The record-union., 1895-12-05
OBSERVER BARWICK EXPLAINS.
His Office Does Not Forecast the
Weather.
But 1t is More Useful to Farmers Than
if 1t Were Removed to
the Bay.

The Record-Union yesterday pub
lished a statement to the effect that
Weather Forecaster Hammond of San
Francisco was engaged in an effort to
have the Weather Bureau Office in this
city closed after its eighteen years of
usefulness. Observer Barwick, who has
built up the office here, does not wish
the idea to get abroad that forecasting
the weather is part of his duty, and
in a communication on the subject he
says:
Eds. Record Union: In your article
CT this morning, in reference to the
matter of removal of the State Weather
Service headquarters to San Francisco,
allow me to say there are no forecasts
whatever issued from my office. All
forecasts of the weather for California,
Arizona, Utah, and Nevada are made
by the forecast officer at San Francisco,
and by him telegraphed to numerous
points in his district. The forecast for
oregon, Washington and Idaho are
made by the Forecast officer at Port
land, Or, and by him telegraphed
throughout his district
What l object to is the idea of hav-
ing this station closed and the head
quarters of the State Weather Service
ACAACNO Oo ~ Aodil IcilC1SCO. nave, py
the aid and cooperation of the State
Agricultural Society, built up the
State Weather Service and also the
weekly crop service to what it is to-
day When the State Weather Service
Was originated, in September, 1891
there were but 900 copies of the
monthly weather bulletin issued, while
now there are 1000 copies printed by
the State Agricultural Society at the
State Printing Office
should not think the State Agri-
cultural Society officials would stand
idly by and see themselves robbed of
the great amount of usefulness they
have caused the. State Weather Serv-
ice to become to the people of this State
through their society, and the idea of
closing the regular Weather Bureau
station at this point-thereby putting
sacramento lower than the little ham
let of independence, away over in
lnyo County-seems preposterous.
Even II Sacramento is SO close to San
francisco that our observations are of
little if any value in assisting in pre-
dieting the weather. this station should
be permanently maintained for the
benefit of the agricultural community
which surrounds it, as we'll as for a
center for gathering weather statistics
| would be very much pleased to see
time to come. So Sacramento people
may be saved the trouble Of having
this thing Of the removal of the State
Weather Service broached and agitated
whenever new forecast official is sent
to San Francisco for duty. 1t certainly
cannot be pleasant or agreeable for
SacramentanS to have it thrown in
their face every few years that the
headquarters of their State Weather
Service must be removed to San Fran
cisco, because at that point it might be
made of greater service to the State and
TO the United States Weather Bureau
This l, myself, positively and always
have denied, and have always stood
out against any such a move whenever
[ have been consulted on the question
for well I know it can be made as valu-
able to the State of California by
maintaining its headquarters at Sacra-
mento as it possibly could be by being
removed to San Francisco. Both tele-
graphic and mail facilities are every
bit as good here as they are at the city
by the sea.
The people of Sacramento, as one
body, should see that our Congressman,
aided by our United States Senators,
should have it definitely settled
headquarters of the State Weather
and they should insist that its perrna-
nency be definitely defined, and that
this talk of removal to San Francisco
shall cease now, henceforth and for
ever. Very respectfully,
JAMES A. BARWICK.
Director California State Weather
Saryripp