The morning times., 1896-02-15
WEATHER BUREAUS WORK
Professor Moore Appreciates the
Support of The Times
Its Daily Publication or Meteorological
Charts and Impartial Criticisms
Are Valuable Assistance.

Editor Times: Permit me to thank you
for your kind editorial of recent date
relative TO the work CT the Weather Bu-
reau in successfully giving warning to
all sea ports OF the approach of the severe
storm OF February 5-1, 1896.
You seem TO realize what many writers
do not-that, If the Weather Bureau Of
fcials are alert and competent, they can
foreten wind force and wind direction,
and changes of temperature with high
degree Of accuracy, because these coEui-
tions are the direct results OF barcmetrlc
gradient; in other words, they are the
direct results of changes in air pressure
as shown by the daily weather charts,
while failures in predicting rain or snow
often occur because the cOnfiguration OF
the isobars bears so little relation TO
precipitation.
The great Industrial and commercial in
terests, as u rule. condone failures OF this
sort when they considerable great benefits
derived from successful warnings gwen BY
the W feather Bureau of unusual meteoro-
logical disturilI aces, sucn as occur WIN
Inequalities in the geographic distribution
of air pressure.
Low pressure areas that develop in the
southwest and in which precipitation hats
already begun, may be counted on to cause
rain or snow as they travel lnortheastward.
When low pressure areas approach from
the arid regions OF the northwest, or from
the middle piateaus OF the Rocky Mountain
region, the fOrecaSter Experiences many
mistakes in deavoring to predict the
section to be covered by precipitation as
the low area moves eastward. | feel sure
that we should be conservative in the
claims that We put forth as to cur ability
in making forecasts, and to frankly ac-
knowledge cur weakness in fOTetellins GER
tain meteorological elements.
I do not mean in any way to disparage
the work of this bureau, but simply TO
emphasize that part OF our work That can
he perforrned with the greatest accuracy,
and to acknowledge wherein our errors are
most likely TO occur. This the press and
the public should thoroughly understand,
and when they do understand it they will
be able to accept our forecasts with the
Droper degree of confidence, and not with
oyer-cOnfidcnce.
| wish it understood that occa sions should
be rare in which hurricanes or severe storms
come upon Fls without warnings being dis
PLAYED well in advance of their coming, but
it may occasionally happen that q storm
is DETECTED from its expected course, ana as
a consequence a part Of the region warned
NAV not receive the full violence OF the
storm.
Investigations are now being vigorously
| prosecuted for the purpose of securing upper
being made with the object in view OF
improving our precipitation forecasts.
/ write you thus fully, because you have
taken much interest III these important
subjects and OIL account of the valuable
assistance thhtfyou have rendered the pub
lie. by publishing daily, meteorological
charts for their instruction and enlighten-
ment; and further, because | know that
your disposition is to deal fairly and i'm
partially with the merits and work of the
Weather Bureau. We do not in any meas
ure expect or court immunity from just
criticisms.
During an experience of twenty years
it has been my observation that as a gen.
eral thing, the press of our country is
equally as ready to note and commend
efficient work as to censure that which
it considers to be improperly done, and,
| if anything, to give a public servant a
little more than is his due.
Yours respectfully,
WILLIS K. MOORE,
| Chief OF Bureau.