The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-11-17
FORETELLING THE WEATHER
KITES AND BALLOONS ARE SENT
UP FOR MILES.
The Government Is Completing an
Observatory Above the Clouds
in Virginia.


in Virginia.
There. is now nearing completion
in the mountains of northern Vir-
ginia a weather forecasting outpost
upon which the United States gov
eminent has expended more than
100000 in the past two years
When this institution, known as the
Mount Weather Observatory is COM
pleted this autumn so that the scien-
lists can make use of it, it is believed
that this experiment station with it's
unusual fittings, above the clouds
will contribute more than any other
factor to increased accuracy in what
lis known as long range forecasting.
Some years ago scientists at vari-
Gus United States weather bureau
stations took up the study of the
best methods for lifting self-record-
ing instruments high above the
earth's surface. Up to that time all
knowledge of the conditions of tenn
Iperature, pressure, humidity, wind
velocity and direction and other con-
ditions affecting the weather had
been based upon observations made
at or near the surface of the earth
Among other experiments kites and
specially designed balloons were used
as vehicles for carrying the thermom-
eters and other instruments to
heights that could not be reached by
any other means.
Finally the government took the
matter up in earnest. A piece of
land was secured in an isolated part
of the Blue Ridge mountains in Vir-
ginla and work was inaugurated on
the establishment that is expected to
do much to meet the future needs
of meteorology.
The Mount Weather Observatory
site covers tract of II acres in
decidedly isolated locality some 20
miles south of Harper's Ferry and
AZ miles in direct line from Wash
ington. Situated at an altitude of
| l,725 feet above sea level of the
very crest of the Blue Ridge noun
tains it overlooks to the west the
entire Shenandoah valley from Stras-
burg to Harpers Ferry, while to the
east all that portion of Piedmont
Virginia between the Blue Ridge and
Bull Run mountains is in full view.
This extensive sweep of valleys,
mountains and plains affords rare OPP
portunity for the study of storms,
but the construction of large build
ings on this somewhat inaccessible
site probably presented more puz-
zling problems for builders and con-
tractors than have been involved in
any other governmental undertake
ing of the kind.
A proper study of the upper air
requires locality with a high aver
age wind velocity-one where some
time during each day there is a
strong possibility of having e wind
of at least eight or ten miles per
hour.
The ordinary kites will fly in any
wind with a velocity of 10 miles per
hour or more, but are not adapted to
use when the wind exceeds % miles
per hour. However, the new style
emergency kite at Mount Weather,
weighing eight pounds and having a
) lifting surface of 58 feet, has made
successful flights more than a mile in
height when the wind was blowing
a gale at 46 miles an hour
Kites have been flown at Mount
Weather at the remarkable altitude
of $4,000 feet, and captive balloons
are frequently sent to a height of
several miles. The weather bureau
officials are just inaugurating par
ticularly interesting experiments,
wherein small rubber balloons car
: rying self-recording instruments of
Especially light weight are being lib
Grated and allowed to make their
own way in the upper air currents.
RV this WaV rpcordc at o1avafiOpc cf
from 10000 to $4,000 feet will be
obtained, and it is not believed that
there will be any difficulty in recov-
ering the instruments and balloons,
inasmuch as all are duly labeled and
rewards offered for their prompt re-
turn.
$4,000 WORTH OF FOWLS BURN.