The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-11-08
IMPROVEMENT in
WEATHER BUREAU
Marked Changes to BE Made In
Service for Benefit OF Co.
Ilmbia District.
INSPECTOR cONGER IN CITY
Speaks OF the Work OF the Blu
reau aud Says Lives Of Fish
ermen VIII BE Hereafter
Protected.

the United States weather bureau SER
Ice, was In he city yesterday. The
government weather bureau embraces
three districts. the western district
covering all that portion OF the coun-
try west OF the Rockies. The three In
SDectofs change from one district TO
another year being required to make
the rounds of each. Mr.. conger has
inspected the Astoria and North Head
stations while here. and expresses
much satisfaction with the efficient
manner in which they are conducted
In conversation yesterday with a rep
resentatlve Of The Astorian. Mr.. Con-
ger said:
THE weather bureau service, IL
should be understood. In a public utll-
lty. and we are anxious to do all we
can to serve the people. We are open
to suggestions at all times, and would
regard Il IA a favor for citizens to
recommend ideas which might be of
benefit. An instance OF the useful
ness of the service was afforded only
a day or two ago, when the ship La
dore waa saved from disaster on the
Washington coast, AT the North Head
station the officers have glasses which
enable them TO see for a distance Of
2s or 30 miles. and In the case OF the
Lodore the signals Of the vessel were
read by the observer before they were
even seen by the men on the tugs. Our
information 70 the tugs doubtless pre-
vented the loss OF the ship.
The Astoria service win shortly be
improved by the addition OF signal
lights on the storm-warning tower.
These lights will be used to give warn
ings at night and win consist OF Q
red light Of 1873 andle-power and
white light OF "a candle-power. The
red light will fortell easterly winds
while the red and white lights Will in
dlea,e westerly winds. The lights are
now on the way and viii be Installed
AZ soon as they arrive. The bureau
viii also maintain storm-warnins
station at Chinook for the benefit OF
the fishermen. This station win be
In service during the fishing season.
and we hope to be able to give the fish
ermen ample warning OF the approach
Of storms"
Mr.. Congsr said he hoped the public
would not be too free to eensure the
forecaster when he makes an error re-
gardlng the following day. We &C
on the principle that It is better to pre-
pare the public for storm that does
not materIallze than to permit the ap-
proach OF q storm without warning
II an occasional error is made in fore
casting, It Is made in good faith. lie
went on to explain that the north Pa
clfic coast was the most difficult heid
In the whole country, on account OF the
trend of storms from west TO east. The
northwest observers have no advance
reports from the west, and the storms
which sweep across the Pacific come
without warning, The foreeasters and
observers farther inland have the
benefit Of the warnings sent from the
coas. and II is not difficult for them
TO Judge the direction Of a storm. Ev-
erything considered. Mr.. conGer says
the coast service is remarkably effic-
lent.
The weather bureau service in Alas
ka is a volunteer one at the present
time. but It Is hoped soon TO have
complete system there. Mr.. Conger
spoke in the highest terms of Fore
caster Beals and the observer of the
northwest district, as well as the CHER
of the bureau, and said the service was
relatively better here than almost any
where else in the country.