, 1892-11-07
THE NEW DIRECTOR.
Mr.. AIciatore VIII Re-organize the
Weather Bureau.
Many improvements for the SER
vice--A Bill Providing For the
support of the State Bureau--
Some of Its Advantages.

] " Us NJ
Mr.. Henry F. Alciatore, of the depart
ment of agriculture, and successor to the
late E B. Olney, as director of the Wash
ington weather service, who has arrived here
from Portland, Oregon, where he was
chief clerk of the Portland office, proposes
to thoroughly reorganize and improve the
Washington weather bureau.
The Washington service, as it now
stands, numbers but 3S stations, scattered
throughout the state. These have all been
equipped with the necessary meteorologi-
cal instruments at great expense by the
national service. At a number of places
in the state, weather flags are displayed
by voluntary observers, announcing the ex-
pected changes in the weather conditions
for periods from "a to Y hours in advance.
On the coast the national bureau maintains
a system of storm warning stations for the
benefit of the shipping and marine inter
ests.
The number of stations now in operation
in this state is comparatively small and
owing to the limited means at the disposal
Of the national service for furnishing, free,
the necessary instruments and flags for the
equipment OF state weather stations in,the
different states of the union, it has not
been practicable to increase the number
of voluntary stations in Washington.
This, however, can be done, and the use.
tulness of the present state weather SER
vice greatly enhanced if the state will only
meet the national service half way by ap-
propriating a certain amount every year
for its support
"It is my intention" said Mr. Alciatore
To- - L. 49, IL.
this state asking for the enactment of
law creating a state weather bureau and
providing for its support"
"As to some of the many advantages to
be derived from the establishment of state
bureau l will mention the following: 1t
will be means Of securing better forecasts
by having local data to study in connection
with storm movements. 1t brings the
benefits of the weather bureau into every
county of the state by having the flag sys-
tenn OF displays to warn the people of COM
ing weather changes. 1t will give to every
county standards of temperature, rainfall,
ETC., sources of useful information at all
times. 1t places within reach of local agri-
cultural societies means of accurate Obser-
vatiOns, which in the course of years must
prove ofgreat value in the study and adapt
alton of cereals. 1t brings the science and
methods OF the weather bureau into the
schools of the state, teaching pupils the ap-
pucatlOn OF science IN fostering and pro-
tecting agricultural industries. 1t leads to
collection of rainfall statistics that are in
valuable to engineers IN the drainage of
cities and towns, and to a correct knowl-
edge of rainfall over certain watersheds of
state.
1t leads to obtaining accurate meteoro-
logical statistics for legal cases, and will
lead to better practice of medicine when
physicians can study disease with reliable
and accurate meteorological facts by
their side, and for sanitary purposes such
records are of priceless value in applying
preventive remedies for the public good.
1t does away with dishonest speculation
at the expense of the farmer by furnishing
correct reports of the weather and crops
throughout the entire state in its system of
weekly crop bulletins which are furnished
to all interested, free of charge.
Mr.. Alciatore has been on state weather
service work now for some six years and
has served in Louisiana, Texas and has had
charge OF the Nevada weather service in
1889. He is an enthusiast on the subject
and as director of the Washington weather
service will spare neither time nor energy
In endeavoring to make this service one Of
the finest and most useful in the coun-
try.