New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-17

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ports over the few wires that belonged ex-
cusivey to the Signal Corps. Most Of the re-
ports. though. were sent over the ordinary com
merca lines.
General William B. Hazen, who succeeded
General Myer in 1881. was excellent execu-
tive and did much to extend the usefulness or
the weather service. He was particularly
friendly TO the organization Of State weather
services to work in cooperation with his Of
flee.
General Adophus w. Greedy, appointed chief
signal officer in 1851 shortly after the death
Of General Hazen. was the first head OF TINS
branch of Uncle Sans business who was at
the same time a good military officer and an
/ accomplished scientist. lie had been detached
from the 9TH Cavalry for service in the Signal
Corps at the time when the latter undertook
meteorological work, and soon exhibited such
a mastery of the subject and such other htness
/ for the command of the Arctic expedition Of
: lSSf-'S4 that 10 him was intrusted that re-
sponsible duty The Fort Conger party was
only one OF thirteen that were sent out by the
leading civilized nations of the world at
that time 20 make simultaneous observa-
tons different posts within the Arctic
circle. All the others got back promptly and
| without harm. Bat the experiences Of the Gree
| ~ party were exceptional, O"IiiS W INC
Of the means at first employed for sending food
and bringing the men home. The admirable
way in whi,h the young commander acquitted
himself in that dreadful emergency excited the
admiration Of the world. Although his duties
are now Of a military nature only, his admins
| tration Of the Signal Corps during the last few
months has shown him to be a far sighted.
! shrcwd and energetic officer.
\ movement which had been in progress for
several years for the transfer Of the weather
service II the Government from the War De-
par'ment 20 the Department Of Agriculture
eliminated July !. 1891. "Unce Jerry Rusk
was then looking after the farming interests
| of the Nation At his suggestion-or. possibly.
| that Of Assistant Secretary Wille,ts-,he
Weather Bureau. as a civilian institution. WAS
| first committed to Professor Mark w. Harring-
| ton who at that time was editor Of mete-
! geological monthly. and occupied the chair OK
| astronomy and mathematics at Ann Arbor.
/ Mich Professor Harrington performed his
duties TO the satisfaction Of the Harrison Adj
minisiration. Of the general public and Of the
scientific element in the country which had
wanted the transfer made.
one OF the most notable Innovations Of this |
period was the abandonment Of the military |
title sergeant formerly borne by the observ- /
/ trS OF the Bureau. ThS was soon followed Dy /
an order authorizing 4 number Of the observers /
20 make predictions Of the weather for their |
own localities. Up to that time no forecasts
had been permitted aside from those issued from
the central office in Washington II had been
noticed. however. that a familiarity with local
pc uliarities Of the weather sometimes gave a
who wls the spot an advantage
over man hundreds OF miles away even
though the latter was better educated Those
observers who were empowered 10 issue fore
casts for their own immediate neghborhoods
were called local forecast officials"
When The Cleveland Administration came in
in 1899 efforts were made 20 Dust Professor
Harrington. osiensibly for acknowledgement II
his Office. Bu, he fought Secretary Morton -
clcycrly and Draysiy that FOR time the effort
was abandoned Eventually though. hc was
dismissed by the President. after having served
just four years.
Wills l. Moro. vino has been Al the head
u the Weather Bureau since July l. 1895. is
now forty-thre. years DID. More than twenty
years ago H. entered the Fort Myer school. and
was graduated he second man in class Of
thirty men For about sixteen years he was
employed n Washington and In that period
showed much zeal and Intelligence. In 1890 he
WAS sent to Minneapolis. and soon became the
local forecast official there. Later he was
transferred - Milwaukee. whore h. made sur
pris.ngy accurate predictions Professor Har-
ringion having instituted competition among
the best local fDrecasters for a s., 500 profess
sorship the participants To- offer essays on prac-
ticai forecastng. the Milwaukee man made al
together the best showing and carried of the