The record-union., 1898-03-30
TWENTY-FIFTH TIL ANNIVERSARY
BARWICK's LONG TUSSLE WITH
THE WEATHER.
To-Day the Qarter-Centennial or
Faithful officials Useful
Service.

To-day completes the twenty-fifth
year (quarter Of century, OF contlnu-
Gus service of Observer James A. Bar
wick in the United States Weather
Bureau department, he having entered
that service on the 31st day OF March'
1873, at Baltimore, Md, from Wmch
time TO the present he has been occu-
pied in taking from two to seven OBJ
servations daily with the different me-
teorological instruments in use, to
show the ever-changing conditions OF
the weather in all its varied moods.
From December, 1878, to March, 1881,
Mr.. Barwick was stationed at Alpena,
Mich. the climate of which State af-
fected his health so much that applica-
ton for a change of station to a milder
one was made, backed up by physi-
clans certificate of his inability to
stand the severe climatic conditions
of the Upper Lake regions. In this he
was successful, as instructions We're
issued by the Chief Signal officer or
dering Mr. Barwick to take charge of
the station at Sacramento, Cal, which
was accomplished on the 10Th day OF
March 1SS1-seventeen years ago.
The predictions of the weather by a
department of the United States Gov
eminent was first begun under the au-
thority Of the Secretary of War, au-
thorizing the Chief Signal officer OF
the army to establish as a branch OF
the Signal Corps, a department to be
known as the Division of kilograms
and Reports for the Benefit of Com
merce and Agriculture"
The first systematized synchronous
weather reports ever taken in the
United States were begun on November
l, 1870, at 7:35 a m. washington City
time), which were the first official
weather predictions" ever given to the
people of the United States through the
various press associations.
These predictions or proba bilities
were received with a great deal of sat
isfaction by the public at large. Re-
ports were received from but twenty
six stations, situated mostly along the
Atlantic coast and as far west as Chey-
enne. Wyo. Stations were rapidly in
creased in various portions Of the coun-
try. The first to be established on the
Pacific Coast were: San Francisco, on
February >, 1871; San Diego, Novem-
Der /, 1871, and Portland, Or, Novem-
ber /, 1S71-a total of three; while at
the present time there are twenty in
the Pacific Coast region, eleven of them
being located in California.
Less than twenty-eight years after
the first experiment of weather predic-
tions finds the United States Weather
Bureau established on a firm basis, and
its popularity and usefulness goes un-
questioned The saving to commerce
and agriculture during that perioc
amounts to many millions of dollars, BY
the accuracy of it's predictions regard
ing high winds and storms at coast sta
tions. and killing frosts, damaging
winds and heavy rains in all agricultu
raj districts. On this coast the pres
ent season these have been proving
more accurate than usual, and have
given the greatest satisfaction to the
people.
The organization of the weather fore
cast division was first begun under the
management of General Albert J. My.
ers. Chief Signal officer of the army
After General Myers death it came un-
der the management of General W. B
Hazen. Chief Signal Officer, and OF
the latter's death the management
came under General A. w. Greeley tht
present Chief Signal officer of th'
United States army.
On July /, 1891, the weather service
branch of the Signal Service was trans
ferred from the War to the Agricultural
Department, under the then Secretary
Hon Jerry NJ Rusk, who appointed
Professor Mark w. Harrington a.
Chief of the Weather Bureau Division
Professor Harrington was relieved from
duty as Chief by Hon. Sterling ]. Nor
ton, Secretary of Agriculture, who ap
pointed Professor Willis L. Moore a
successor to Harrington.
Professor Moore still remains il
charge. and has brought the Weathe
Bureau Department up to its presen
high state of efficiency and increased
value to all classes. Professor Moor
having been promoted from the rank
of the Weather Bureau employees
knows by experience the details of tn
workings of the bureau from the small
est and least important station to tn
greatest and most valuable one in tn
department.
This bureau is now giving more in
formation and of greater value at les
expense than ever before in its exist
ence, which reflects great credit on an
shows good management under tn
present Chief.
And Barwick still occupies his percl
in the top of the Government building
in Sacramento and his weather ey
never closes-they say.