Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-02
IT, s. WEATHER BUREAU
SA YES MANY MILLIONS. 6
BY IT'S TTNEL Y ADVICE

river will overflow and drown tae
farmers cattle or flood the city
streets.
Predicted Big Flood
one of the most remarkable cases OF
flood prediction on record was the
warming Of the disastrous floods 9r
1908. Twentv-eighr DAYS IN advance sr
its coming the forecaster at Washine-
ten announced the exact time when the
crest of a flood would reach New Or
leans and said that the height OF the
mood would be 21 feet. Punctual 70
the hour. the flood came, and it's crest
was 20 feet Z inches, only five inches
less than the height predicted. The
people along the rivers course Were
warned, comparatively few lives were
lost. and, though the damage to proper
~ was terrible, it was millions Of dol
lars less than it would have been with
out the timely warnings of the weathcx
department.
Much OF the care OF the weather bu-
reau has been devoted TO the develop
ment Of a thorough system OF frost.
and cold wave warnings. A blghtlng
frost or whitening cold wave in early
spring or autumn may leave behind
blackened orchards, wilted vegerapse
gardens and empty pockets. The orange
grower of Florida has devised dresses
10 wrap around his trees; the Graf
berry grower of Wisconsin has learned
to Hood HIS cranberry marshes aud
thus keep them warm; the truck grow
ers of Norfolk cover their early straw
berries and late lettuce and celery VIII
spreads or cheese-cloth or screens ~
stats. Likewise the florist and ccmmas-
sion merchants, who handle perishe Die
products, may be enabled, by timely
warnings, 10 save property that would
otherwise be lost. 1t is estimated thar
50, 1000 worth of fruits was saved n
But all these precautions against the
cold would be worthless, unless warm
ing is given in time for them TO be en-
ployed. IL is the purpose OF the weatner
bureau to give this warning at least q
hours in advance, and to this end it has
developed one of the most perfect or
ganlzations for the distribution Of this
knowledge. When the weather observer
gains knowledge of cold wave, be lm~
mediately telegraphs to the principal
town or city in that region, then the
warning Is sent to every producer In the
threatened region.
Storm Warnings
Undoubtedly the feature of the wealth
er bureau work which yields the highess
returns on the investment are the storm
warnings sent to masters Of steamers
and sailing craft in seaports. The wealth
er bureau learns from It's outpOsts as
soon as a storm enters the horizon OF
the United States, and sends warnings to
the ports in the threatened region. Forty
five minutes after the dictation OF
storm warning at the Washington bureau,
the warning is placed in the hands OF
every sea captain In every lake and ocean
port OF the United States.
Formerly 20 per cent OF the loss Il
shipping on the Great lakes was wrought
by storms. but since the inauguration or
the STERN warnings less than % per cent
Of loss in shipping can be attributed to
storms. .f1
The records of the weather stations are
consulted by the lawyer. the builder "
great buildings, .the farmer, and many
others 10 whom they furnish valuable in
formation There are many minor pur-
poses that the weather service helps. Sec
ond only in Importance to the three mem
toned al length. IA