The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-10-04

Washington, Oct. st IS the policy of
Secretary lanes Wilson to extend the
operations OF the department of agricul-
1ure on all useful lines authorized by law.
The secretary, after a consultation with
the chief of the weather bureau. decided
to make use OF some of the great fund of
meteorological Information contained IN
the weather bureau by having a monthly
marine meteorological chart issued for the
benefit of the mariners of the great lakes:
He was of the opinion that by a study OF
the records Of past storms. much uSyefui
information might be collected and pup
lished showing ., month in advance what
mariners might reasonably expect
CONTENTS OF CHART.
The first of this series of monthly charts
was mailed from utln central office of the
weather bureau yesterday. 1t gives in
formation relative to the present month
of October. 1t shows the principal tracks
pursued by storms in crossing the lake
IS eastward across the center Of Lake
Superior. The storm track next in i'm
lNoTtance i a line drawn from Milwaukee
northeast TO Alpena. The next III order
of frequency IS q line drawn from the
southern point of Lake Michigan north
east TO Port Huron, and the least ire
represented by a line drawn from Port
Arthur southeast 10 PetoSkey. Mich. IN
other words IL during fhe coming month
a mariner notices by the daily reports
storm cenfel, in fIe region of any one of
these tracks he can very accurately de-
tergnine what viii be its future course and
can steer accordingly.
THE BENEFIT TO SAILORS.
The chart shows the normal wind d.
rection for the coming month at each one
of the weather bureau stations and 1850
the number of foggy days that may be
expected on different portions of the sew
e1al lakes, as determined by the records
of the past q years. The text printed on
the back Of the chart shows the location
of adj the danger signals of the weather
bJreau-about l25 in number-and much
other Information useful 10 vessel mas
tiers. A typical cyClonic storm is shown
in one corner of the chart with the cor
versing of the wind toward the center,
and a wind barometer table of the lake
region is included IN the text A little
study of the diagram table will enable
captains who have left port to determine
the probable course of storm centers last
noted on the weather bureau Charts on
shore.
On the average five storms pass directly
over the lake region in October, a ma
iority of which. however. can be safely
Ysafhered by q, larger craft. Occasion
ally an October storm Of unusual severity
sweeps over the lakes, endangering the
safety Of the strongest vessels. In the
last % wears not more chan a half dozen
such storms have occurred in the month
above named. The storm Of Oct. 2S-24.
1887. was probably one of the most vide
spread and severe for the season that has
occurred within recent years.
OCTOBER WEATHER.
October Is a month of transition from
warm to eold-generaIly one Of the most
pleasant in the year. The change to
winter conditions is first noticeable on
Lake Superior where light snow storms
may occur at any time after the 18th.
Snow fails in the vicinity OF Marquette.
a little earlier than at other points TO the
westward. Ii has been observed as early
as Sept 49, both at Marquette and Sauit
Ste Marie On lower Lake Michisan
Sst7,x hn all Al. aas1x rs at z l,4A
the average date for snow there IS about
q month later. The average date of snow
AT the eastern end of Lake Erie that IS
Oct q. is about ten days earlier than at
the western end.