Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-11-16
WEATHER FORECASTS.
Value of Long Range Predictions Be-
ware of Fake Forecasts.

ware of Fake Forecasts.
The weather, siuce the Create Is deer. e
after the deluge, lie the earth re-
maiueth, the seedtime and harvest, cold
| aud beet, aud SUNNI r and winter, an d
day and night snail not cease" has been
subject OF perpetual interest. IL will
ever remain so, for the vast sgr cultural
and other industries, he extensive com.
fnercial and marine interests, end, in fact,
the daily affairs OF man are SO materially
effected by the constantly changing
weather.
Mlscaicnlations with regard to severe
storms, to droughts, and to great tenn
perature changes, often entail heavy
losses. Since tue weather follows i'm
mutabie laws which man cannot change
and the manifold and valuable interests
OF man require for their successful
prosecution a knowledge OF the weat her
now prevailing aud that which may be
expected in the future, Congress, in Feb
ruary, 1870, enacted laws for the establish
ment of a national wea her service.
And to-day the United States leads the
world in practical meteorology. Its fore.
casts and storm warnings are based on sci
entific observat ions taken by trained aud
experienced observers, and are the de-
ductions and opinions OF able scientists
and meteorological, aud are, therefore, the
best ootainabie. While the forecasts are
far from perfect and leave m1cn 10 be de.
sired, they are sufficiently accurate To be
OF iDcalculab value.
With the facilities at hand, and in the
light OF our present know edge OF me, cor
ology, there Is nothing on which 10 base
forecasts for periods exceeding two or
three days. And while there is great
demand, and much need of 10 " range
forecasts, e forecasts f,r month or a
season. the time Is not yet at hand, the
science OF the weather not sufficiently de-
velnp-d, to render hem possible.
notwithstanding these facts there are
persons VINO, realizing the urgent need
OF FORECASTS Tor an extended period, take
advantage OF tie same, and t is not un-
common To read III some OF tue nc VS.
papers from tine to tune forecasts OF
great Storm for month In advance, ana
for the VIZ her c1ndlt - of a Whole sea-
son.
Unfortunately casual readers, and they
are numerous, and ffeqne' thy the welt
informed, attribute thes. fake forecasts tu
the weather bureau, as Is we'll knoen by
the experience of Loe fiji fla = al numerous
stations of the bu e"u. the nation /
weather service is thereby brought 1t o
great disrepute, and many persons gr, atty
inconvenienced aad probably su, lee
to monetary Or otner LOSS OF much value.
VITA regard to the accuracy OF these
long-range forecasts, the cu,ef 4 the
United States Weather bu, eau has 81 a.e.,
as follows:
LAS TT suit Of my personal verfcaton of
the work of iong-ramge weather forecasters,
some of whom have SO far gained the conf .enee
of the rural press as to receive liberal compen
sation for their pr dictions am led to the ron
clusion tnat these forecasLers knowingly per
petrate rand and do positive injury to the pub
lie IL large"
the government weather department
has able men engaged in its work, aid as
soon Ms forecasts aud warnings for mote
extended period are possible, and there
is much to eneouraLe nope for improved
service, the pubic wilt be duly informed
and receive he benefit thereof
1t is believed tbat the public interests
will be greatly subserved il the foregoin.
facts were generally knowo, and IL is to
he hoped that the press OF the country,
and particui 'rly papers published ia the
rural districts, will render the valuable
aid that is within their power by ssem
mating the information at the sJ-call.
long range forecasts do not emauata tom
the weather bureau and are wholly uL
official