Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-09-30
WEATHER BUREAU.
THE UNITED STATES HAVE THE
BEST FORECASTING SYSTEM.
lis Organization and History-Men
Who Have Made 1t Famous
How Meteorological Data
Are Obtained.
"Y HE Weather Bureau of the
'

to be established. England instituted
her system in 1861, and France in
1868. The United States is third on
the list. The resolution giving birth
to the Weather Bureau was introduced
by General II. L. Paine. of Wiscon-
SIN, in 1870, and passed in the same
session of Congress. 1t is interesting
to note, now that the annual appro-
priations for this bureau reach nearly
a million dollars, that the first appro-
priation made for it was $15, 700.
The infant bureau born, there was
much discussion us to where it should
be placed. Since its plans involved
signalling, it was finally decided to
make it part of the Signal Service,
of which General Myer was then chief.
This popular army officer possessed
just the energy and executive ability
to put such service in operation,
and to cold Probabilities, MS he soon
came to be called, the Weather Bureau
owes the firm foundation on which it
was established. General Myer was
especially wise in selecting clever as
sistants. He succeeded in inducing
Professor Cleveland Able to resign his
charge of the Cincinnati Observatory
to accept a position under him. Pro-
fessor Abbe's work in metoorology and
the success of his own experiment in
forecasting for tho Cincinnati Board
of Trade made him an enthusiast as
to the possibilities of the service, aud
since that time he has been a valued
member OF the corps
The Weather Bureau soon became
the greater part of the Signal Ser
vice, and the whole country clamored
for a change in its government
"Why," it was demanded, "should
civil institution be controlled by n
military oHicer?' In response to this
agitation, the bureau was detached
from the Signal Service and placed
under the Agricultural Department,
much to the satisfaction of the farm
ers, who had learned to depend upon
it's prognostications in their farming
economy.
In the beginning the Weather Bu-
reau was regarded as huge joke, and
it required many years of patient
work to persuade the people OF its
usefulness. Old sea captains, versed
in the signs Of the weather, placing
small confidence in the little flags dis
| played for their instruction, insisted
on trusting to their own Judgment.
1t was not until disregard OF the storm
warnings had resulted in serious
! losses, that the habit of obeying sig
nails was established.
1t is impossible to estimate the value
of the property saved annually through
the agency of the Weather Bureau. 1t
would amount to many times the sum
appropriated for its support, which
last year was 1854, 223. During one
great storm vessels to the value of
1872, 900, ,000 not counting freight and
| human lives, were held in the port of
New York by storm signal. To the
cattlemen and to farmers the bureau
renders immeasurable service in the
treatment of their crops; cotton
growers depend upon the forecasts of
| tho Weather Bureau, and the cram
berry farmers watch for the predic-
ton of the first frost, which, if unpre-
pared for, entirely ruins their crop
| Cattlemcn corral their herds in obeli-
ence to the little storm flag flying in
their neighborhOod. The power to
anticipate the cold waves saves the
railroads thousands of dollars in per-
ishable freight.
The Weather Bureau occupies agree
able quarters in u street, near George.
town. The house, which the Govern
ment bought for its use, was built by
u Mr.. Ferguson, an American, who
lived many years in Mexico, and
amassed Il fortune there. The large
and pretentlous structure is built after
the Mexican style, and is not OF pleas
ing outlines. 1t is, however, admir-
ably arranged for the purpose for
which it is used. The rooms are large
and commodious, and an interior
court, protected by skylight, sap
plies ventilation and light. The Gov
ernment paid $l0S, 900 for this build
ing, which is about what it cost Mr..
Ferguson. On the east side shops
have been erected for the printing and
lithographing plants.
10 the layman the forecastlng room
holds tho most interest. The expedi-
tion with which the returns are re-
ceived, and the maps and fore
casts made up from them, is little
short of marvellous Twice day, ut
8 a. m. and at 8 p. M, the observers
from all over the United States send
in the results of their observations,
expressed by II code. Telegrams from
| points on the same circuit come in
together, and are dropped on the
way al all stations where tho informa.
tion is needed. When they are re-
ceived at the bureau they are taken
off by typewriter, and carried to the
translator, who reads them in proper
language to the forecasters at work
around him. These data are set up,
as they fall from the lips of the trans
lator, by two printers at work at n