Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-17
PHILIPPINE WEATHER
OLDEST METEOROLOGICAL SER
VICE IN THE EAST.
Report of Father Jose A1gue, s. J., for
1oO1-2 Published by the
War Department.

Although the meteorological service OF
the Philippine Islands is probably the old
est established in the extreme east, no full
and comprehensive report of its opera
tons has been available for public refer
ence until that OF its director. Rev. Father
Jose Algue, s. j., for 19O1-19O2 was pub
lfshed in two parts, including a report
of the secretary of the weather bureau on
the establishment of the service, Its de-
velopment under the Spanish government
and it's reorganization under the present
regime and covering a period from 1865
to 1902. This report, in attractive form,
has just been received by the bureau of
insuar affairs, War Department. and bears
evidence of careful preparation and COM
pilation.
To the Jesuit order belongs the credit
of having first recognized the Importance
of meteorological observation to the COM
mercial and agricultural interests of the
islanders and their neighbors. Under the
enthusiastic direction of Father Federico
Fauna the justly famed Manila observa-
tory was installed in 1865 with the neces-
Sary instruments for it's important work.
The story of the increase of the facilities
of the observatory and of it's valuable in
strumentS added from time to time, is one
to be read with interest, and the results
obtained stand as monument to the tire
less energy of the savantS who have di-
rected the institution.
Its Usefulness Felt
The usefulness of it's workings began to
be felt and appreciated in 1879, when the
observatory began a series of wonderfully
correct representations on the probable
trajectory of typhoons. These then novel
predictions attracted considerable attention
to the observatory, and from that time it
has enjoyed an enviable reputation in the
have been of benefit not only to the people
of the Philippines, but have a recognized
value to the inhabitants of adjacent
countries similarly subject to the ravages
of these terrific storm conditions. Their
importance to shipping interests cannot
be overeStimated.
1t was not until April IS, 1884, that the
government of Spain by royal decree incor-
porated the observatory as an official bu-
reau and established as AN adjunct to the
institution thirteen auxiliary stations at
various points in the islands. On July Is,
1856, the present observatory was COM
pleted and the various instruments and
appliances heretofore acquired were trans
ferred. Since that time its attaches have
made valuable contributions to scientific
literature and have invented and improved
useful apparatus, and the observatory has
creditably participated in several note
worthy expositions.
Upon the American Occupa ton most cor
dial relations were at once established with
those in charge of the observatory, and
while, through lack of prompt communica-
ton with the secondary stations, due to In
ternal disturbances the data for forecasts
was not SO complete, yet the bureau rem
dered efficient service and continued to dis
play weather signals, which commendable
and public-spirited attitude met with
prompt recognition from Admiral Dewey
then commanding the American naval
forces in Asiatic waters.
Organized by Commission.
The Philippine commission, after confer
ence with the authorities of the weather
bureau at Washington, and under date of
May p, 1901, published an act organizing
the Philippine weather bureau. BY this act
the bureau is required to print and dis
tribute daily reports of weather conditions
together with it's forecasts, and under 1t
those formerly in charge have been con-
tlnued in Its direction. and generous ap-
preparations have enabled them to increase
their usefulness through the establishment
and reorganization of stations and the pur-
chase of necessary instruments therefor
Part of the report is devoted to tabular
statements and comparisons of weather
conditions, with pertinent remarks thereon
Manila, on the west coast of Luzon shows
a monthly mean temperature varying from
q degrees in January to S3.O3 degrees
Fahrenheit in May.
The month of February in Raeuio IRen-
gueD Is the coolest of the year; the tenn
perature rises rapidly in March, reaching
maximum in April A second minimum oc
ours In August. due no doubt to the extra
ordinary amount of aqueous precinitation
which characterizes this month. The tom
perature rises somewhat in October and
November, falling then till February.
The difference of temperature between
Manila and Baguio ranges between 10 "a
IL, III Apfli' the month of the year in which
there is the least precipitation to 1902 de-
grees Fahrenheit in August, the period OF
greatest humidity and rainfall. The high
est temperature recorded at Baguio is much
pelow the mean temperature Of the coolest
months IN Manila. While the climate -
Baguio Is extremely equable, it is also
salubrious and affords a grateful change in
temperature to serve as a relief to those
VINO live In the more enervating atmosphere
and other coast cities ~
First MEETING of Genara1 Gar