Evening star., 1898-12-29

The West Indian Headquarters of the
Weather Bureau,

Following the army of invasion in Cuba
and Porto Rico the Agricultural Depart
ment is establishing itself on the islands,
and it will not be long before the American
people will be in possession of daily infor-
nation of the climatic and agricultural con-
ditions there.
Secretary Wilson yesterday directed Chief
Moore of the weather bureau to move the
headquarters of the present West Indian
storm warning service from Kingston to
Havana, to establish complete meteorolog-
ical stations at Cienfuegos and Port au
Principe, and, rapidly as possible, to ex-
tend the climate and crop service of the
weather bureau over the island. Within a
period of probably less than two months
the condition of everything meteorological
and agricultural in the various portions of
the island, and the progress of the reha bill
tation of the industries which, during the
recent strife, were either suspended or COM
pletely annihilated, will be matter of COM
mon information.
The Secretary of War has been requested
to assign, to the weather bureau buildings
and grounds for the headquarters of the
service at Havana, and it is probabl that
General Brooke will take prompt action in
the way desired.
The Secretary of Agriculture Yesterday
added to the staff of the West Indian
weather service of the department Dr. En-
rlque del Monte, noted Cuban scientist
anu Sdpt. LUIS va C6rDOnell, former
chief of the naval meteorological service
OF the Spanish Antilles. Active prepara-
tions are being made at the chief office of
the weather bureau to ship. within a few
udyS, The most improved meteoroIogicaI in
struments and appliances to the new sta
ton AS an illustration of the difference
between American and Spanish administrs
tions II may De noted that the cost of the
Sntire United States weather service in the
West Indies, including obseryatories on tbe
north coast of South America. win nroha bIY
Se much less than what was expended by
spain In maintaining an inefficient and al
most useless meteorological service oyar
the single Island of Cuba General Gree,v
chlet signal officer of the army, who is ey
feiond fsnu,ds tee government telegraph over the
Island or Cuba, has rendered to Chief
MOORE the assistance of his subordinates in
.he ihatter OF collecting reports or in tho
TRANSMISSION of meteorological informat tion.
Climate and Crop Service,
Actlhs under the direction of the SAcra
tary OF Agriculture some months ago the
ch1ef OF the weather bureau began the es
tapilshment of complete climate and crop
service In the Island of Porto Rico The
"eathef bureau system of quickly gather
ing crop and meteorological reports Is now
SO completely extended over Porto Rico
that 1t is expected by the first week in Ian
Gary -full crop report, showing the con-
% altlon OF crops in all of the provinces of
Porto Rico will be published for the bene
nj OF the people of the United States and
that this report Will continue weekly there
after Full Information as to the char
acter OF the products of the soil, and as to
the weekly progress of these products will
countless be interesting reading to our peo-
pie during the coming winter months
some years necessarily will elapse before
any forecastings of weather conditions can
be Systematically and regularly made for
tne Phlfppine or Sandwich Islands To do
this successfully and promptly quick cable
and telegraph communications between the
points covered in the forecasts are essen
tiaI and these features are lacking in the
groups of Islands named. Curiousy enough
Prof.. Moore points out the hurricanes in
the Philippines which occur little earlier
In the season than in the West Indies arise
In the same general direction and follow
the same course those in the latter
named islands. 1t is possible that an agent
of the weather bureau may be sent to
Honolulu and Manila during the coming
year to make general study of the situa-
tion in the islands Of which they are the
principal cities, but even this is not yet
fully determined
Prof. Moore says the Spaniards main
tanned meteorological stations at several
places in the Philippines, but they are not of
much value. When the Philippine question
is taken UP the department will establish
a central meteorological station in the is
lands, and by means of reports of rainfals
and thermometer readings at various places
in the group will be enabled to publish data
bearing on the climate conditions existing
in the archipelago