Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-05-11
THE WEATHER BUREAU.
Chief Moore Replies to Registers
Criticism of Its Recent Flood Ser

Chief Moore Replies to Registers
Criticism of Its Recent Flood Ser
vice.
To the Editor of the Register.
Sir:-Referring to an editorial criti-
cism in your issue of the 23rd ultimo of
the work of the Weather Bureau in con-
nection with the recent flood in the
Ohio Valley / beg to submit the follow
ing statement
The writer of the editorial referred
to first asserts that the Weather
Bureau as at present conducted is alb
solutely worthless. He then specifies
wherein it failed to give warning of the
recent rise in the Ohio river, and states
that the people of the Ohio valley were
misled by totally false predictions. Be-
ginning with the quoted criticism from
Pittsburg, which states in effect tha- no
warning was given until about noon
Saturday, and that the Weather Bureau
office is closed at inconvenient hours
the following report of the official in
charge of the Pittsburg office is sub
mitted
THE position and movement of the
southern storm on the mornings of the
18th and 18th Thursday and Friday.
in my opinion justified me in sending
out preliminary advices to river inter
ests in this locality to be on the look
out and keep in close touch with this
office for day or two, as heavy rains
were indicated which might result in
high waters Up to noon of the 10Th
there had fallen over the Allegheny and
Monongahela rivers an average of near
ly an inch of rain. Shortly after mid
day it began raining very heavly at
Pittsburg, and at a. M, of the goth
from l to inches had fallen over
about $50 miles of the lower portion
of the Allegheny and Monongahela riv-
ers and tributaries. This rain also eX-
tended a long distance down the Ohio
river. The stage of water was then
ia feet and rising at the rate Of ]
foot an hour. Warnings were at once
sent out through the departments OF
police Of PittSburg and Allegheny and
to neighboring towns and lower river
points that a flood was imminent and
that 80 feet would probably be reached
in the three rivers at Pittsburg Sub
sequent reports from the upper river
stations seemed to justify the original
tinued to rise until the early morning
of the Dist when they became station
airy, remaining so until 1000 a. NJ,
when they began to fall The maximum
stages were as follows: On the Market
street gage on the Monongahela river
27.5 feet; on the Allegheny river the
gage at Heirs Island Dam (foot of
Twenty street, Pittsburgh ESQ
feet
Notwithstanding the rivers at Pitts
burg began to fall on the 21st., the
upper Allegheny river continued to rise
until late on the End. Later reports
convinced me that considerable of the
precipitation reported from stations
along the Allegheny river on the even
ing of the 10th fell on the hills in the
form of snow which continued to melt
and cause continued rise in the Allie
gheny river. Had it not been for this
fact it is altogether probable that the
forecast for so feet would have been
verified, and perhaps exceeded. No re-
ports of snow were made by the river
observers to this office which is doubt.
less due to the fact that precipitation
in the valley was rain, while on the
hills along the Allegheny river it was
snow
Owing to the warning sent out from
this office the manufacturing and BUSH
ness interests in the low sections were
enabled to make preparations for the
Hood and consequently much serious
loss was averted. Scores of mills and
workshops situated along the three riv-
ers were obliged to suspend. and the
losses toir al t,-+
establishments was shared by their en-
ployes. who endured period of en-
forced idleness''
Referring to the statement that the
Weather Bureau office is closed at in
convenient hours you are informed that
the Weather Bureau office at Pittsburg
opens at a. M, and closes at IL D. m.
daily.
The editorial next asserts that "the
alleged weather sharp at Parkersbure
gave absolutely no warning of the dis
astrous flood that has wrought such
havoc and loss to that city and below
but on the contrary, when he sent ont
word of two-foot rise a ten-foot rise
was an actual and accomplished fact y
AS regards this assertion your attep-
ton is invited to the fact that the Reg
lister receipted for telegraph MESA ges
at ll;35 a. M, and 1920 D. m. of sat
urday the Goth, sent by the official in
charge of the Weather Bureau Office AT
Parkersburg. These messages were
worded as follows:
PARKERSBURG, W. Va.
April %, 1861. 1915 a. M.
Intelligencer. News, Register. Wheeling
w. Va.
Stage IS feet Wheeling. Sunday morn
ing. From present information ex-
IRENE high water is feet Monday.
Please advise interests. yOSE
PARKERSBURG, w. Va.
April 20, 1901, 800 D. n.
Inteiiigencer. Register, Wheeling, w Va.
Present information indicates that
flood stage of thirty EIGHT feet win be
reached Sunday night. vOSE
As these messages were received by
the Register about fifteen hours before