Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-10-27
The Weather Bureau.

At the close OF the first quarters ser
vice since the weather bureau was trans
ferred from the War Department to the
Department OF Agriculture, the chief
Of the bureau, Prof. Mark W. Harring
ton presents a report TO Secretary kusk
showing what has been done to Improve
the service during this period. As was
to have been expected the transfer OF
the bureau has wrought decided
Improvement in its character and
methods. Professor Harrington en-
tered upon the discharge Of his duties
possessing a most admirable equipment
therefor. He has abundant energy,
enthusiasm and experience; and those
who were at all familiar with his work
at Ann Arbor, and his mastery editor
ship OF the American Journal of Meteor.
ology, pointed him out as the most fit
person for this important position, of any
one in this country
1t IL a satisfaction to US to know that
the kennebec JOURNAL was one OF the
first If not the very first paper in the
United States to suggest Prof, Harring-
tons name in this connection and to
urge his appointment upon the secre-
tary Of agriculture. The place is one
requiring high scientific qualitica-
lions for its performance, and these
are possessed by Prof. Harrington
In An eminent degree. The improve
ments which he has already inaugurated
In the administration OF his bureau, bid
fair to result in noticeable increase in
the efficiency and worth Of the re- organ
lied weather bureau. SO far from re-
sulting In any harm to the civil service,
the transfer Of the bureau already
has proved itself productive of
admirable results. Although but
three months have passed, says
Prof. Harrington in his report.
since the transfer of this important
branch OF public service to the depart
ment OF agriculture, numerous improve
ments have been made which have been
highly commended by those interested
in the work and which it is believed will
result in greater benefit to the country
at large. To meet the popular demand
for more detailed forecasts of weather
aud storms in vari us localities in the
several sections OF the country. the
observing force outside OF Washing
ton was reorganized Immediately after
the transfer by the appointment of local
forecast officials" provided for in the
appropriation bill; the appointee. In
every case, being selected from the most
experienced and competent observers Of
the service These officials were assigned
to duty at the larger cities of the coun
try, with authority to make predictions
for their stations and vicinity, giving the
weather more In detail than the Wash
ington forecasts, which they would
thus supplement and amplify. They
were instructed to make careful
study OF the climatology Of their re-
spective sections, both for their own use
as an aid in predicting and for publica-
ton for the Information of the public !:
and were directed to give particular at
tention 10 the effect Of the weather on
the principal crops at their various stag
es OF growth, so that they could include
in their forecasts reference to this all i'm
portant subject. The extent OF territory
for these local forecast officials, which
was at first confined to their stations
and immediate vicinity, has been ex-
tended in MANY cases, where the iucum-
bents, were considered competent, to
cover the whole state, or parts of states
nearest the station; and the restriction
Of the forecast to ~ hours was removed
to the extent of allowing them. especial
" In the harvest season, to predict the
weather for more than one day in ad
vance, when the meteorological condi
tons were so pronounced as to make
forecasts for so long a period in advance
reasonably certain OF verification.