Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-05

touches that pointer. The dots on N. be-
come stronger, and those on Il. growing
fainter, until they disappear. when Il is
evident that the gale is blowing from the
north, and so on, so that the direction Of
the wind can be quoted for every minute OF
the day, even the year.
A similar device is used to mark the
velocity of the wind. A machine consisting
OF four cups mounted on projecting arms Is
placed at the corner of the observatory. so
that as the wind blows against the cups the
central arm revolves, In much the manner
OF a wind mill. Five hundred revolutions
mark one mile, and each mile is recorded
by a dot on the proper strip of paper. This
strip passes underneath the stamp which
makes the dot, at a regulated rate of speed,
so that IL takes five minutes for about half
an inch to move. Then by counting the
number of dots which were printed in the
space representing that five minutes, the
observer knows the velocity of the wind at
that time; so that not only the rate OF
speed per hour is recorded, but the slightest
variations, for instance the wind may blow
three miles in the first five minutes. four
miles in the next, then three again, then
five, etc.
The rain gauge is also connected with the
observatory and consists, roughly speaking,
of a pan resting on a sort of scale. AS the
rain falls into the pail, II depresses the
pan. consequently the scale, and a circuit
is closed which controls a tracing needle
in the main office, the movement of which
is rapid or slow according to the amount
of water in the pan. The electromagnetic
which measures the temperature, and the
aneroid Of self-recording are also
in this observatory, although they record
in the main office.
THE APPARATUS IN A STORM.
Naturally the greatest usefulness OF all
this apparatus Is in the time of storms,
and II is then that they are most liable to
get out of order. 1t can easily be imagined
that to repair or to replace any of the dam
aged instruments In the teeth of a furious
gale, when the snow is driving like bullets,
is not an easy task. yet 1t is a very common
one. The man who performs all such mis-
sions Is one whom the most terrific gales
with their snow and ice accomplishments
cannot frighten, for he is none other than
Francis Long, who was one of the five men
rescued with General Greedy after a long
and dreary winter of starvation at Cape
Sabine within the Attic circle. This sturdy,
well built fellow with the keen blue eyes
and honest square features has looked death
in the face many times, for he was the
hunter of a little party and many times
ventured out at the risk of his own life to
capture a stray duck or watch for long
hours beside a hole made in the ice in an
often futile attempt to catch a fish.
After his return from that Inflated eX,
petition Long was given this post in the
New York weather bureau and has settled
down contentedly with his wife and family
but whenever it is necessary to brave sleet
and storms to repair the delicate apparatus
entrusted to him he never hesitates. In the
terrific storm of February 6, 1896, the most
severe storm for many years. the wind
cups on the very top of the observatory
got out of order. The wind was tearing
along at the rate of a hundred miles al
hour and the slender pole on which the
| apparatus was placed was 400 feet up in
the air above the level Of the earth. Mr.
Dunn hesitated to allow him to go, but
7 --- ,o.ll ,~t I@ ,1n. ,s-a1 h. l,-~l1
the pole and for almost an hour swayed
about in the midst of the storm, dashed
to the pole, while he replaced the injured
instrument.
The duties of the men in a weather bu-
reau begin at half past Z in the morning
when the instruments are read and the
records of the night before examined. AT
s o'clock observations are taken, and soon
after the reports begin coming in from
all over the country. They are sent over
Western Union wires and preference is
given to the weather messages over all
others. A cipher code is used. which is one
of the most complete in existence. 1t is
composed of certain consonants and novels
and was invented by General Greedy during
his long and terrible winter at Cape Sa.
bine, when death by starvation seemed be.
fore them every instant, and it is a splen,
did example of what mans mind can accom-
plish in the face of obstacles. 1t was
adopted by the government in 1887 and its
use has undoubtedly cut the telegraph bills
down one-half, thus e%ffecting a saving OF
1926, 900 to $3.50 900 a year.
READING THE OBSERVATIONS.
AS these observations come in they are
recorded on an outline map of the United
States. Each station is represented by {
small circle which is solid black when the
weather is cloudy, which is simply outlined
when the weather is fair, and in which is
printed a small r when it rains. Then the
lines of temperature are drawn in. These
circles and outlines are copied on a plate
of prepared chalk on which the lines are
carefully cut out, and a stereotype is ther
cast from this chalk plate. From this stere
otype are printed copies on small outline
maps of the United States which are pre-
pared at Washington and distributed to al
the principal Offices. The general forecast
which has been carefully considered and cal
culated by Mr.. Dunn while the observa
tions were coming in, is also printed on thiI
sheet as well as the local forecast for New
York, the weather conditions and the de
tailed observations from all over the country
This is all done by the office force, VIII,
work with such rapidity that by II o'clocl
800 of them are printed and at IL o'clocl
they are in the mail bags on their wa,
to all the local postofices within a radiu
of 500 miles. When they reach their des
~tination they are put up in the postofic
on bulletin boards and can be examined b.
any one to whom the weather is of i'm
portance, the farmers being, of course, mos
interested in them.
ADVANTAGES OF FORECASTS.
At s o'clock in the evening the station
report again, and a similar map Is made 70
record in the office, but is not sent out t
the postoffices; instead a postal card is MALE
to them, on which has been printed the loca
forecast and general condition of the weathe
at the time. In some cases, where the ma
facilities are such chat the map or posta
card would arrive too late to be of use,
telegram is sent 10 the nearest office. who's
operator copies 1t and distributes 1t anon
the neighboring towns in accordance wit
coming up suddenly, Mr.. Dunn sends fort
warning messages by telegraph or telenhon
as may be most convenient. On a recent oc
casion when a violent change seemed immi
nent, l 300 messages were sent out to war
tho farmers of the danger to their crops, an
II is estimated that the amount of proE
erty annually saved by such warning
amounts to more than many times the cos
of The service.
A very important branch of the meteoro
logical bureau is the service rendered to tn
shipping industries. On top of the towe
is an enormous lantern, four by eight fee
with red glass sides. in which burn arc light
of "a, 900 candle power. Above this Is a sim
lar white lantern of ~ 900 candle power
which is used in signaling, the red ligh
alone meaning e~asterly winds, the red an
white lights westerly winds. And there
not a sailor in the herbor who does not waite
the lights by night and the flags by day