The Emmett index., 1913-10-16
WEIGHS SUNSHINE.
MEASURES WIND
New Weather Bureau Head Is
Author and Scientist.
REPUTATION INTERNATIONAL
Charles Frederick Marvin, Who Sue
eeeded Chief Willis Moore, Recog-
nized Abroad as Worlds Foremost
Authority on MeteoroIosy and seis-
noIogy-Many inventions.


nized Abroad as Worlds Foremost
Authority on MeteoroIogy and Seis-
noIogy-Many Inventions.
What does quart of sunshine
weigh?
The obvious answer Is that nobody
knows. That answer would be wrong.
Charles Frederick Marvin knows. He
Is the man Kho runs tape measure
over the wind and puts impalpable va
pors In the scales and holds his thumb
on the palpitating pulse of the earth
Between times he performs miracles
Always he is a quiet. kindly infinitely
patient man. Even the follies of Dame
Nature do not make the chief of the
weather bureau frown.
Marvin wasn't even name to our
ninety millions until lately. Eight
years ago German scientists recogniz-
ed him as the greatest meteorologist
In the world. Then he became the
greatest seismologst and earthquakes
began calling him up to tell their
symptoms. But he kept in his back
office and Off the first page until Sec
retary of Agriculture Houston accept
ed the resignation of Chief Willis
Moore.
Begins Search For Scientist.
''Now." said Mr. Houston. "I must
have scientist Doesn't any one
know nice scientistT
SO Houston wrote to members of the
National Academy OF Science. asking
them TO suggest man for the place.
He naturally expected them to nomi-
nate member. Government en-
Dloyees are barred from membership
IN the academy. but the academicians
replied: II
MARVIN is the man." =
And when Mr.. Houston asked "Who
$ Marvin?" they replied vaguely to the I
fleet that.
why. Marvin-why-Ma That's
H."
Marvin entered by the civil service =
QUITE in 1884. being the first high v
Two years later he was d
hief of the instrument division. He i.
ad had thorough training in me- n
hanical science at Ohio state univers-
y. incidentally. he was genius. All
ne work of the bureau is done by In g
Marvin invented or i'm r
roved them all. c
lnterminable Pages of Figures. Il
Between times he has written many h
Doks filed with interminable pages .,
figures. The lay reader finds them =,
idly incomprehensible. The scien- V
st keeps them on his shelves for ref
ence. His tables of vapor pressure u
st reduced to mathematical formulas
e processes which result In rain. hail
snow. Twenty years ago Marvin did tf
e first scientific kite flying. Then he 10
vented a self registering instrument CO
the Marvin meteorgraph = which
ought back every item of informa-
N about conditions In the upper air.
len the world became excited about du
te flying. tn
Il will offer prize for the best pa M
r on kites" said Octave Chanute. 10
, Chicago engineer. -
Il have just concluded my mono
iph on that subject" said Mr.. Mar as
/. 1T as awaiting publication. Do mt
Il care to look at it?' pc
Ihanute paid him the prize. Then
began to play with earthquakes
invented the seismograph which is
use wherever they use such things. a..
wrote a few large volumes about
tn tremors. When not otherwise ny
yaged he invented things for the Del
not one of which ever
fitted him penny. of course. spi
Known as Mechanical Genius. sor
ver and over he has been called del
chanical genius-it was only the cry
er day that some one bought an in Gin
tion that was fifteen years old eur
fifteen years forgotten-but he of
never cared for money. He has bor
ferred to stay in his office. doing
good solid. substantial work that
made the weather bureau of the .ne
ted States the first in efficiency on tro
h. He was born In Putnam. o.. is DOC
r-two years old. thorough going BuC
mentally honest and patient-pa- Lou
t-patient.
hat difference do few years
le to n man who works with the