Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-02-28
WEATHER BUREAU
Although Much Criticised, it Does
Valuable Work.
CONGRESS PRAISES SERVICE
Marine and Agricultural Interests Benefited
by the Forecasts and Re-
ports.

oY Inc tofcaSlS ana ne
ports.
Washington. Feb. 27.-Gspeciall-
The weather bureau is sometimes criti-
cised because it does not exactly hit
of the situation in predictions. You
see, when fair is predicted and it turns
out stormy, or vice versa, our attention
is sharply called to the error. On the
other hand, when the predictions are
right they excite no comment. But
the weather bureau accomplishes one
thing that is of great importance-in
forete1ling the big Atlantic coast
storms. No one a estimate the lives
saved and the shipping that is pre-
served by reason of the warnings that
are always sent out in ample time to
keep the ships from leaving port. The
bureau may err in a representation
occasionally, a mountain storm or
some other weather feature may cause
an occasional prophecy to go awry,
but it does not fail to catch the fierce
coast storms in time to give the mar
lners proper notice. Mr.. Willis Moore,
chief of the bureau, has reason to be
proud of this portion of his work.
Congress Appreciative.
Congress has shown its appreciation
of the work of the weather bureau by
constantly adding to and increasing its
scope. The agricultural interests of
the country are responsible for this to
a great extent, for the farmers have
learned to depend upon and profit by
the weather service in the planting and
harvesting of their crops. 1t is the
men In congress who come from the
agricultural districts that stand behind
the weather service of the country.
But they are not alone, as business OF
all kinds Is more or less interested in
the weather reports. The value of the
reports is sEown in the fact that they
are carried all over the country twice
a day by the Associated Press, which
means that the papers in the country
want them. Chief Moore is progress
i've and is striving every year to Inn
prove the service.
Adams and cillett.
When Representative Gillstt of Mas
sachusetts criticised the great expend-
iture upon scientific publications and
especially the illustrations of these
works, he got himself into hot water.
Not only has be had the scientific men
criticising him, but he has also been
called to account on the floor of the
house. Representative Adams of Penn
sylvania was one of his critics, and
Gillett retorted somewhat humorously.
81 have no doubt" said Gillett, that in
the long evenings, when we perhaps
suppose hat he is getting relaxation
from the intricate problems of interna-
tional law which absorb his time, he is
really in his room ~communing with ich-
thyosauria and megatheriums."
"As the gentleman and are together
about three evenings a week." said
Adams, eve spend our time very prof
itably together
"Profitably to which one?" asked
Representative Mann of Illinois amid
some laughter.
perhaps / have occasionally mis-
judged my friend continued Gillett,
and when | have sometimes seen him
here with the dreamy, sentimental look
in his eyes, which l perhaps thought
were turned upon the gallery and found
their inspiration there, l was mistaken
and that really he was in a reverie and
had returned in fancy to his favorite
realms OF the eocene and ~silurian ages"
A Portrait of Webster.
Senator Hoar recently made a nota-
BILE addition to the many things of val
ue in the literary. historical and arts
tic way he possesses in securing a
painting of Daniel Webster showing
that great statesman at his best. Sen
ator Hoar knew the famous Massachu-
sets man and says that the picture il
a very good likeness OF Webster as he
knew him. The picture has been in the
judiciary committee room for some time
and is admired by all who have seen it.
Presidents Southern Ancestors.
Rev. j. Il. Kirby, a Congregational
minister of this city, has traced out
the origin of the family Of President
Roosevelt IN the south. He says:
In 1899 an English expedition was
sent out to found a settlement at
Darien, on the isthmus of Panama.
After remaining there for a year, for
some reason the party took ship and
sailed for England. On the way they
passed the Carolina coast and, being
short of provisions and water, stopped
at the little settlement at Charleston
to replenish their supplies. The people
of Charleston, hearing that there was
a Scotch minister aboard the vessel, in
vited him ashore to preach. The
~Scotchman accepted the invitation.
: While on land, the guest OF the colony,