The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
of rare and valuable specimens of salt
in his office in the Worth building.

of rare and valuable specimens of salt
in his office in the Worth building.
WILAIINGTON'S WEATHER BU-
REAU.
TO visit the city of Wilmington with
out calling at the local office Of the
United States Weather Bureau would be
like witnessing Shakespeare's Hamlet
with Hamlet left out. This highly in
structive and important branch of the
Government service was formally estab-
lished in Wilmington on January ],
1871, by Mr.. Robert Seyboth acting
under instructions from the then Chief
Signal Officer Mr.. Seyboth is now sta
toned mt the central office of the Wealth
or Bureau, Washington City. The
changes in the observing force since the
stations establishment have been many.
On July !, 1891, by act of Congress,
the Weather Bureau branch was trans
ferred from the War Department to
the Agricultural Department and made
a civil bureau. The present force at the
Wilmington station is as follows: w.
II. Fallon, official in charge; John f.
Newsom, assistant, and A. NJ. Parker
,Ir., messenger.
of the handsome Government building,
southeast corner of Front and Chest
nut streets All visitors are cordially re-
ceived and shown the workings of the
office and the Instruments used in con-
nection Herewith
Observations are made daily ut : a.
m. and D. m, 10Th Meridian time, as is
done at all other frst-class stations
throughout the country, of which there
are about 1860 located equidistant for
Chronological purposes; also at the
more important commercial centres.
These observations consist in readings
Of the barometer the thermometers. the
hygrometer, the direction and velocity Of
the wind. kind and amount of clouds,
the precipitation during the past "A
hours and the state OF the weather at
the time of observation The obserya-
tions are Immediately encilnered ana
transmitted, by telegraph, to the central
office at Washington and TO other de-
signated points throughout the country.
4 S soon as the reports are received from
the other stations usually within m
hour If the time observations wern be-
gun. they are entered upon a chart.
When completed this chart presents f.
the official in charge a photograph @
view of the weather over the county. or
that portion Of the country the weather
Of which may affect his vicinity during
the following 3j hours. The chart shows
the areas of high and low baron Atdc
pressure the warm and cold waves rain
or snow areas, the direction and force
of the wind. and the actual condition
of the weather at other points beside
his own-whether clear, partly cloudy
or cloudy. After this chart is made
then comes the most important part of
the officials work. namely, making tn"
forecast for the succeeding 36 hours. To
enable him to do this with any great
degree of accuracy, several years train
ing as mi assistant is necessary, dur
ing which time ne must acquire n thor
ough knowledge Of the laws of storms;
their usual movement and rate of pro-
ofesSion. based on scientific facts; the
general topography of the country which
has an influence ON the movements of
storm areas; also a general knowledge
Of the local peculiarities of the place
at which he is stationed. When the
forecast is made aided by the one from
the central office at Washington, the
information is Immediately distributed.
10y telegraph mail, or messenger. to all
interested points contiguous to the sta
ton.
The scope Of the practicable applica
ton of the weather forecasts to all
classes of industry is large and contin-
ually increasing. Besides entering into
the everyday life of the ordinary indi-
yidual. the daily forecasts ana accumu
lated meteorological data serve many
and highly important purposes. The
chief recipients of benefit in the yicini-
tn of the Wilmington station are the
farming and shipping interests The
trucking industry has vastly increased
during the past few years in eastern
North Carolina. and is still a-growing.
From tables furnished by Mr.. w. II.
Fallon. the official in charge,
may be obtained the annual
and monthly conditions of the
weather which have existed Mt Will
mington during the past IS years. From
them we CLEAN that the climate of VIII
mingtou presents many features, due to
it's equability, to render Il residence there
an enjoyable one. Its proximity to the
Atlantic Ocean renders the heat of sum
mer more bearahle than at interior
points. The same cause keeps the win
f,pg From, boipo sax-ora