The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-10
LOCAL WEATHER BUREAU
Full Equipment Of Meteorological In.
struments Received BY n. E. Paine.
he IS VOLUNTARY OBSERVER
Weather Station VIII Be at Mis- Residences
ON Madison Avsuue-Wnn Send Daily
Rcports-He Has Noted tho
Weather for Years.

Addressed to d. B. Atherton. secre-
tary Of the board of trade. full set of
Instruments for meteorological observa-
tions were received by express In this
city yesterday from the weather bureau
of the United States department Of
agriculture. H. E. Paine. OF the insur-
ance firm Of Paine & Son. will have
charge of the weather bureau In Scran-
ton. The main instruments are a set OF
thermometers, barometers, rain and
snow guages, wind vanes and anemo-
meters. The latter are for determining
the velocity OF wind.
The set includes every instrument
that Is used by the weather experts
everywhere. Observations are desired
by the weather bureau In at least one
place In every county of the United
States, and for the purpose of procuring
these observations the chief Of the
weather bureau Is authorized by law
to lend instruments, but on certain con-
ditions. which are the safe keeping Of
the instruments, and that a copy of the
observations must be sent free of ex-
pense to the government monthly to
Washington.
Mr.. Paine comes under the head OF
voluntary observers. They do not re-
ceive any compensation from the gov
ernment for the trouble and expense OF
maintaining a weather station. 1t Is
necessary that the instruments must be
set up where they will not be affected
by mountain protection. or the reverse,
and Mr.. Paine's residence at 901 Madi-
10 nf Ia has
for this purpose in the city.
Observations have a two-fold object:
First to obtain a knowledge of the
climate Of region to determine the
average air conditions that affect the
comfort. convenience, or health of the
people. and the influence on plant
growth. The second is for the discov-
cry and improvement Of rules and
methods for making weather predic-
tions,
lie Is Good Judge OF the Weather.
Mr.. Paine has kept a record of the
temperature for the past twenty years
and Is an enthusiastic statistician on
this subject.
A trustworthy record of the weather
Is always of interest to any community
and Is often Of very great practical
value. There are numerous calls for
records of the weather as evidence in
courts In important law cases. months
and even years after the record is made.
Contractors and others interested in
outside work often want a record OF
days when there was rain or high
winds, when streams were frozen over
or swollen by floods. Farmers are in
terested in the state Of the season
whether forward or backward, as re-
CARDS temperature or rainfall.
The temperature is observed by means
of maximum and minimum thermome-
ters, water vapor pressure in the air is
measured with a dew point appartus
or psychrometer, rainfall with rain
guage, and rainfall reaching different
depths Is measured with a percolati ton
gauge. There are instruments for meas
uring snowfalls, wind direction and its
velocity, cloud motions. sunshine dura-
ton, evaporation and fogs and hazes.
Accompanying the instruments Is a
pamphlet giving complete instructions
as to their use. Nothing Is lacking to
form the best possible means of pres
aging the weather. and It is apparent
the value 1t will be to the city. Mr..
Paine will prepare a report daily and
in all probability 1t will be published.
Heretofore the city has taken its in
formation from the very brief dis
patches that come from Washington,
and these were not safe to go by in this
region.