The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-20
THEY WANT BETTER SERVICE.
TRUCK GROWERS TAKE THE
WEATHER BUREAU TO TASK.

A Lack of Local Forecasts One of the
Causes of Their COmpIaint-The
order to Issue Forecasts Forward
ed to Observer Dudley and the
Forecasts Made Before the Truck
ers Meta Charge of Failure to
Properly Distribute Information
Denied by the Observer.
The Truck Growers Association met
yesterday for the purpose of taking some
action with regard to the weather bureau
service at Savannah. Maj. G. NJ. Ryals
president of the association, called the
meeting to order and stated its purpose.
Secretary NJ. L. Exley read copy of a
letter which he sent to the chief of the
weather bureau last month, asking for
a better local weather service.
The letter called the attention of the
bureau to the Importance of an efficient
service for this section, on account of the
large truck growing interests and pointed
out the lack of local forecasts, which
were abandoned with the recent change
in observers, and also charged failure
to properly distribute the information.
Secretary Exley referred to the prompt.
accurate and valuable information furn-
he was in charge of the bureau here. and
to the work of Assistant Observer WAN
baugh during Mr.. Smyth's illness,
for some weeks before he was ordered
from Savannah to Cairo, inl, where he has
charge of an important station. He
pointed out that information now furn-
ished or that was furnished up to the time
the letter was written on Feb. %, was in
| complete and did not apply particularly
| to this section. If the present observer is
not permitted to make forecasts, Mr.. Elk
| ley asked that the bureau see that some
steps be taken to furnish the farmers the
| information they need. up to the pres
ent freeze" he said, I'VE have sustained
| but little injury, but hereafter an unex-
pected cold spell would do much damage
| What we most need is prompt and cor
rect forecasts of the weather for this par
After endorsing the secretarys letter.
| the association passed resolutions direct
| ing the secre tary to correspond with the
| chief of the weather bureau, and urge that
| Mr.. Smyth be reappointed observer at Sa-
| vannah. And that in the event he cannot
| be returned; that Mr.. Wambaugh, late
| assistant TO Mr.. Smyth, in the Savannah
| office, who conducted the affairs of the
Office during the protracted illness of OBJ
| server Smyth, be appointed observer, and
| that he be given authority to make the
| local forecasts.
| This action was based largely upon the
| failure of the weather bureau to direct
| Observer Dudley, who succeeded Mr..
| Smyth in charge of the Savannah office, to
| issue local forecasts, and upon the as
| sumption, as stated in the resolution, that
| the failure to confer the authority upon
| the observer was due to a doubt as to his
| competency to furnish accurate forecasts.
The resolutions were adopted with the
! amendment offered by Mr.. b. S. Wells,
| that a copy be sent to the chief of the
| weather bureau at Washington, and also
ter, requesting him to use his influence
| with the agricultural department that
prompt action be taken.
After the weather bureau mat
ter was disposed of by unani-
nous consent the rules were
| suspended and the association proceeded
| with it's regular business
Mr. Wells offered a resolution that the
| chair appoint a committee of three on
transportation, which was unanimously
| adopted
Messrs. Wells, ]. L. Butler and ]. F.
| Tietjen were appointed.
A resolution by Mr.. Exley on its sec
make regular meetings quarterly, on the
| first Thursdays of January, April, July
| and October, instead of monthly as at
| present, was adopted.
Mr.. ]. Leroy Butler was elected men,
| Der of the association.
The action of the truck growers in ask
ing for a change in observers on account
| of the absence of local forecasts, was
| forestalled by the weather bureau, which
| had already conferred upon Observer Dud-
ley authority to issue forecasts for this
section. The observer received his au-
thority from the agricultural department
| Wednesday, and the forecast yesterday
morning had been printed and sent out
with the weather maps before the truck
| growers met.
| Observer Dudley was seen last night in
reference to the charges made by the
| Truck Growers Association. He said that
| the work of the bureau here has been car
| ried on by him since he has been in charge
| on exactly the same lines as by his prede-
| ceSsor with the exception of several ad-
| ditions. 1t is a rule of the weather bureau
from one station to another, is authorized
rected by the chief of the
bureau. Immediately upon being
ordered to Savannah. Observer
| Dudley applied for authority to issue local
| forecasts. The authority has been con-
ferred upon him and the forecasts will
| hereafter be made as heretofore.
Observer Dudley said that his aim has
| been to use every facility available for the
distribution of Information that comes to
| the bureau and to place it within reach
| of those whom it will benefit. He recog-
| nizes the Importance of the truck growing
| interests, and the value to the farmers
| of accurate and prompt information as
| to weather changes and so far as he has
Mr.. Dudley said that he regrets the ac-
| ton of the truck growers and he had no
| intimation of it until last night. He has
| received no complaint as to the service
| except the failure to issue forecasts, which
| he secured as soon as possible from the
| department.