The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-28
TO ACT INDEPENDENTLY
cur LOOSE from THBSTITE BOAHD
or GgICULTURE.
The weather Bnreau VIII Hereafter be
Run Only Under the Direct superyis-
ion of the Washington Bureau,

fetal report which be will make TO that
I body the official relations having been
severed 10y the chief OF the Weather Blu
reau In Washington. In this report Mr..
Evans gives the following information as
TO the work Of his department:
Since the date Of my last report the
| work OF the Virginia section has progress
Cd along the lines previously laid down.
| with many evidences ~ satisfactory and
| permanent growth. The corps Of crop
| correspondents has been steadily increas-
| ing and valuable Information from this
! source IS regularly being received from
nearly every county in the state, week
-.
THE crop bulletin into which these re-
| ports are compiled. has been issued pune
tually on Tuesday evening OF each week
| and Immediately distributed by mail 10
a large number ~ persons ln tie state. as
! wei as TO almost all portions OF the Unit
ed States Thus the crop conditions IN
| Virginia. as affected by the weather. are
| known locally and abroad thro Ugh the
! medium of these bulletins. which offer "a
most satisfactory and reliable means 10
! the farmers Of other States for the COM
parison Of our advantages of climate and
| soil production with their own.
HELPING IMMIGRATION.
This IS probably destined 10 play an
| impOrtan, part in The immigration Of
| home seekers who are farmers. TO this
state. The service has received the ac-
| tive support OF numbers OF our newspa-
| pers in publishing these reports 90 iuH
or in part and by this means the intorma-
ton goes 90 thousands Of persons which
II would DE impossible TO reach other
wise.
The monthly report OF the voluntary
| observers mas also continued without in-
! terrupUon. This publication fills a special
field Of its own It's purpose Is 10 pub
! lsh ana preserve On convenient form the
| weather records accumulated through the
! efforts OF these voluntary observers. IL
may bo safely assumed that the climate
! history OF the state is written mainly in
| IT'S temperature and precipitation records,
! and accepting ibis as q statement OF fact.
we must accord these men who are so
faithfully building zap this history Tor our
state. an unstlntcd need OF praise
In the heat OF summer and the cold
of winter. I'm fair and in foul weather.
they take and contribute their mite 20
the SD m OF our present and prospective
| knowledge OF Virginia climate. AS stated
above. the aim OF the monthly report IS
| TO preserve this ana such other related
data as we furnish. over three hundred
copies ore printed and distributed each
/ month. and MS in the case Of the weekly
| bulletin. many are sent 20 points outside
OF the state. and thus our climate adj
vantages become more widely known
THE SYSTEM EXTENDED.
The distribution Of weather forecasts
/ by the card system has been carried on
az heretofore and extended somewhat by
the addition of some forty towns and Wiz
lagos 10 the list OF those supplied from
/ the Woodstock. Na) sub-ccnter. I'm an
/ there are now seventeen sub-distributing
/ points located in the various sections OF
| IN estate which mail daily the weather
/ prediction hy fast train service 20 all
| nost-oGices in their vicinity which can be
! reached bv =. NJ This gives an eX-
! cellent and fairly thorough service over
/ the major portion OF the State. and Will
/ be- extended as opportunity and mail IA
/ ciliues permit.
The telephone IS also extensively used.
] some ninety-fOur points being suppl %
/ through this means.
! A meteorological station was establish
/ ed at Dwale. Dickinson county. during
June. and one at Smithvine Charlotte
/ county. discontinued Important addi-
| tlons have been made TO the Office force,
1 and this with the increased office ac-
| commodatons received by our removal TO
/ the Chamber of Commerce building. has
\ greatly improved our ability TO handle
4 the growing work rapidly.
NO EXPENDITURES MADE.
No expenditures Of money for instru-
ments or other purposes have been made.
/ The matter of railway train signals was
/ taken up in June and 90 was the inten-
/ ton 10 use a portion Of the appropriation
/ for the purchase OF the necessary metal
\ flags etc.. but owing 20 the recently
adopted policy Of the Chief Of the Bu-
rcau. made necessary by unforeseen de-
/ velOpments. which renders 81 Impractical
/ bic 10 continue the cooperation hereto
fore existing between your honorable
/ board and the bureau. IL was thought
/ that any further expenditure Of the sum
/ so generously provided by the BOARD
would DE unwisc. therefore, the matter
| has been allowed TO rest without any
| definite action being taken
| il IS now with much regret that i
/ have 20 advise tho board that 10 has been
/ deemed necessary by the Chief Of this
/ bureau 10 forego the cooperation which
| has So long and with such beneficial re-
| suits been maintained between your board
/ and this bureau ] have been directed by
him 10 state that as the Virginia Sec
| ton IS now so fixed that BE- can be main
tanned without expense TO your board. De
! has deemed it best 90 do so. This policy
has been adopted only after long ana
careful consideration Of the status OF the
/ different state services and applies not
| only 20 this state. but 20 all those where
! similar conditions exist
THE CHIEFS VIEWS.
In this connection. and for the purpose
az making this connection clear. ! beg 90
quote from his views. as expressed ln
| letter Of recent date.
so many difficulties have arisen ir
other States from changes in the officers
of the state Institutions from which AID
/ has been received. that the Chief has
adopted the policy OF maintaining these
sections independently. Wherever 30 is pos
sible TO do so. By this action the chief
/ IS simply carrying OF his policy and is
not prompted by any wish % sever his
relations with the Virginia State Board
Of Agriculture which has been so uni-
formly pleasant and satisfactory You
VIII therefore. please explain this mat
ter 90 the officials of the State Board and
] convey 10 them the thanks of the chief
/ for their cordial cooperation in the past.
and assure them that he Will maintain
the high character which the publications
OF the Virginia section have attained
MAKES AN ACCOUNTING
From this it VIII DE seen that condi-
tions fin other States have been Of such
character as 20 make advisable some
general and permanent plan for the con-
duct OF an the state services. I'm view Of
this IL now becomes my duty 70 make
an accounting of such property 90 my