The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-05-16
WILL IMPROVE
WEATHER SERVICE
Plan To Make Predictions 10 Days
in Advance May Be Worked Out
Successfully.

MT. WEATHER, Va, May 16.-The
fun-a boy would call II fun, at any
late-ls all over at the Mt. Weather
observatory when the kites and bal.
looms used by the weather expert
mentors for getting upper air obser'
vations come down to earth. After
that It's work.
The weather instruments are taken
from the sky visitors and the charts
with the recorded readings are re-
moved Then follow the long even
ings OF setting down the figures Tor
comparison, and the drawings of unln'
telligible red,. green and blue curved
lines on charts.
The red and green lines mean a
great many things TO the IL scientists
who live together on the mountain Top
and TO the weather bureau in Wash
ington, where the readings are mailed
every day. For from them is likely
TO be worked out the science Of abso-
lutte weather predictions for long per-
iods in advance.
For instance, what would it be
worth to this country TO read some
morning, say June, l, the following
authorized prediction, guaranteed TO
work out TO a dot. with telegraphcd
warnings To come OF any unforeseen
disturbances?
"A general warm wave will continue
about eight days in the central valley,
followed by colder, rainy period or
seven days terminating in killing
frosts as far south as Memphis, Tenn.
Daily prediction: June /. fair and
warm: June 2. and 4, warm, partly
cloudy; June 3, warmest day OF pre-
diction week: June . and z, cooler,
brisk north winds; June s, warmer,
becoming sultry; June 8. heavy thun
derstorms by evening: June 10, cool
and fair; June II, cloudy, high north
winds on great lakes: June IL, cold,
clearing. diminishing winds, at night
light frosts in north; June IS, unset.
tied: June L. cold, high west winds,
rain; June 10, clearing, much colder.
heavy frosts at night; June 10, warm
err"
Think OF the value Of such a pre-
diction. Delayed planting would save
the late corn crop. Berries could be
picked ahead OF the cold snap and
saved, and there would be week ot
grace for orchardists to prepare crude
oil heaters to save the young fruit.
Picnics and all outdoor events, sched-
nled to take place during the predict
ed cold spell, could be postponed in
advance Thoughtful preparation
would prevent many a case OF pneu-
monia. No vessels would need To be-
wrecked In tie gale, for all might plan
to be I'm port on June IL. Great losses
could be prevented.
That sort OF weather prediction
would be priceless. AS 1t is, the
weather bureau is not attaining any
where near th't degree Of proficiency.
The hope OF the bureau ia In the Nj.
Weather kite station, and in similar
stations that will be established rs
soon as congress realizes that 1t is
more necessary 10 vote money TO this
scientific department than to the int
provement of unused canals and riv-
ers.
IL Is shrewdly guessed that the up.
per air conditions. when they are un-
derstood and studied comparatively
with those over the entire continent
will prove to be remarkable weather
Projectors for long periods ahead.
Prof. Alfred j. Henry, in charge of
the Mt. Weather STAFF Of scientists,
does not let his optimism. If he has
any. run away with him.
Its too early to talk yet" he said.
eve want kite records for years be-
fore we can tell the value of the OBJ
eervations. However, We have al
ready discovered a few important
facts that have value Al the end of
Eve years expect to make a com
plete report that will contain my