Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

geological reports covering a period that
few observatories can boast to have COW
cred with care and accuracy. The collec-
ton has won Belen honor. 1t received
high awards at Philadelphia in 1876, at Paris
in 1878 at Barcelona - 1888, at Chicago in
1893, and st. Louis in 1904. The medal Of
the last exposition has never been sent it,
but the others are among its priced trophies
Of incessant conscientious scientific work.
! Those that now make the daily observa-
tons are Father Gangioti director; Father
Mariana Gutierrez-L LAMA, subdirector;
Father Simon Sarasota and Brothers An
dreas Lafuente and Ganfalo Llorente, as
sistants. The brothers make the readings,
but all alert, and the slightest sign of
anything unusual is noted at once by the
| fathers. They are constantly studying the
| clouds for evidence of peculiar phenomena.
They hear daily from stations at Barbados.
| St. Thomas Santo Domingo, two in Jamai-
| ca, Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos, Pinar del
Rio and Key West and Tampico, Progreso,
New Orleans and Galveston twice a day
each.
This gives them the barometer, tempera-
ture direction and velocity Of the wind,
state of weather and appearance and move
ment of the clouds at these points.
This study of the clouds IS regarded by
Father Gangioti as one of the most impor-
tant features of the forecast. To his train
ed eye they tell the course of the storm, the
direction from which it comes and the
Cubans are childlike in their belief to
the accuracy of every report that comes
from the Belen Observatory Thirty six
years of experience in it's methods has
taught them to think 1t is impossible that
the fathers could err in their forecasts
The cost of operating the observatory
is borne by the shipping and commercial
interests. Through their liberal contribu-
tons it has been possible to establish a
system Of telegraphic communication with
points in Cuba and various West Indian
Islands. Quick as the storm comes the
dunn of advance information by wire,
Father Gangloti Is always able to give first
notice Of phenomena that portend danger.
One Of Father Gangiotfs assistants,
Father Gutierrez, Is now in Spain making
extended meteorological studies and will
later return to Cuba.
The Jesuits have made great progress
in meteorology in the Philippines, the head
of the weather service of the insular gov
eminent being Father Algue. The predic-
lions of the Manila Observatory are in de-
mand at Hongkong to supplement the
British forecasts.
The merchants and shippers of Havana
are highly pleased with the storm signal
service from Belen College
Ky
of which the observatory and its wonder
full weather service Is but a department,
is a massive building, with stone walls
six feet thick, facing the Plazueda de Be
len between Acosta and Compostela
streets, and covering the entire block in
irregular fashion. 1t has enormous rooms,
great courts, winding passages. almost
countless sweeps of circular stairs. spa
cious dormitories, large marble swimming
pools, beautiful chapel and school rooms
by the half dozen.
Here are forty-eight priests and thirty
scholastics educating 2s6 boarding scholars
and 100 daily pupils in all the arts and SCI
ences and plain everyday knowledge.
There is a free school besides, of 200
boys, from seven to sixteen. And an earth
quake branch has just been added. 1t Is
called the chronological department., and 1t
| Is to be located at the community villa
near Luyano, about three miles from Ha-
vana. The building Is finished and awaits
| two of the latest improved recording seis-
mographs. which have been ordered in
Strassburg.
| Scientific societies and newspapers all
| over the world bear tribute to the accu-
| racy of the forecasts that come from Belen,
and the textbooks that Father Vines left
! are accepted as standards.