The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-26
WATCHING THEWEATHER
THE WAY 1T Is DONE Up IN THE
BOARD OF TRADE BUILDING.


ers-A Basis to Estimate the Weather
for the Next Four Wseks-TakinR the
Observations How They Are Re-
duced to Bulletins.
Savannah TamabIs Befetter, johnson
Ormus. Ogitate Noboy."
This apparently unintelligible message
lay on the desk OF Weather Observer Smyth
up on the top OF the Board of Trade building
last night. 1t meant nothing TO the two or
three people who were there outside Of the
observer. But It was plain to the
chief observer, who picked It up
and read: Barometer 2992; wind
north; weather cloudy; "a of an
inch Of rainfall during the twelve hours pres
ceding the previous observation; trace OF
rain during past twelve hours; wind veloo-
| ity miles an hour; minimum temperature
| 500; dew point 49,; 10 of sky covered with
stratus OF clouds moving from the north"
In other words the message told the oon-
| ditions OF the weather st Savannah yester-
day morning to the oaief weather office in
| Washington. These words aud similar
ones, such as tomnody. webfoot. rummy,
rush. tomfool. soapbubble missus, nightmare,
Ninny, Nora, Daisy aud infant, occur daily
In the weather reports.
THE WEATHER NEXT MONTH.
Observer Smythe and his assistant
| have had a rush OF visitors in the last
| day or two, and the little office in the
| fifth story Of the Board Of Trade building
| has been besieged with inQuirers about the
weather. The observers have just finished
| compiling the averages of November
weather during the last twenty-one years
| as a basis for estimating what the
weather will be next month. It is believed
that these facts will prove Of interest to the
| public showing as they do the average and
| extreme conditions OF the more important
meteorological elements and the range
| within which such variations may be ex-
pected to keep during any corresponding
| month.
The mean or normal temperature for
| November ID $50. The warmest November
was that of 1890, with an average of 81 50.
| The coolest was that of 1872, with an aver
age OF $3.50. The highest temperature dur
| ing any November was S3e on the 18th,
1889. The lowest temperature was 22e, on
| the Both. 1872. The average date on which
| the first "killing" frost occurred is Nov, 30
Average rainfall for the month is 2. 10
inches. The average number Of days with
.0l OF an inch or more lie seven. The great
est monthly precipitation was IA inches in
1913. The least was ~ Of an inch in 1887 .
The greatest amount recorded In any TWEEN
ty-four consecutive hours was 2. rs inches on
Nov. 1919, 1879.
The average number Of cloudless DAYS Ia
II ; the average number of partly cloudy
days Is IL, and the average number of cloudy
days is s.
Tue prevailing winds have been from the
north. The highest velocity OF the wind
during any November was 30 miles on the
l7th In 1873; 18th and 14th 10 1888; 10th in
1889.
Taking these figures it Is possible to tell
| something as to the weather the coming
month.
HOW THE OBSERVATIONS ARE TAKEN.
The apparatus Of the Savannah station ts
as complete and probably more complete
than that of any station in the south. The
hours Of observation are from a. N. one
| day to q. m. the next, and during this time
| the weather men are on the alert making and
| sending reports OF the condition of the
weather. The word cipher has been found
| to be the most available in sending out dis
patches, as through this system one word
can be utilized in conveying more than one
condition and at times several figures.
In making out the report the observer fol-
lows the name and title OF the station with
a word including the barometer and Their
mometer readings. The second word gives
the direction OF wind, state of weather and
amount OF precipitation. il there be any.
The third word conveys the velocity OF the
wind and minimum or maximum temper
allure. The fourth word will give the dew
point; the fifth the amount Of clouds cover
ing the sky, their quality and direction, and
the sixth the wind and direction.
The code contains novels and consonants
indicative OF certain figures, direction or
class or clouds and weather characters.
River stations give besides q thorough re-
port Of the rise and fall and visible supply
OF water for purposes Of navigation, and
this is more valuable to the interests OF
shippers and boatmsn on the rivers south
and west where shallow courses are sub.
Jected to rapid changes ia depths due &c
many reasons.
THE WEATHER MAPS.
The weather maps are posted every
morning at the cotton exchange, board Of
trade, the custom house, postoffice. United
States engineers office, photographic office
the newspaper offices. hotels, the railroad
offices. and at the Barnard Street public
school, where a good deal OF interest Il
taken In them by the pupils through the In
struction of Principal Carson. The mapl
are also furnished large number OF firmi
: interested In shipping.
There have been many changes IN thu
work Of the bureau in the last year and G
half since Mark Harrington was made chief
The weather bureau established in 1870, wa
by the terms of the resolution placed under
the supervision Of the Secretary of War
and was required to furnish METEOROLOGICAL
the interior OF this country and TO afford
, means Of warning merchants, shippers
farmers and sailors along the upper lake re-
gion Of the approach of foul weather.
The Secretary of War placed this worl
= in charge Of the chief signal officer OF th
! army and the work Of organization began
Nov. l, 1870. and the first observations
were taken at twenty-four stations inter
changed and then teegraphed to Washing
: ton, completing the first days work in tn,
history of weather signal service
. That was twenty-five years ago, and nov
reports are received from ove- 800 points il
{ the states and along its northern and south
a ern borders.
{ A THOUSAND MEN.
Employed at these stations and at tn
clerical department in Washington, d. c.
! are numbered thousand souls and sine
the establishment Of Individual stations b
the various states the service has rapidly
approached a state OF perfection beyonC
which 1t would seem impossible to go.
= The instruments used in the service hav
q been perfected to a great extent, vas
number OF improvements made or new in
struments invented which tighten the labor
Of the observer and insure greater accuracy
aud rapidity.
Among these inventions is the ''sun re
. corder"-a delicate instrument which reg