The daily sentinel., 1903-01-05
UNCLE SANS
GOOSE BONE.
The Weather Bureau; Its Relation
To the PubIic--lts Great Use.
A Government Service Little
Understood.

|
most people have of the workings of
| the United States Weather bureau of
the department of agriculture is gath
cred from the daily prediction of rain
or snow that they encounter at the
supper table as they glance over the
evening paper. They base their esti-
mate of the utility of the weather
service ON the accuracy of the predic.
tion thus hastily scanned. and many
are prone to inquire whether it is
true that this servic, has really made
place for itself in the great indus
trial economy of our country; wheth-
er or not an adequate return is made
for the expenditure of over 81. 900. 900
annually; whether the science of
weather forecasting has reached its
highest degree of accuracy. and
whether it holds out possibilities for
future Improvement. They would.
doubtless, be amazed if they knew the
thousand and one ramifications
through which it reaches. daily. prob
ably more than one half of our adult
population.
The above is the beginning para
graph of an article recently published
by the Chief of the Weather Bureau.
Prof. Willis L. Moore, man better
equipped perhaps than any other to
deal with the subject. on account of
his extended practical experience all
the way from observer to Chief OF
Bureau; and he further explains the
various methods employed by the Bu-
reau to serve the public interests.
In the single item of forecast dis
semination. it is estimated that. by
the rural free delivery. star and rail
way mail routes alone. there will be
IA distribution in the United States of
| 10. 900, 600 cards during the present
! fiscal wear. each card having the fore
cast printed thereon Add to this the
vast number receiving the forecast by
| the daily newspaper-tig figures almost
! incomprehensible
This distribution i only one of the
| / 4 nIi MT Inyn1yinry
the various observers scattered
throughout the country. The Bureau.
recognizing its office as the servant of
the people, is "nlarging its scope and
widening its sphere to meet condi-
tions as they rise. as instanced by the
issue of climate and crop bulletins.
cold wave. frost and flood warnings.
special snow depth reports. the latter
this part of the country in thu esti-
nation of the probable water supply
during succeeding summers. and manv
other methods of serving public inter
estS that space will not allow us to
,numerate. And. with the co-opera-
tion of the newspaper. it is covering
II wider field than ever anticipated by
its founders or even hoped for by the
fathers of meteorolopy. Its trained
agents are collecting data of crop and
climatic conditions. valuable for pub.
ilcation at the time. but which will
be more valuable as time rolls on.
The bench mark is being establish
ed. not for this generation alone. but
for the next and the next and tn,
next Little integral 9gures. whicl
, by them selves mean little local con
ditions. will in the time to com,
, make the tools with which the child
, rem unborn will shape the destiny O
t mankind. Statistics you say Stats
3 tics mean everything when properl,
, studied Established standards wer,
, begotten of observation. and it il
, known that certain conditions brin,
y