Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-29

and the head Of the bureau admits and
explains these errors He does claim a
large percentage of accuracy, especial
ly in the forecasting of Atlantic coast
storms and In frost and coldwave
warnings. In these lines the work Of
the weather bureau has saved millions
of dollars worth of property. He
says:
''Of the many West Indian hurri-
canes which have swept our Atlantic
hoard from Florida to Maine during
recent years not one has reached a
single seaport without danger warn
lings having been sent well in advance
Of the storm, and no unnecessary
warning has been issued. The result is
that no disaster of consequence has
| occurred. Large owners OF marine
property estimate that one of these
severe storms traversing our Atlantic
coast in the absence of danger signals
| would leave not less than $4,000, 900
worth of wreckage on two occasions
4 census was taken Immediately after
the passage of severe hurricanes to de-
termine the value of property held in
port by the danger warnings sent out
in advance Of the storms. In one case
| the figure was placed at s3i. 600. 600; in
| the other. at s3s 900, 600"
Professor Moore claims also. no
doubt justly, that great saving to
pershlble freight has resulted from
cold-wave warnings sent to railroads.
As q matter Of fact. the failures made
| in the forecasting Of the ordinary
changes In the weather are of little or
no consequences. These are the errors
which attract public notice and com
mont, but they are trivial affairs. 1t Is
| in warning great interests of violent
storms or excessive temperature
| changes that the weather bureau has
done its work in this country.
The public is likely to overlook the
| fact that the weather bureau Is also
doing an invaluable service hy the col
lection and preservation Of accurate
observations concerning weather phe-
nomena over vast area. These OBJ
sorvations and statistics must be the
| basic material for the students ~
mcteorology who are To make valuabla
discoveries IN the science az weather
| and gradually bring the work Of the
| forccaster to greater degree ~
| accuracy.
| Professor Moore says: TT ~ th2
| dream Of the netcorologist that some
day he will be able accurately 70 fore
| cast the weather weeks ana months IL
| advance. But 50 far this much-to-bc-
| desired object can tie realized only In
dream At the present time ! know %
no scientific man who essays To make
! long-range weather predictions. and |
| would especially caution the public
against the impnsturc Of chIrlatansand
| astrologists. VINO simply prey upon tn"
| cre1ulity of thu people"
| Professor Moore says the work Of
| forecaSting can be improved only BY
the invasion Of new realms. and in this
direction H. Is now perfectlng a system
Of taking observations by kites, flown
at an altitude " one mile above the
surface OF the earth. H hopes that
valuable information and assistance
may BE- obtained III this way. but H. l.
not over-sanguine. The kite work has
not gone far enough Ia show definite
results but some facts Of value have
already been established on this
point he says: The temperature
readings already secured ~ our usr ~
kites show that in the summer season
we live in an extremely thin stratum
oi warm AR; that on the hottest day
an ascent IF only 800 To 1000 feet in free
| air would place a person III a com
| fortably cool atmosphere: that the
temperature at an altitude II 5000 feet
is slightly higher at midnight than at
| mid-day."
\ great deal Of fault has been found
| with the weather bureau. Its difficult
ties are not understood by the public.
When one has read ana studied Profess
s"r Moore's pamphlet he viii feel like
applying to the weather man the sign
said 10 have been posted conspicuously
in a church in the wild Southwest
Don't shoot at the organist He il
doing his best" The weather man IS
not only doing his best. but hc N
| steadily doing better. II.