Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-17
M|DOCEAN MESSAGES
Weather Bureau to DeveIope
Wireless TeIegraphy.
REVISING PILOT CHARTS
Twenty Five Hundred Observers En-
gagged in the Work.
CARROTS ADVANCE STEP
Special Code of Four Words Whereby
Exact Information May Be
Obtained.
REVISING PILOT CHARTS


The United States weather bureau is about
to enter upon field of work which, judging
not only by the results thus far attained
but also by the interest displayed on the
part OF those most deeply concerned. bids
fair to become when fully developed of vital
Importance and benefit to the maritime in
terests Of the country. This is no less than
the systematic collection by means OF wire
less telegraphy OF meteorological observa-
lions from vessels far out at sea, and the
simultaneous issuance of weather forecasts
and storm warnings to these vessels. based
upon the observations thus collected.
The weather bureau has for some time
past been engaged In the work of gather
Ing meteorological and physical statistics of
the seas. with a view of revising and i'm
proving the already existing pilot charts of
the various oceans. Twenty five hundred
observers are at present engaged in this
WORK WITH the result that the bureau has
accumulated a vast fund of information of
the utmost assistance tn the navigator in
determining his route and in shap ping his
course safely from port to port all of which
VIII IN time be published in a form espabIe
OF being appreciated by seameu The sery-
Ice rendered by these observers is entirely
voluntary, shipowners and masters feeling
mat the timely Information as to weather
furnished them by the bureau is ample re-
tusn Tor this exertion
Developed by Prof Garriott.
The present work. which was developed
% Prof. Edward B. Garriott. 1t is said is
step IA advance of this, and aims to give
An immediate and practical return for the
service rendered. y special code has been
prepared IL the bureau, by means of which
exact Information as to date and hour the
latitude and longitude of the vessel tho
atmosphere pressure and temperature, the
force and direction of wind and the char
acter oi III sky. is all compressed into four
words. The task of ENGINEERING this me-
neurological dispatch is performed without
charge by the wireless operator aboard the
vessel pom its receipt at any of the
coast wireless telegraph stations il is at
once forwarded to Washington having
preference as government business Should
occasion demand It, special storm warnings
based upon the dispatches thus received
are to be prepared and dispatched by wire
less telegraphy TO all vessels known to be
In the vicinity affected.
Value of the Service.
The possible value OF such & service was
demonstrated in the case of the hurricane
or March 10, in which the steamship Brit
ish King foundered and several other YES
sells were damaged. This storm was of no
great area and timely warnings as to it's
existence might have enabled this vessel
and others TO avoid its center of activity
Another feature of value is that the system
may enable the bureau to inform tFausat-
lan1c liners and other vessels as to limit
OF fog and Ice on the Grand Banks, so by
slightly altering their course they may
steer clear OF these dangers. The vessels
or the American liners We're the first to lend
their assistance in the wireless weather
service. having been selected for this duty
by the bureau on account of the long train
Ing and special skill of the officers charged
with the duty OF taking de meteorological
Observations.