The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-16
WILL STUDY OUR MEqEOROLOGY.
Special Agent Meade of the Weather
Bureau Arrives.
He Finds Observer Barwiok's Office
and Work In an Excellent
Condition.

A. G. McAdie, special agent of the
United States Weather Bureau, has ar
rived in this city on tour of inspection
OF the different offices. He also comes to
this coast for the purpose of spending
some time in the study of our climatic
and meteorological conditions.
Mr.. McAdie comes here with long
record of efficiency and special research
in connection with the bureau at Wash
ington, having contributed a paper on
"Protection From Lightning" which has
been adopted as a bulletin by the bureau.
He is genial and Interesting talker,
brimful of information in the line of his
duties and willing to impart it if re-
quested.
He was found yesterday by repre-
sentative Of the RECoRDUNIoN, in COM
pany with Mr.. Lawton, who has taken
the place of Observer Barwick during his
vacation and trip to the East and who
has already made hin self a favOrite here.
Mr.. McAdie pays "a compliment to our
Government building and says that no.
where has he found so pleasant and we'll
appointed an office. The instruments
and affairs OF the office are all in fine con-
ditiou, and he has heard nothing but
praise of Observer Barwicll's manage
ment since he came here, not an adverse
criticism having been offered, except
that be does not order the weather TO suit
each particular individuals wants.
speaking of the weather" said Mr..
Meade, in the course OF conversation,
II made q discovery short time ago.
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
not the President, but his nephew, who
n nd
College in Nirginia-were the first ones
10 establish a Weather Bureau, away
back in l712.
Some time ago L obtained permission
| from the Secretary of State to examine
documents in the Office OF the Master of
Rolls, in The State Departments per-
mission not easy to obtain. Among
| them / found the papers of Jefferson.
with his private correspondence. and
came across the letters that passed be-
tween him and Madison, he living at
| Monticello and Madison at Williams
! burgh. These letters show that the Two
| had established regular system of OBJ
servations on temperature, wind direc-
ton and rainfall, which continued from
| l772 up to Jetferson's death. They took
regular observations at A. NJ. and in
their letters exchanged data, views upon
| the subject and spoke of politics and all
| subjects 10 which they were Interested. ~
Il found there also Jefferson's private
expense book, in which was entered not
only the items of his personal expenses,
! but the thermometrlcai reading for each
day. Each one of the friends had q
barometer. but that of Madison was stolen
| by the British in l779.
In this expense book were, among
other records OF temperature, that Of the
days in 1776, commencing on July 1st
and running through the month, AL
though at the beginning Of the month his
mind must have been intently engaged
on the writing and revision OF that mas
! terpiece, the Declaration of Independence
| On j uly Sd he took four observations-at
! 8 A. NJ, 8 A. NJ, 1:30 p ii. and sunset. The
temperature given shows that 1t was q
| cold day. although several historians
| have stated that it was sWeltering in its
| heat The entries in the book are very
curious and interesting. and give good
! insight into the character OF Jefferson
and his methodical habits.
"As l said, this was the first weather
| bureau ever established, SO far as known,
| and not many people know OF II. The
! French lay claim to priority as a nation
| in the establishment of weather bu-
reau, Leverrier, the great astronomer,
| having taken up the subject during the
CrImean war aud given warning Of the
coming of great storm, the English and
French ships being saved by the warning.
| The utility of such system was fully
appreciated, and weather map was
issued and a system evolved. Our bureau
was instituted in 1870, and has been
steadily pushed on to the highest state of
efficiency ever since. and to-day it Is the
best in the world, and Foreigners come
over here to study it. and gain points
which they can take back and utilize"
Mr.. McAdie left Washington on Oc-
! tober lst, and has visited nine stations
previous to MS arrival here by way of the
| L Mon Pacific route. and found almost all
of them in good working condition.
lie has some fine Photographic views of
/ lightning flashes-a subject to which he
has given special attention-which show
in remarkable manner the vagaries of
the fluid, or force, or whatever we may
choose TO call it. caused by the resistance
of the air or distractions, and showing
the difference between destructive and
multiple flashes in all their variations
Lou jun and All Let, the Cinnamon
accused of having made murderous as