The morning times., 1897-01-24
HOW STORMS ARE TRACKED
The Proficient Work of the Sig
nal Service Department.
A "HIGH" OR A "LOW"
How the Daily Bulletins Are Pre-
pared-An Instance OF the Rapid
Work Of the weather Forecast
ers-Seventy-Five stations Under
Control of Home Office.

The streaming faces of many thousands
OF sweltering human beings have been
turned appeaIingly in the direction OF the
Weather Bureau since the August sun be
gan the exercise of its scorching power, in
the hope of learning something OF hope
tul and comforting Character, upon the
theory that any change viii be for the
better; and there is nothing more conclu-
sive than this OF the universally OF public
confidence in that valuable branch Of the
government, despite the chatTing which
''old Probs'' has TO endure.
The signal service is in evidence with an
established record OF proficiency in pre-
dieting tie approach OF the heated periods,
the cold waves, the ruinOus tornado, and the
stern OF minor degree, the mild nnered
zephyr. and the rollicKing, boisterous, free
and-easy blizzard from the tempeStuous
West
Whether in time OF peace or war, the
signal service performs an important func-
ton, and occupies an exalted position IN
The government machinery. Experience has
proved how valuable 1T may become as an
auxiliary to the army, its system OF flags
and flash-ight telegraphy having reached a
high degree OF usefulness.
Not less Is it an al Junct OF prime iInpOr-
lance in time OF peace, and the man who
comes so his daily toll from couch rem
1ered wearisome by reason of a night of
unrest and veNng heat, VIII consult the
weather report before ali else that his
morning paper contains, even n the midst
Il ipfg ri
Tom Watson's chances Tor tie Vice Presi
dency
With what longing, therefore, has the
average WashingtoniaD hoped during the
past ten DAYS for the kindly offices Of 'Old
Probabilities and looked forward to the
sppearanCe OF that cloud, no larger than
mans hand" which should bring relief.
TIE prophet OF old was not more anxious
over the promised response to his prayers.
There are probably seyenty-five signal
stations under control OF the service, To-
Gated in various parts OF the Union, from
tie Atlantic coast to the Pacific ocean, and
from British America 70 the Gulf or Mexico
Each OF these outrosts is supplied with
fun set or the instruments necessary for
ascertafning the conditions OF the weather,
ana Is in Charge of an "Observer-sergeant,h
who is required TO make observations
three times a cay regularly. bat oftener
wnen necessary, bis instruments being ad-
iustei 10 the Washington standard.
Each station is likewise furnished with a
clock. rcguiatedby the standard of Washing
ton tune, SO That the observations are taken
precisely at the same moment 1T al points.
The result is at once communicated TO the
bureau IN Washington. the government har-
ing The right or way over the telegraph lines
forIuStant transmission.
The manIer Of tracking storm is simple
enough 40 the Initiated. but requires never
theless an accurate knowledge Of details,
winch is derived only from palms, aldng
study Of theories and from practical eX-
pcrieuce. The phenomena 81 any particular
storm is stucicd al once. while the subject
is fresh in mind. and to this branch Of
the work Chief Of the Service Moore gives
his personal and unremittiug attention
As The ,JServatiuns are made AT all Of
the stations. forwarded every eight nours,
or oftener. toy special telegram from all
quarters of the country, and Tie report re-
ceived almost simultaneously. the move
ments and behavior of every decided storm
can be noted with precision. In the same
manner. and for a similar reason, the
terrible meteor can be tracked and raced
down in remarkably brief space Of
time.
An instance is nOted-it is but one of
nany-where a storm Of fearful maeni-
hlde had precipitated itself upon San
Francisco II swept the continent within
comparatively few hours.
While ii WAS still revolving around the
ritv named. its probable onslaught upon
Corinuc. Utah. and upon Chcyene. Wy0.,
was telegraphed from headquarters 70
both places. Thousands Of miles from its
roar upon the PaciGc coast. the officers
st the signal office in Washington indi-
rated it's track. velocity, and force
In tweutv-four hours. as each had been
'orewarned it would, the storm dropped
down. hitter ana biting aud fierce. upon
both Cheyenne and Omaha, and 50 at Chi
rago, where il caused great disaster: at
Cleveland and Buffalo and other points
nearer the Atlantic seaboard.
A high or a low" may manifest il
self in the extreme northwest or south
west. anywhere within the radius OF the
bureaus operations. hnt its progress caunot
he as rauid rs the news OF its coming is
swift.
Feverish humanity finds relief in the
bare possibility Of break in the monUt-
onOus heat. and fairly revels in the hope of
change upon the strength Of the bureaus
forecast The wonder Of the age is how
Il was that in our reveTed grandfathcTs'
DAYS the saGeS and statesmen were able to
do without tho weather reports.
The work OF the observer AZ the stations
is simple under ordinary conditions. TtIs
limited 10 4 reading OF the Instruments at
stated times. and the transmission Of the
result Of these observations and Of any
meteorological facts existing atthe station
when their daily report is telegraphed to
this city. and for the remainder Of the time
his experience is that Of captive
Not so the labor Of the hcme station.
The work Of the officials on duty there
is more important and much more exact
ing. Requiring the highest skill and perfe;-
accuracy. The reports from tile various sta
tions are read and recorded as they come
I'm, and from them the officer charged with
this duty prepares q statement Of the
weather conditions during the preceding
twenty-f0ur hours, and indicates the
changes most likely to occur within the
@ext twenty-four hOnrs. These statements
are prepared twice a day and are tele-
graphed Immediately TO the vario1s cities
and seaportS in time for publication in the
newspapers. Bulletins are prepared also,
for posting at telegraph Offices and public
places Of common resort.
Each observer at each station writes
his report on manifold paper One copy