The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-18
A WEATHER REFORMER.
With More Money Could the Bureau Pro-
duce the R,yht Kind OF Weather

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN--Sir: From
time TO time there have appeared suggestions
by various persons writing to THE Syn pro-
testing against the inadequate reports put
out by our local weather bureau. Only last
Sunday attention was called to the fact that
a weeks forecast indicated rain in plenty.
which did not materialize. As matter OF
fact, while great good is, upquestionably.
done by our meteorological experts at Wash
ington, 1t is nevertheless perfectly apparent
that the system La cks much that should COM
mend it as perfect institution.
have been Interested In weather prognos-
tications since was boy down in Geor gia.
where at Griffin. under the tutslage OF Major
". +. Seaton, now Superintendent Of Public
Schools at Atlanta, l used to furnish weekly
report of W Gather at that station for the Smith
sonian Institution Mt Washington. l spent
several years at Chicago and several more
at New Orleans. and In both cases was IN
close touch with the weather bureaus. In
Chicago I knew DR.. Frankenfcld. now with
Prot. Willis Moore at Washington. and have
always regarded him as one Of the most ex-
pert Of our local forecast officials.
1t was under DR.. frankenfeld's admins
tration at Chicago. Feb IL, 1894. that the
record br eaking blizzard WAS recorded. Ihis
frightful srowstorm began the evening OF
the nth with high winds. which lasted all
pight. But at 4 O. clock the next NOR ming 1t
was blowing great guns. and its velocity
ayera 9ed eighty-four miles an hour for twelve
successive hours! Think Of it, Sucn
wind in New York would be something terrific,
and it was all OF that. too and more in Chi
cago, for upon several occasions during the
day DIR. trankeniield showed IN ms re"o da
velocity for a few minutes OF from 90
to lis miles an hour. Such ferocous wind
has never before been khow Own. "a 10 america;
were very imperfect. However. THIS Is get
ting away from ny topic. II ,,o,. ,,o ros.
1might have added word about the great
est of weather men the country has known,
who made his name and fame down at New
| Orleans His name was Robert Kcrkham,
4Pa ne t y wsa s tha t.
| work Of this genius - aIn,ost witnout parai.
! lei in the annals Of the Weather Bureau HIS
gifts were peGua qnd he H. ss mf FTsnhen
But Robert Ksrkham had his weaknesses.
| one OF which wound up his career with the
Department. 1 nave ofteh "ohaereo ~hae
The great trouble with the Weather Bureau
that has never hdd enough n money yns 70
with our latter day system OF telegraphic
and wireless communications we cannot DO
better in the matter OF forecasting weather
conditions; AT present we yet only two
the country This Is manifesty not enough
The state Of the Thermometer or barometer
| may have wide range within zach twel We
hour period. Twice a day Ia not enough to
note conditions. and until the department
has facilities for taking FROM, four to sir
| readings u day. we shall never have more
perfect Weather Bureau. It, would mean,
Of course. n largely increased cost for con
ccntrating these readings by wire at the
central ONCE In WASHINGTON. and resembling
| the aggregated records 10 the several nun
bred stations throughout the United states
This IL one Instance, at least where Coy;
ernment ownership of the telegraph would
mean an immense saving OF revenue. But
this IL the whole thing In nutshell.
our weather people are much busef
lot, but they do the best they can with poor
facilities and we must admit this. GiyeE
a steady condition. prevailing from thirty
six to sixty hours. and the weather man be-
lit the mark. IT it should not come bis wa,
he comes back at you and says. ! said prob
ably" IL will always be thus until VIZ have
increased readings Mt every station. ana Thu
may be set down as absolute. The forecas
officials will continue this hit Or miss
system til doomsday and Prof. Willis Moor
can continue to invent his loo stoves Tor tn
rest Of his days, and Blue Hill box kites ma!
go up for a century. but we viii not get al
approach to acr' racy till we spend NOR
| money
Give the bureau money. and the men VIII
have charge OF the weather will produce tn
right kind.
| NPw YORK Sent IL