The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-02
WEATHER BUREAU WORK
Prof. Moore Submits His Annual
Report.
Improvement and Extension of the
Forecast Service So rs to Include
Stations ON the North Admittedly
periments With Wireless Teleg-
rnphy - Accuracy of Predictions.

Willis L. Moore, Chief of the Weather
Bureau. in his annual report to Secre-
tary Wilson, for the fiscal year ended June
30. 1900. reviews briefly the operations OF
the bureau during the year. Prof. Moore
says:
THE forecast service has been strength
eneI and improved by the extension of
the system of observing station over the
West Indies and the Caribbean Sea and
by the active cooperation of the meteoro-
logical service of the Republic OF Mexico.
The approach of all dangerous tropical
storms, the movement of cold waves. and
the occurrence OF killing frosts and heavy
snow were accurately forecasted.
AN important innovation is promised in
the near future, viz, the beginning of spe-
cal storm forecasts for the North At
lantic. This step becomes possible by
the completion of a cable system con-
Meeting Lisbon. the Azores. and New York
City. II is proposed to include Bermuda
and number of important points on the
western coast of Europe in the new sys-
tenn of reports and to issue forecast Of
wind force and direction for the first tiree
days of all outgoing steamers. and Cor an
equal period for such as place themselves
in communication with the bureau before
leaving European ports.
Three destructive hurricanes deyel-
oped in the West Indies and moved north
westward during the year The most Ge-
otrnctive of the three was the memorable
storm that devastated Porto Rico on Au-
gust g. 1899. and skirted the South At
lantic Coast of the United States from
the 18th TO the 18th. From the time this
hurricane appeared within the region OF
observation until 1t disappeared off The
Virginia coast, accurate advices regarding
its character and probable course were
te1egraphed along the line of its advance.
such adyices preceding its arrival by re-
RODS varying in length from few hours
in the Leeward Islands to thirty six and
forty-eight hours along the South At
lantic Coast.
The second severe West Indian ilurri-
cane was experienced over the Leeward
Islands on September s. whence it moved
northwest and recurved northeastwarI
over the Bermuda Islands during the
night of the 18th and 18th. This storm
did not seriously affect the coast line of
the United States.
The third and last destructive tropical
storm of the season advanced from the
western part of the Caribbean Sea along
the Atlantic Coast of the United States
from October 2s to 81. Shipping interests
along the coast were advised of threaten
ing weather coRditions several days in
advance of the storm.
THE original experimental work of the |
bureau during the year was confined to
an investigation Of the possibilities of |
telegraphy as method of es-
communication between vessels l.
at sea and exposed points along our lake
and sea coasts. Satisfactory progress |
was made in this investigation, but the
time is not yet ripe for communicating
the details Of the work
Some progress has also been made in
A study OF the problem of reducing bar
,metric observations made in the Western
plateau country to sea level. 1t is pro-
posed to extend the new system of reduc
lion so that theoretical maps of the
Weather conditions at the 3,500foot plane,
he 10.000-foot plane. as well as at sea
evel. may be readily constructed. This
work has been greatly needed for many