The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-08-27


man, 1t is well to introduce that indi-
yidual to the reader. Herbert w. Rich
ardson, director of the Ohio climate
and crop service, who ranks as ane Of
the hardest working and most efficient
officers in the U. S. weather bureau,
is a native Buckeye, being born at
Cleveland in 1865. On his mothers side
he is defendant of one of the promi-
nent pioneer families of that city. He
received his early education at the
Ohio soldiers and sailors orphans
home at, Xenia, an institution which
has turned out many able men. From
a printers case at Alliance, o., he en-
tered the weather bureau in 1866, and
has since been continuously counected d
with the same. He has been stationed
at Washington, Pittsburg, Nashville,
New York, Buffalo, Kansas City, Cleve-
land and Parkersburg. He came to
Columbus in 1892 from New York,
where he has remained ever since with
the exception of one year spent in
Parkersburg. He relieved G. NJ. Strong
here July 1, 1895, as official in charge.
There are five assistants in the Colum-
bus Office, which is one of the most inn
portant in the service Mr.. Richard
son, who impresses the visitor as being
a very young man for such a RESPONSE
BILE position, was found to be an exceed
ingly courteous gentleman, whose chief
characteristic was enthusiasm for his
work. He readily consented to an in
terview.
"The matter of weather, in all its
varied FORMS" he began; sis con-
sideration of the highest Importance to
everyone, especially the farmer. 1t
decides for him whether he shall plow,
SOW, reap or NOW. Whether his crops
will be abundant or poor depends
largely upon the seeming caprice Of
this self-same weather, and it follows,
therefore, that information as to the
probable conditions that will prevail
on the morrow or during the season is
anxiously looked for. This interest in
the science of weather dates back to
remote iniquity. From tine very earliest
times of which we have authentic rec
ord the weather and its attendant
phenomena have been studied by men;
this is especially true of the ancient
Phenieians, Assyrians and Chinese,
who made record of rain, wind and
weather, pressure and moisture, in
primitive manner, of course, and with
perhaps the element of superstitution
added. The invention of the ther-
mometer and barometer during the six
teenth and seventeenth centuries, re-
spectively, marked the real beginning
of the application of science to the
subject. Prior to 1870 the science of
weather was practically in its expert
mental stage, and was confined chiefly
and observation at schools to colleges.
"The fact having become well estab-
lished that weather on the morrow
could be forecasted with a reasonable
degree of accuracy, led to the tablish-
ment, in 1870, of meteorological bu-
reau under the auspices of the army
signal corps. The success of such an
organization was apparent from the
start. In order to increase its efficien-
cy and to provide greater scope for
future work, the weather bureau was.
by act of congress in 1890, transferred
to the state department of Agriculture.
This change has since proved to be
most wise; the efficiency of the bureau
has not only been increased in every
way possible, but 1t has also been con-
Quoted at less cost to the people than
under its former army organization.
WCdthCi pNiCau, W iDo bJoptLh Vi
forecasts, special warnings and other
information issued saves to the citizens
OF this country millions of dollars an
nually as regards the agricultural and
marine interests, and commerce and
of all kinds.
"The secretary of agriculture in his
annual report for 1895, among other
things concerning the weather bureau,
declares that warnings of cold waves
alone secured from freezing more than
81, ,275 900 worth of perishable agricul-
tural products which otherwise would
have been lost.
"How are the forecasts made? The
weather bureau has about one hundred
and fifty fully equipped stations located
nt selected points over the United
States; the equipment Of instruments
nt each station consisting generally of
and minimum thermometers,
a hygrometer (wet and dry ther-
mometerl, an anemometer, anemo-
scope, sunshine recorder, barometer,
and thermograph, and rain
and snow gauges; many OF the instru-
menJs oeing oil an electrical nature ana
all self recording; weather bureau
stations take two observations at the
same moment OF time daily Is a. m. and
3 p. M, 10Th meridian time) of the in
struments menti ,ned, besides noting
the kind. smount and direction Of