The herald., 1896-11-23
WEATHER BUREAU REPORTS
Pay in Cold Cash for Govern
ment Outlay
TIMELY WARNINGS GIVEN
Preserved Vast Interest From Damage
or Destruction
the Work Done by Old Probabili-
Neutrality-suspicious. Conducted.
ssociated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22-Prof. Willis
Moore, chief of the weather bureau,
has submitted to Secretary of Agricul-
ture Morton his report of the operations
of the bureau during the fiscal year OF
his administration.
OF forecasts and warnings he says,
in part: Timely warning of all severe
storms likely to cause injury to ship
ping were sent to all maritime stations
and resulted in almost incalculable ben
eft. In the harbor of Buffalo during six
of the most severe storms of last winter
a total of over 150 vessels, aggregating
in value upwards of $1I,O0O,000, having
on board about 1900 persons, were de-
tanned in port by reason of the weather
bureau warnings
The report points out that as a result
of danger signals displayed at all points
in advance of the West Indian hurri-
cane and on the Atlantic coast, no lives
were lost and but little property de-
stroyed; that no cold wave or frost of
unusual intensity has occurred during
the year, and warnings having been
given by the bureau in cases of heavy
of saving large amounts of property.
The average percentage of verification
of the bureaus forecast during the year
was S2 IA per cent, an Improvement OF
"a over tnat of last year. Among the
features introduced perhaps the one
most highly commended by all classes
is the corn and wheat region service es-
tablishen in the principal corn and
wheat producing states of the central
IL, ha a infnrml-
ton obtained concerning rainfall and
temperature is promptly pulletined and
disseminated for the benefit of persons
interested.
More prominence has been given TO
the subject of aerial Investigations than
to other experimental work. Concert
cd cloud observations in cooperation
with foreign countries has been made a.
a number of stations. From these it is
hoped to gain information regarding
the general circulation of the atmos-
phere, particularly during the stormy
weather. Kite experiments are resumed.
On one occasion an altitude of 1000 feet
was obtained
Prof. More says the use of kites is
always limited by the condition of the
winds. There appears to remain but
one other means of exposing meteorolog-
ical instruments at approximately fixed
points in free air, namely, by the use
of devices sustained ny the action of
propellors, which either lift the appa
ratus directly, or give it a spirally as
cending or descending motion. Many
devices of this character have been pro-
posed by ingenious inventors.
1t is possibility that important mete-
geological stations in the future will be
dual in character. One portion will
remain as at present at the surface ol,
the earth. The other portion will be
poised at great height in mid air, rid
ing at anchor to the base of the station,
as it were. Simultaneous observations
from a system of widely distributed
stations of this character would enable
the future forecast official TO map out
the atmospheric conditions both hor1-
zontally and vertically, and arrive at
a more exact knowledge of the tempera-
ture, pressure. etc.
The report says it is not believed
there has been an increase in either the
frequency or severity of tornadoes. I'm
fortunately those of the present year
have swept through populous sections
of the country Three hundred and six
May 9th last. This is more than the
aggregate loss by violent winds during
the years of 1891 and 1895.
During the three severe tropical
storms that occurred during the pres
ent fall season and for which hurricane
signals were issued by the bureau.
about 1000 vessels came into or remained
in port on the eastern gulf and Atlantic
coast during the periods for which the
warnings We're issued.