The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-23
INSTRUMENTS ARE WORKING
And Weather Man Invites Wichitans
to See Them.

Geo. H. Todd. who has been placed in
charge Of the weather bureau in this
city, has all of his apparatus in working
order. The department of agriculture has
placed in his charge some of the most
delicate instruments manufactured, in
struments that record the weather condi-
tions every minute of the day; instru-
n ents adjusted so nicely that the breath
AZ, of a person q few feet away effects
them-instrumentS that are infallible
All these features are embraced in the set
OF apparatus provided by the govern
nent for the correct reckoning of the
weather conditions and changes in this
country.
The different instruments do their re-
cc-ding 10y electricity. The instruments
work on open circuit and the slightest
change in their position makes the con-
nections and record is made of the
change. Ruled paper is provided that
the different marks made by the pens
attached TO the instrument so that the
minute and second if necessary. is re-
corded when the change is made. These
papers are kept on file ana in years to
me person can go into the weather
office and learn the exact weather condi
ticns Of any day and for every hour Of
the day. and he may rest assured that
the information obtained is absolutely
. ccrrect
The instruments do not ill much space
81 the rooms of the bureau in the Sedg-
wick block. They are small but very del
icste ones
on a table in the main office stands a
little glass box with the instruments for
recording the sunshine the veloclly Of
the wind. the length of time rain fell the
amount Ter minute and th,. total amour
Ihcre are two rolls Of paper in this lit
IL box. each on a spool. turned b. clock
work. The paper is ruled so as to repre-
sent the minutes of the day and other
Data which may be required The ron
turns certain distance each minute
Small pens connected with the instrument
on the roof by electric circuit are fas-
tened that the instant the circuit is
elcsed the pens drop down and make a
mark on the paper nj tho proper place
FOR the time of day week and month
On one part Of the paper there are lines
drawn lenethwise. These lines represent
rorth east. south and west. and the wind
direction is recorded by them ] + the wind
vas from the south. the PEN. each minute
would make a mark on the line repre-
senting this direction. if northeast. the
line would be between east and north
md the distance from either line would
show whether the wind was east of
north quarterly. or nearer the eastern
direction
When the sur shines pen makes n
ziszag line on the paper. The Den moves
90 that each minute it makes a dot If
the sun does not shine. a straight line
Is made.
To record this on the roof of the Sedg-
wick block is tube something like that
a. a thermometer. In il is placed another
tube IN partial vacuum. This srnalo-.
tube Is partially filled with mercury and
o. one end Is covered with black sinh
stance, Being in a vacuum this substance
Is ver2- susceptible 10 the suns ravs. In
Tho middle Of the tube is the electric con.
rsction with the mercury ut each end
u the sun is shining the black material
expands and drives tho mercury on. a.
oceS thermometer. The mercury cor
meets the two little wires and the cur
rent Is made which Is transmitted 70 the
paper IN the room below The circuit is