for the MORNING
News will now be resumed. These reports
form a most interesting feature of the
paper and are looked for with q great deal
of interest by most Of the readers of the
paper, especially those interested in cotton
and other CROPS