Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-01
PROF. MOORE'S DENIAL
Meets Insinuations Made
Against His Bureau.
MT. WEATHER STATION
CONGRESS FULLY ADVISED OF
WORK PERFORMED THERE.
Secretary Wilson's Visit to Station
Named Made With View to
Thorough Inspection.

When Prof. Willis L. Moore. chief of the
weather bureau. was shown by Star re-
porter a publication charging that the serv-
Ice maintains summer annex or resort
in the Blue Ridge mountains In Virginia.
and that appropriations by Congress had
been diverted from their proper channels
to be expended on this alleged annex he
Indignantly denied the accuse ton against
the service over which he pres:des.
THE Mount Weather ohservator he
said, has been authorized by the laws of
Congress for five years The ninety acres
composing the tract and the seven buildings
cost the government only 100000. which l
consider very moderate figure. 1t is the
only place In the weather service devoted
exclusively to purely scientific Investigation,
and has already proved to be of the great
est value to the service, its worth having
increased from year to year.
AS to the statement that Secretary OF
agriculture Wilson had on several occa-
sions enjoyed the hospitality of the sum-
mer annex. Prof. Moore said:
Secretary Wilson has been there but
twice. and then on official business He
went there on two inspection trips and to
see if the laws of Congress We're being
obeyed On his first visit he stayed one
day-on his second a day and half"
Another Charge Denied.
AS to the charge that government horses
ana carriages were maintained Ut the place
for the use of guests" Prof Moore de-
clared that there is not a single govern
ment carriage nthe remises. The carriages
there are owned by the officials who use
them and are maintained at their own ex-
pense. These officials have also to pay for
their board. This is set forth in the regu-
IatiOnS, follows:
THE administration building, being pri-
marily designed to accommodate the bust
ness offices. the weather observation work.
and to furnish aecommoda tons for those
residing temporarily at Mount Weather,
mess fund will be maintained in this
buiuidinf, and each person occupying a
seat at the table will pay not to exceed
one dollar SD per day into the same From
this fund will be paid the cost of the mess
which shall include the cost of the serv-
ices of the cook and the waiter. the cost of
laundry for the dining room. kitchen and
bed rooms and the cost of ice.
The observer in charge of property Shall
under the general directions of the super
vlslng director. have charge of the prem
Uses, repairs. improvements, heating and
lighting power plants, horses and vehicles.
meteorological observations and forms and
the mess and the forage funds. He may
correspond direct with the central office in
regard to the details of the work with which
he is charged.
Fuel and Lights.
Those occupying government quarters
will be furnished with fuel and lights, but
in making recommendations to the depart
ment In connection with the salaries of Of
ftcials residing at Mount Weather, the fact
that they receive these allowances will be
taken into consideration However as
these officials are selected because of their
special qualifications, the salaries given
them should be commensurate with their
technical skill. a.
Officials above the grade of skilled artt-
san WILL in the order of rank be allowed
stable room for one horse each, provided
there be sufficient accommodations for
them, and each official who owns a horse
shall pay SIS per month into the forage
fun, which will be under the care of the
observer in charge of property; and all
money paid into this furi will be used to
defray the expense &c iced and shoeing,
and for services In caring for the horses.
Congress Had Full Information.
Prof. Moore said Congress was in posses
sion of full information when it appropriat-
ed money for the esta blishment of the
Mount Weather Research Observatory" a q
each member of that body had a copy of his
report containing the following statement:
AT Mt. Weather, Va. it is proposed to
exploring of the atmosphere to attitudes
of three to ten miles. In this work it is
probable that many balloons will be
simultaneously liberated from different
and Of cold waves from their four quad
rants. With the knowledge thus gained
of vertical gradients of pressure and of
temperature it will doubtless be possible
to gain a better understanding of the me-
chanicS of storms.
This exploration will be useful in deter
n lining how near right are those who be-
leve that change in Temperature other
than seasonal is mainly function of the
| mechanics of the lower sphere-that
portion lying below the ten-mile level; that
in the~study of those observations of climate
called weather" investigators need con-
Germ themselves only with the atmosphere
near the earth: and that variations In the
condition and in the intensity of the many
forms of solar radiation are inappreciable
in their effect on the weather of the earth,
With observations from the magnetic, the
electric. and the solar physics observatories
which the department is now building. and
which will be equipped with the most APP
proved appliances, opportunity will be given
to those who believe that the cyclonic or
anti-cyclonic whirls that constitute storms
or cold waves are mainly the result of
changes In the amount or intensity of some
form of collar radiation. 1t is the opinion
of the writer that the synchronism of
changes in the activity of the chromosphere
of the sun and the weather of the earth has
not yet been established with sufficient def
initeness to be of benefit to the forecaster
but working hypothesis has been formu-
lated which stimplates thought, study and
investigation
This fact must be credited to the patient
work of Prof Frank H. Bigelow Even
those who differ from him In their conclu-
sions relative to the associate between
astrophysics and meteorology must admit
that the fertility of his thought and his
earnest seeking after the problems which,
when solved. shall raise meteorology from
empiricism to a closer approach 10 an exac;
science, have been highly beneficial. The
study of storms has too long been made
from single view point. Daring minds
are needed, even those that are willing TO
take considerable hazard i'll the hypoth-
eses which they are willing 10 lay down and
attempt to demonstrate; for to doubt is 10
investigate.
New truths are usually discovered by
working inductively along conventional
lines. but some OF the greatest principles
in nature have been made known to the