The Cairo bulletin., 1904-05-23

cupidity Of the peoples
United States Departments Of A5ri.
culture, Climate and Crop Service Of
the Weather Bureau Illinois section.
Springfield llI, May 20, 1904.
To the Editor
Dear Sir:-Tn your discretion I Will
thank you to publish this letter, or
such part thereof as YOU may deem
pertinent for the benefit of the public
In your community
The publication OF so-callel long
range weather forecasts, especially
such IS relate to severe storms. floods
drou,hs, and ether atmospheric
phenomena Of a dangerona Or jamag
ms character, and tho persistent eff.
forts of certain mon 10 f0ist their pre-.
lictiuns an9n The public, Tor personal
gaiR have reached such pr0p0rtions
,hat it is deemed advisable fairly ana
temporarily to counteraot the iuau-
enee 81 those whom we believe "a be
proving un1n the cradulity OF the pub.
lie Some OF these men may hc hon.
est and may in their is rance al
ach undue importance to storms that
may, accilcntly coincide in time OF
occurrence with certain relative posi-
tions at The planets or with changes
in the phases and positions of the
moon, or With periods 81 increase 0r
decrease in sunsuots. or apparent yal-
iations in the solar intensity Wise
acres OF this class find that for which
they sincerely seek. they mar, wher
they hit and never mark when hes
miss. and a Storm within the broad
area 81 The United States, ana al
times. within much broader areas 9r
Oh near the day for which they have
predicted a storm confirms in Thea:
minds. the value OF their system Of
prediction
They may believe that they have
discovered a physical law on a me.
neurological principle that has moi
been revealed TO astronomers. meteor
oloeiSts. or other scientific inyestisa-
sors. bins the publication of predictions
that by reason of their absolute mac
curacy are calculated To- be positively
injurious t3 agricultural. commercial
md other in lus,ral interests, casts a I
serious doubt upon the honesty Of !
heir purpose, and upon Jhcir asserted /
leyotiou to the public welfare. such |
bring the science OF met /
r0l0Gy into disrapute and can not .
therefore,, be made ia response 10 a /
lesjre tn advance Than science along /
iseFul liaes; ana they retard the /
work Of the honest investigator /
through whose efforts only can gains I
,e made in a fundamental hnowlcdge I
e the eausation of weather thar win
Justify forecasts for a month or a
eason In advance
AS a result of rigid and careful YER
dcation Of the work of Ions ranee
weather. forecastcrs some of whom
.ava So far CARED the confidence Of (
he rural press as TO receive liberal /
for their predictions /
hid conclusion is reached that these
En wlng'y perpotrate /
rand and 10 positive injury 10 the
uhlic. Forecasts Of this description (
nay properly be ciassed with adyer
i ments of quach medlcines-both I
re harmful In the extreme
The weather bureau with the en-
inery Of the United States govern. (
cent asa its corps Of W rld rnown !
4 astronomers and metoorologist7 /
.arilug lu3efafiEably for the diecov (
ny o. the laws and principles uuler
Wing weather changes, docs not as
ay except On rare occasions. TO gg
arond "a fartyeieht hour forecast II /
hoped. however, that the time will
ome when it viii be possible to fore
asst weather for coming seasons, IL
9ecify i'm what respect the comi n
.onth or season wiz conform TO or
part from the weather that is con
,eu o. TIE month OF season but that
nae haa no, yet arrived
Very respectfully
AstR4 r rItnMo