Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-21

the West Indies are especially valu-
able in this connection, as they enable
the bureau to forecast with great ac-
curacy the approach Of those destruc-
tive hurricanes which, during the
period from July to October, are liza
BILE to sweep the gulf and Atlantic
coasts. The sailings Of the immense
number OF vessels engaged in our
ocean and lake traffic are largely de-
termined by these warnings. and
those displayed for a single hurricane
are known to have detained in port
on our Atlantic coast vessels valued,
with their cargoes. at over $3O,00O,-
900.
An essential feature Of the service
is the collection Of wireless telegra-
ply of meteorological observations
from vessels at sea, and the dispatch
by the same means to vessels at sea
of weather forecasts and storm
warnings based. upon the observa-
tions thus collected.
The warnings Of those sudden and
destructive temperature changes
next Importance. These warnings
which are issued from twenty-four to
thirty-six hours in advance, are dis
seminated throughout the threatened
regions by means of flags displayed at
regular weather bureau and subdis-
play stations, by telegraph, telephone
and mail service to all places receiv-
ing the daily forecasts, and to a large
number of special addresses in addi-
ton.
Railroads regulate the size and
movement of their freight trains, ice
men prepare for harvesting, and
many plans of business and pleasure
are made on the expectation of the
conditions forecast. The warnings
issued in January, 1896, for a single
cold wave of exceptional severity and
extent resulted in the saving of over
$3,500,000 in the protection of prop
erty from injury or destruction.
The commerce of our rivers Is
greatly aided and lives and property
in regions subject to overflow are
protected by the publication Of the
river stages and the issue Of river and
| flood forecasts based on reports re-
ceived from about 500 special river
and rainfall stations. On the occa-
sion Of the food Of 1897 in the lower
Mississippi valley, live stock and
other movable property to the esti-
mated value of about $15,OOO,OOO
were removed from the inundated
| regions prior to the flood as a result
of the warnings by the bureau in ad-
vance Of the occurrence.
From the information as to climat-
ic conditions, made known through
the reports, invalids and tourists are
enabled to select the localities best
suited to their health and pleasure
and manufacturers and agriculturists
the regions best adapted for the car
rying on Of their particular industries
By the recent extension Of the sys-
tenn Of snowfall observations through
out the mountain regions adjacent to
the great plains, it has been made
possible to forecast the probable flow
in the rivers Of the arid regions, a
factor Of great importance in irriga-
ton.
The records Of the bureau are OF
frequent use as evidence in courts of
law, for which purpose they have
been decided competent by the SUI
preme court of the United States.
The conduct Of the regular stations
of observation outside of Washington
requires the constant services of
about $50 and the business Of the
central office at Washington Of about
1876 employes.-New York Times.