The morning times., 1897-01-03
KEEPING TAB ON WEATHER
How Senator's Are Able to Study
Climatic Variations.

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Climatic Variations.
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HAVE A COMPLETE STATION
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1t Is the Most Popular Resort ON the
North Side OF the Capitol -Legis-
lators Gather There,Crack Jokes
and BoolpMthe Climate of Eheir
Own Homes. ,
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The most popular rSRort on the Senate.
side Of the capitolis Ne weather station.
1t is one Of the most corfpietc in the country.
Senators gather in IT the first thing in
the morning, and stand around in groups
studying the conditions for the day. Some
startling weather stories are told on such
occasions, and. as widely separated sections
of the country are represented, these tales
have no territorial limit. When it is snow.
ing in tie Northwest it frequently is
the Western men stand before the map and
shver, just out Of sympathy with those
who are wearing earpiHffs, buckskin un-
derclothing, extra heavy arctics and other
necessary articles of apparel.
When the mercury tries to lift the roof off
the thermometer down in the Southwest
the man who puts III his time at Yuma,
Arizona, makes seersucker clothing burden
some by audibly recalling the days when
man had to wear an overcoat, reinforced
on the shoulders with a several times
folded blanket, to prevent the sun from
bliStering Ills hack, while stories OF cyclone
and flood pour out without number.
Where the Maps Hang.
The maps hang on the wall in a wide
recess OF the Marble Room, just opposite
the entrance to the Republican side of the
Senate chamber. On window ledge are
placed upon a neatly polished table full
set of self re cording meteorological in
struments. The maps show the weather
conditions at 8 a. IN. from 56 stations
of the weather bureau. 1t is the easiest
thing possible to read them. Scattered
all over their polished surfaces are num-
Der OF hooks, located on the sites of the
more CiticS. On tHcSt hooks
hang little disks, the edges of which are
perforated, SO that the disks may be APP
propriately hung.
Most of the disks are but the central
portions of arrows, thus serving the double
purpose of indicating the character of
weather ana the direction Of the wind.
When there is no arrow on the disk that
means calm in that section of the United
States. The color of the disk conveys the
principal Information, red meaning clear
weather; blue, cloudy; half blue and half
white, fair; black, rain, and white and black
bars, snow. on a little cardboard tag
which also depends from the hooks, is de-
scribed the temperature and rainfall; the
combination is perfect and easiiy-undcr-
stood record. People who cannot compre
hend the signals, or who nave no great
amount Of spare time, are not shut out
from the store OF knowledge.
Mr. J. IL. Jones of the Weather Bureau
has charge OF the maps and instruments,
and he can make everything plain TO the
most obtuse intellect. The Senators as a
rule do not understand the intricacies OF
the weather map, but resort TO pumping
process from the expert in charge for the
information they desire. To this class be-
longs one eminent Republican statesman,
who reads the maps by the color OF the
disks.-We are having a good deal Of
red weather." he viii say. To him the
weather is either red br blue or striped.
One OF the interesting and valuable nov
elites is the use Of red tape to show the
track Of storms and their origin. The storm
center each day is indicated by a large
black arrow, and the tape trails after it
to the outer and rear edge of the atmos-
pheric coInmotion. The area Of the storm
is shown by cord which ia twisted around
the hooks. on the western'edge Of the map
are the flag signals in miniature. These
show the local forecasts. and most of the
Senators are expert In figuring out what
the flags and combinations Of flags mean.
The local forecast is also printed in large
type and placed upon the map for those
who do not use the flags.
Crop Bulletins.
Then there are other charts, showing
various conditions OF weather. Such, for
instance, as the Climate and Crop Weekly
Bulletin with a record of the rainfall,
temperature and sunshine, as effecting
crops throughout the country; also charts
showing the average rainfall for every
| section of the United States for the months
| of the year, and chart showing normal
| temperatures for each month. From thelat-
| ter anybody can learn what the weather
ought to be. Another novelty is the chart
| which shows the snow area. ThisiS printed
| weekly, and is consulted by Senators who
are interested in winter wheat and rail
road affairs.
The station is supplied with the very
| finest instruments known to the service
| There are thermometers thermometer regis
| ters, thermometers of all kinds and de-
| scriptions, anemescopes, wind and rain
| registers, sunshine recorders, electrically
| recording rain gauge, an arciod barograph,
| thermograph, and athermograph record
| ing electrically at a distance. To these
! Senators pay but little attention, except the
| gauge weighing rain and snow. This they
| seem never TO grow tired talking about. 1t
| is the results they are interested in. They
use the weather station for personal uses.
| Senator giving reception is sure to be
| most constant student ofthe weather maps
| for days ahead. They scan keenly the local
| forecast, and have learned TO rely on it.
| Especially is this true in the winter. Many
a theater party depends on the forecast Of
| day.
In the spring and summer the clouds
| possess the greatest interest, and Senator
| Gor,pap hy dicraoa rflipu 10 local foreoaS II