The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-21
A WEATHER STATION.
THE PROPOSED REMOVAL or THE
CENTRAL OFFICE TO kICHaOyD.
A Plan of Cooperation Between Virginia
and the United States In Which this
City Could rrohtably Take "A Hand.

station, and has never made an effort
to secure the location Of one in this
city
There now seems TO be a chance Of
securing such station in this city il
little interest and cooperation is
shown.
For some time the State Department
| Of Agriculture. recognizing the Importance
| OF the weather bureau service 10 the
| agriculture OF the State, mas co-operated
with the Bureau in the distribution Of
its reports. appropriating so per month
for that purpose These reports have
been sent out from the Central Virginia
office at Lynchburg. They are based on
| reports OF observation received from
| voluntary observers all over the State, as
well as the regular stations, and while
the reports are very satisfactory the
! facilities for their distribution are limit
| ed and Il is proposed 10 move the CEN
| trail Office 10 this city where better
| facilities may be secured
In this move the State Department OF
! Agriculture IS co operating with the
weather bureau, and II is proposed that
! If the central Office is moved to Rich
| mond, that the State Department Of
| Agriculture will pay for the printing Of
| the reports. and the weather bureau will
mail them in the government official en-
/ velopes relieving the State Of that
expense now Incurred. and admitting Of
! larger circulation al q nominal cost
s commentator.
The annual report Of Mr.. J. N. Ryker,
assistant director in charge Of the cen
| trail caice in Lyme hburg, for the year
/ Of
| Weather Bureau at Washington, says:
1.-THE next ses sion Of the Virginia Legis-
lature. it is expected, Will pass bill
| making an annual appropriation for the
Virginia weather service. In order 10 pro-
vide for a largely increased issue OF the
| mtnthly and weekly reports, and for
furnishing instruments and instrument
shelters TO voluntary observers.
Since the attention OF the assistant d.
rector was called TO the subject by the
present assistant chief OF the Weather
Bureau. Of the desirability Of having the
central office at Rlchmord, additional
thought has been given thereto, and It
IS believed that the service could be
much improved, and its usefulness great
~ enlarged IL IL were located at that
point where the other State offices are.
"If q regular weather bureau station
were opened at Richmond, Va, ana the
central office of this service removed
thereto. much greater local use would
he made Of the daily reports. Inc Klch-
mond papers are more wide awake ana
more readily give space TO such data ana
reports. and IL IS thought that the report
could be more easily disseminated To the
public from that point; certainly we could
thus secure better cooperation with the
state Board of Agriculture in the coiiec-
ton Of weather crop data and the wider
distribution Of the bulletins.
"Ohice rooms in Richmond could posi-
bly, be secured without expense I'm the
government building or new City Hall or
the new Chamber Of Commerce building
Ea6orsed by the Roard.
The State Board Of Agriculture, at its
last meeting, endorsed the above report
and instructed the commissioner, Colonel
Thomas Whitehead, 10 give any assist
ance in his power towards carrying out
its recommendations.
Colonel Whitehead wrote 10 chief Har-
rington, OF the weather bureau at wash
iugton, and received from him reply in
which he said "Lynchburg is an i'm
portant meteorological station, and its dis
continuance would be seriously felt, but
the Importance OF closer relations with
the Virginia Board OF Agriculture Is fully
recognized, as well as the difficulties aris-
ing from the different locations OF the
headquarters of the State Department Of
Agriculture and local weather service
and it is believed that the transfer Of the
central station 10 Richmond might prove
of great advantage to the people.
Desiring to make the service Of the
greatest possible value, l would there
fore ask what the Virginia Board OF Agri-
culture can do In the way Of providing
IL
ticable 10 assign an official OF the weather
bureau to this special work? in order TO
carry on the work OF the State weather
service advantageously a centrally To-
Gated office, where mail and telegraphic
facilities are good. is Of the first inn
pOrtance. Should you be able TO place
such accommodations at the disposal Of
the bureau, please so inform me ] shall
also be pleased to know whether pro-
vision Will be made for printing the crop
bulletin of the Virginia weather service"
In reply. Colonel Whitehead was only
authorized to say that he would bring
the matter 10 the attention Of the board
at its meeting in January.
Local station.
Thus II would seem that while the
Weather Bureau contemplates an Office
for distribution at this point. its estab-
lishment is dependent upon local assist
ance and that the meteorological station
does not figure in the calculation as be-
ing a matter Of Importance.
/ am, however, informed that such n
station would be Of great value 20 Rich
mond and the vicinity, and II is a mat
ter worthy OF being considered by the
Chamber OF Commerce and the city
government
A local office OF the National Weather
Bureau in Richmond would provide for
accurate and complete records Of tenn
perature and weather conditions. Daily
weather conditions, as shown by tele-
graphic reports from the greater portion
of the United States. would be charted
and these charts would be posted I'm the
Grain and Cotton Exchanges and tobac-
co sales warehouses and other conspicu-
Gus places in Richmond and Manchester,
and distributed by mail and train SER
vice TO all the railroad stations within
twenty-five to one hundred miles radius.
thus distributing the daily weather con-
ditions and forecasts throughout the
trucking and tobacco districts OF this
vicinity.
Better distribution Of frost and cold
wave warnings would thus be insured
In cold weather such information often
proves of great value 10 shippers and
commission merchants handling perish
able products.
In conjunction with the State weather
service and by cooperation with the
Commissioner OF Agriculture, il would