The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-11
SUpERFLU0US SCIENCE.
Secretary Morton's Odd Ideas
About Weather Bureau
Reform.

WASHINGTON, July II, 1S93.-The at
mosphere about the Weather Bureau
has cleared off very percsptibly since the
recent investigation. and affairs are rum
ming along smoothly with but little
probability of any further changes being
made in the near future. Yesterday
Chief Harrington had a personal confer
ence with Secretary Morton. and the re-
lations between the Secretary and his
chief weather officer. which, as an out.
growth of the Investigation had
become somewhat strained. are
again relaxing. In discussing the affairs
of this bureau today Secretary Norton
denied n knowledge of any intention
of asking for Mr.. Harrington's resigna-
ton, The Office was a Presidential gift,
but the Secretary believed there had
been 10 change contemplated. He paid
a high compliment to Mr.. Harrington's
ability. and said it would be exceedingly
difficult. were It deemed desirable, to hnd
a competent man to take his place. The
chief Of the Weather Bureau, the Score
the pale of politics, q SO far as ne
knew Professor Harrington would re-
main.
PRACTICAL WORK.
This bureau is one III which Secretary
Morton has taken a lively interest, and
he said today that 1t was his wish TO make
it popular, remove it from the rather high
scientific rlane to which it has gradually
assembled. aud bring il down to a level
where it would abound in practical
work. In short, he will insist Upon USE
full forecasting, SO that the farmer, the
miner. the shipper aud tine commercial
men can derive from it the greatest possi-
BILE good, What the people most want,
said Secretary Morton. is the knowledge
beforehand of what is to happen, SC they
can prepare for it, rather than q scieu-
tiie diagnosis in the line or cause u
effect after it is all over.
In addition to cutting of q number Of
what he calls useless solsntists." Secye-
tarv Morton proposes to save money in
the matter of telegraph tolls. He has
suggested to the President and the At
torney General the ~desirability OF the De-
partment of Justice making a contract
with the telegraph companies for a GER
ain rate for the government, cover
ing the work of all departments. A tinge
of sarcasm is apparent in the Secretary's
discussion of the scientific force of sthe
Weather Bureau. Prof. Able claims TO
nave discovered a method for determin-
ing the future tracks of storms after they
have become well defined and developed,
and the Secretary asks, Then why are
the future tracks of storms not added to
the weather map from day to day? IT
the method is established, such work
would greatly enhance the value of the
weather maps to the general public.
Why has the method aud theory never
been put to actual use for the improve
meut OF the forecasts?"
L ALMANAC STYLE.
Concerning Prof. Bigelow's claim that
the result 8 OF his studies will enable the
bureau TO extend its forecasts over
menths or even years, the Secretary says
he apprehends such forecasts would de.
generate into the style of the ancient
almanac. wherein might be read at fire.
uuent intervals. 'about this time expect
rain.'' The real object of the bureau is,
he says, TO state with certainty what the
weather will be tomorrow or the next
day, and holding such plain. unscientifi c
noJions, he looks pom Prof. BiRelow's
work as wholly theoretical aud its con-
tinuation unjustiiRble. Secretary Nor
ton has also decided to discontinue 1.-THE
river and flood room" work and at az
early date place the river forecasts in
charge of the observers located on the
principal rivers. As a result OF this,
Messrs. Bari Berus, 4. e. Bigelow and
| Thomas Russell will, professors of met.
eorology. will be dropped from the rolls
this month, along with a number Of
clerks and other employees.