New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-01


manner high temperatures are hurtful to such com.
modites as fish and oysters and the weather forecast
decides when the shipments shall be made
II is a common remark that the Weather Bureau Is
ali right for the farmers but that IT does no good to
tbe man in the city unless it be to give him tip as to
whether he should take his umbrella down town in the
morning As matter of fact, the uses made Of tenn
perature forecasts in the city are numerous and varied
The notice of an approaching cold wave closes up green
horses speed the preparations for greater firing up in
heating and lighting plants, and spurs the city auho.
ties to protect fire plugs and exposed water MAINS The
srcctcar companies provide Tor more neat IN the cars
and natural gas companies divert larger quantity Of
GAS into their lines meet the demand for increased
Consumption that they know will come.
The great business of the stores responds at once
IN predictions of rain storm, cold and merchants
c,raI their advertisements direct attention largely
to cold weather merchandise Dealers IN coal map
program by which they will be able to supply fuel to all
customers Oyster dealers take IN larger stock and
ice factories reduce their output. In the rivers the
dredging of sand and gravel ceases and on the whyes
nrecatOn is taken to protect material ready tor load
ing into boats Even charity organizations IN many
cities watch the weather maps and forecasts because
e q cold wave is expected hot wave IS due they
ltnow that they must be ready to alay the suffering
that will be found among the poorer classes.
THIS in brief outline is the function to be performed
L Inv the Weather Bureau: The saving of ships from
storms the protection of river property from floods the
occion Of crops and harvested products from sudden
changes in temperature and the guidance Of farmers
and planters in sowing and reaping their corps
The act Of Congress providing tor the reorganization
of the Weather Bureau under the Department Of Ag-
culture summarizes the work Of the Bureau follows
aThe Chief of the Weather Bureau under the direc-
ton of the Secretary of Agriculture shall have charge
Of forecasting the weather; the issue OF storm warnings
the disnlav Of weather and flood signals for the benefit
of agriculture commerce, and navigation; the gaging
and reporting of rivers the maintenance and operation
of seacoast telegraph lines and the collection and trans
mission of marine intelligence for the benefit OF commerce
,,,J
fall conditions for the cotton interest," the display Of
frost cold wave and other signals; the distribution OF
meteorological information IN the interests OIL agrcul-
ture and commerce; and the taking Of such mccoro-
logical observations as may be necessary 10 establish
and record the climatic conditions Of the United States
or are essential for the proper execution OF the foregoing
duties
The general public knows the Weather Bureau prnci.
na1v through the forecasts printed in the daily news
papers and through the weather maps posted in public
buildings and other conspicuous places he prcpara-
ton Of these forecasts is interesting, requiring. it
does the gathering of information from all part OBJ. this
country and the northern hemisphere IN general 1T
eight o'clock every morning and eight o'clock very
evening two hundred regular observing station, scat
tered throughout this country ana the west int' lake
careful observations Of the clouds and all weather
ditions and telegraph cable the results 10 the central
office in Washington and to various other torcCastng
centers On these reports and the data obtained rom
Canada and all parts OF Europe the forecasts "r al
sections Of the country are based. Trained scientists
the central office in Washington are told by these re-
ports exactly how the temperature and the barometer
stand how the winds are blowing and in what iircc
ton the clouds are travelling any part Of the country
With this information charted before them. these men,
after an hours study, comparison and analysis tell the
United States what weather conditions may be expected
10 prevail for the next thirty-siX foryeight hours
Each Of the stations Of the Weather Bureau Is per
ated by one or more trained observers. Every station
is equipped with mercural barometcrS. thermometers
wind vanes, rain and snow cages, and ancmom,.ers
Many OF them moreover, are furnished with Sums me
-.r.l- 9th.
ratus that make it possible 70 keep contnuou- and
automatic record Of weather conditions and chang.
NOW what done to give the entire country the 'cn-