Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-02
the WEATHER BUREAU
ANNUAL REPORT OF CHIEF
WILLIS L. MOORE.
Research Work at Mount Weather.
-seismological Observations.
r Other Matters.

i me annual report OF ff0l. WINS -.
Moore, chief ef the weather bureau. has
been transmitted to Secretary Of Agricui-
ture Wilson. It treats Of the research
work at Mount Weather, upper air work,
solar radiation, forecasts and warnings.
archaeological observations, climatalogical
service and many other matters. Prof.
Moore says the present may be said to
mark an important epoch in the develop
ment Of meteorological science in this
country. A research observatory has been
created at Mount Washington, Va. and
a staff OF highly trained and ambitious
young men has been formed. The first
important result achieved by this staff
was the sending Of meteorological instru-
ment by means OF aeroplanss to greater
attitudes than have to our knowledge been
accomplished elsewhere. The observations
thus obtained have been continued for
over three months In succession, practf-
caliy without interruption. and 1t Is prob
able that such record will be maintained
indefinitely In the future.
The achievements at this research in
stitution now enable the forecast official
at Washington to receive each night the
vertical gradients Of temperature and the
direction Of the wind for attitudes on the
at times over four and ene-half miles, and
thus to learn something regarding the
conflict Of currents. their direction and
force In the upper regions. These data
are Of great value in the making Of fore
England states, and for the elucidation
Of many problems Of the upper air that
heretofore 1t has been impossible to
study"
Seismological Observations.
|; Referring to archaeological observations,
Prot. Moore speaks Of the increasing i'm
portance Of systematical chronological OBJ
servations. Only short time before my
last report was written an unparalleled
seismic disaster laid San Francisco and
other cities in central California in ruins.
Exactly four months later a strikingly
similar convuision of nature devastated
Valparaiso and vicinity. Still later. name
ly. on January IL, the city of Kingston.
Jamaica, was laid waste. and finally on
the 14th Of april violent seismic dis,
Mexico. where great damage and loss OF
life resulted.
THE scientific world Is now fully aroused
to the Importance OF Systematically OBJ
serving and studying these natural phe-
welfare Of the people. for 1t Is clearly rec
ognized that with adequate data in hand
the people can be advised how to best Sc
lect and locate their habitations and how
turbances to which they may be sub
jected.
EXACT knowledge of the character and
magnitude of the motion Of the ground
when subjected to earthquake action is Of
vital importance to architects and struc-
tural engineers whose business 1t is to de-
sign and erect the enormous structures
now SO numerous In all our great cities.
Any one Of these modern buildings often
houses a small army Of people whose
fafuy do IN eat
the power Of the structure to resist the
forces that may assail 1t. Earthquake
proof construction must be required espe-
cially in great structures, even in regions
ably 1t is only a question Of time when
some REIMBURSEMENT of the earth's strata
under long accommodating stresses may oc-
cur in seemingly the most stable regions
and an earthquake of greater or less Sc
verify be precipitated thereby.
Foreigners Studying Our Methods.
Chief Moore calls attention to the fact
that foreign meteorologists are now
studying the American weather service
and its methods. He also speaks of the
value of the river and food service, and
Of the work Of the Genealogical division.
with it's 5000 cooperative stations, and
Of ocean meteorology. He adds:
THE essential feature OF this service is
the collection by wireless telegraphy of
meteorological observations from vessels
at sea. and the dispatch by the same
means to vessels at sea Of weather fore
casts and storm warnings based upon the
observations thus collected.
He gives list of vessels that are equip
ped with the Marconi apparatus. and
have been authorized to transmit to the
bureau the record Of the daily Greenwich
mean noon meteorological observations,
and have been supplied with the tele-
graphic code, forms. ETC., required for
that purpose.
Prof. Moore urges the necessity Of a
school OF instruction. where new employees
may be taught their duties. and recon-