The times., 1897-05-23
THE OFFICE BAROMETER.
Effect OF a 25o-Foot Move in a Sky
Spraner

Effect OF 25e-FoOt Move in q Sky
Scraper.
On May ] the members of firm who
were the tenants OF second-fioor suite
OF rooms, moved straight upward 25o feet
to the eighteenth floor of q downtown sky
scraper Aside from good will, there was
not a great deal to move, but among other
Things was first-class mercuriai barom-
eter. To anticipate the weather was a
requisite to the firm S business, and to as
sst in this forecast the $50 barometer was
!, valued office fixture.
! But from the tie OF the removal no conf
dence could be plaeedinit. 1t would point to
stormy when ever prospect was for fair
weather, ind when the rain was falling its
heaviest the hand on the dial would Indicate
fair weather.
That ianitor did something to it, in
sisted the senior member OF the firm; II re-
member seeing iim1 with it in his hands
while we were moving"
| Clearly the instrument was all wrong
sI'Il tell you" said the senior menib Der,
YOU'D better take IL down to the maker
and have him lookit over"
The instrument was carefully wrapped
up and taken to the elmaker's place ON the
first floor Of Madison street building
Its all out OF whack, somehow" ex-
planned TIE messenger, unwrapping the ba-
rometer. The salesman looked at it and
compared it with the standard instrument
in the shop. 'te
why, it's all right" he said; see here
'fair'-just as 1T is in that instrument.
well I'm blessed,' said the non
pIussed Junior partner.
This instrument is all right" reiter-
ated the salesman, there isn't a thing
that we could do TO IL to make it better. T"
so the barometer was again wrapped
up and taken back TO the top floor office
Explanations were made, and it was hung
on the hooks near the window.
'.But, say" exclaimed the junior part
ner, that was pointing to fair down the
street and now 10 shows changeable'"
In the little furry that followed the dis
covery the senior partner did not wrap up
the instrument, but started at once for the
makers shop: In the elevator he stood
lnlding il, watching the dial, and a. the
elevator dropped away into the shaft the
Indicator began TO dance and to move to-
ward fair" On 1t went until at the
ground floor tie barometer was register
ing "fair" as truthfully as its steady fin
ger could point.
He remarked 20. the elevator man: Il
guess II ride back"
slowly the indicator veered around,
until, at the eighteenth floor. it was again
at sschangeable" Twice more he Went rp
and down, and finally, at the ground .ioor,
he struck a Decline for the Madison street
shop.
why didn't you tell US you were not ON
earth any more?' queried the opticlan,
when explanations had been made. He
tw wisted the indicator few Dotchcs. made
Il little calculation to prove tie correct
ness OF the change, and ever since then the
barometer has been working overtime at
hackcapping the man i'll the Auditorium
tower.
Technically, the explanation is simple.
Ali such barometers are sensitive 10 Ge-
vation For instance. In the barometer for
measuring elevations decrease OF pres
sure OF one inch indicates an altitude Of
9l7 feet; OF two inches, / $50 feet. Of
three inches .. $50 feet, and so on. I'm about
the same ratio. This effect is seen on
baro,neters indicating only weather chan
ges, so that on a sensitive instrument,
regulated at the street level and taken 10
the top OF a sky-scraper. the effect is To
throw it out of all truth TO variable winds
and weather.-Chicago Record