Evening star., 1907-10-23

The foregoing information was received
this morning by Prof. Willis L. Moore
chief of the weather service 1t was
added that all persons at the station es-
capped unhurt. except Observer Harvey H.
Spindler, who was slightly injured. The
building destroyed Is the main one at
Mount Weather. where important scien-
tif1c experiments are in progress. and the
fire crippies that work. The magnetic
and balloon observatories were not dam
aged.
On receipt of the dispatch announcing
the disaster. Prof. Moore at once gave
orders to Chief Clerk Daniel J. Carroll
to proceed to Mount Weather on the
first train, which left Washington at 80
o clock this afternoon, and conduct an
Investigation as to the cause of the con-
fiagratiun, SO Prof. Moore can make his
report to Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson
He also wired to the observer in charge
tn0uiring IL cots or tents for the tempo
rary use of the employees of the station
will be needed.
The official settlement at Mount
Weather consists Of ten buildings, but
the burned structure was the only one
that was available as living quarters for
the observers and others.
! Regret in Scientific Circles.
Regret was expressed in official and
scientific circles today because of the
destruction Of the building. 1t was urged
that substantial reason why Congress
early In Its next session should make an
appropriation for replacing the structure
Is found in the report Of the committee on
expenditures in the Department of ARr1-
culture. which was rendered at the close
OF the last session after an exhaustive in
vestigation into the manner of creating
Mount Weather and the necessity for the
institution.
This report concluded as follows:
We are of the opinion that with so
much money being annually spent In the
making Of forecasts and storm warn
ings. which everyone agrees have a great
value to the various industries of the
country. 1t Is a wise economy to devote
reasonable amount Of money to the
carrying on Of experimentation at one
Of the many stations Of the weather
bureau, SO that the science that is back
proved. and that thereby the annual ex-
penditures for the support Of the
weather bureau may have greater
value to the people. We find no evil
dence of extravaganza or misapplication
Of funds in the creation OF the institu-
ton at Mount Weather. which we be-
lieye to have been wortlhly conceived
and the plans so far to have been efn-
ciently executed"
Statement by Prof Moore.
Speaking Of the disaster today. Prot.
Moore said II was particularly unfortu-
nate because We have been receiving
such remarkably valuable results during
the past summer. The kites carry meteor
oiog'cai Instruments. gaining attitudes of
from one mile to more than four miles
every dAv since luna To- NJ fha dot
from the aeroplanes being the most i'm
portant OF any that reaches the desk of
the forecaster in Washington. However,
nave sent an inspector over to Mount
self later in the day in the hope of being
able to cont nue. the upper-air obserya-
tions. as the kite and balloon buildings
the power plant and machine shops and
me magnetic observatories are uninjured
Our principal difficulty in CONTINUING
ne work Is to secure living accommoda.
tons for the observers This we NAV
overcome for the time being by the use
or tents. which. however. 1t will not be
possible to use during the colder winter
There is also farmers cottage which
may be altered to accommodate mart of
our working force.
Plans for Exhibition.
We had our plans made" Prof Moore
'to give an exhibition at
-"AouNt weather " n QoioRatiOD OF lead
ing scientists, newspaper men. members
of Congress. committees and other in
terestcd persons early in November.
Fortunately the splendid result
gained during the past year will doubt
less commend itself SO favorably to Con
sress that l have little doubt an apnro-
priation will be made available soon
after the beginning of the session for the
replacing of the building and its CON
tents But even then the work at the
station VIII be handicapped by the loss
Of this valuable structure. The work will
not be abandoned. but we will put forth
every effort to continue the observations
now being made. We cannot dispense
with them in our forecasting work This
institution October 3 beat the worlds
record in giving high meteorological OBJ
servations. the kites carrying thermome-
ters. barometers and hygrometers to an
elevation of nearly five miles, where OBJ
servations were gained clearly indicating
Tie coming of the past three weeks of
rOOl and frosty weather.