The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-10

Benefit of the Weather Bureau. |
System of Warning That Is EN-
ployed--J. d. Ferber Spent Yester-
day at Atlantic City.
The fact that Willis L. Moore, chief |
of the country's weather bureau, was
born in this city makes him a person
age of special interest to Scrantonians. |
He Is now spending a few days in this |
city, as told In The Tribune of Satur-
day, enjoying a needed rest from the |
arduous labors as chief of the weather |
bureau. incidentally he is looking after
some real estate in this city of which
he is the owner.
Professor Moores career Is a remark
able illustration of what a high am
btion, combined with determination
and energy, can do. Early in life, he
was thrown on his own resources and
went west, hoping to make his fortune
In the Black Hills. But Dame Fortune
was shy, and, after a year or two of
extreme hardships, he turned his face
eastward again, and came to Burling-
ton, Iowa, where he secured a place on
the Daily Hawkeye. He began at the
foot of the ladder, learning the print
er's trade and setting type, and gradu-
ally working up until he became re-
porter under Robert Burdette.
His industry and the quickness with
which he seized opportunities had at
tracted the notice of the proprietor of
the paper, Frank Hatton, who, about
that time, received his appointment to
the postmaster generalship at Wash
ington. When he went to the national
capital he took young Moore with him,
and soon afterwards secured for him
position in the meteorological depart
ment of the signal service (now the
weather bureau.
Here he showed such a willingness to
work, and ability to comprehend the
science, that he was subsequently
placed In the training school at Fort
Myer, for military instruction, where
he ranked second in a class of thirty
two.
From Fort Myer, he was transferred
to the central office at Washington:
and. while there, he brought into play
his knowledge of printing and devised
a mechanical arrangement of type, by
which the labor of producing the syn
optical maps has been so greatly re-
duced that now they can be issued in
less than two hours, where formerly it
required six
Step by step Mr.. Moore rose in the
service, until, In 1894 a professorship
in the weather bureau became vacant,
and an open examination was held to
fill it. Mr.. Moore was among the con-
testants at the examination. There
were, besides, twenty-three college
graduates, representing the leading coll
leges of the country, who took the ex-
animation, which was in the natural
sciences and required an essay on
er-forecasting and storm-warn-
| ings. Mr.. Moore had not the benefit of
a college education, but so thorough
had been his education that he
| easily led all of his competitors, and
was, in consequence, awarded the pro-
| fessorshp.
He was assigned to the charge of the
Chicago office, where, during the WIN
| ters of 1894 and 1895, he made such a
| phenomenal record in forecasting the
cold waves and heavy SHOWS, and his
| executive skill in the management of
| his office was so admirable, that in the
| following summer President Cleveland
| appointed him chief Of the weather
! bureau, a position he has held ever
| since.
The present high standard Of the SER
| vice and the progressive methods that
are being adopted in it are largely due
to Professor Moore's intense interest
In the science, and his determination
to continue it's development.
| 1t Is of interest to note the vast
| 80
bureau confers upon the country. Mr..
Moore frankly says that the service
has not advanced much beyond the
empirical stage Of weather-forecastin
and that, as yet, there is but little pros
pect of either accurately prophesying
the weather for weeks or months in
the future, or of stating positively Just
what the weather will be, locally, at
any given time.
1t is noteworthy fact, however, that
within the four years since he has been
at the head of the bureau not a. single
great storm has swept across the coun-
try. or at sea, that the danger warn
ings of the service have not been sent
out well in advance Of the storms. This
has been of incalculable advantage to
commerce Of all kinds.
Along the Atlantic coast, there are
more than 1900 sailing vessels, and
1000 steamers that enter and leave
ports between Maine and Florida their
| cargoeS being estimated at $1,000 00O
| Formerly, these crafts were at the
| mercy OF the terrific West Indian hur-
ricanes that sweep up from the tropics
and skirt along the Atlantic shove line
especially from August to October but
now signal stations are operated at
many points along the Caribbean Sea,
the northern ports Of South America,
and the West India Islands, and dan
ger warnings are invariably sent out
ahead Of n storm; in consequence OF
which, vessels are held in port until
after it has passed.
Millions Of dollars, not to speak OF
human lives, are thus saved annually.
On two occasions, a census was taken
Immediately after the passage of Sc
we're hurricanes. to determine the value
of property held in the harbors by the
danger warnings sent out in advance
of these storms. In one case, the fig
ures We're placed at $4,000, 900, and in
the other at $3S,0OO,0OO. The bureau
uses a special signal for these hurri-
canes. 1t consists of two large, square,
red flags, with black centers, hoisted
one above the other Whenever this
signal is flown II Is understood by mar
iners that vessels of all descriptions
should remain in port.
The system of warning vessels en-
gagged in coastwise trade, and on the
Great Lakes. is very complete. In ad-
dition to the weather bureau offices,
located on the seacoast and lakes, there
are, at nearly every seaport, display