The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-26

resolution authorizing and providing for meteorogical observations at military
 stations was approved in February, 1870.
 In 1872 an appropriation was made fol storm signals, for the benefit of commerce
 and agriculture. This transferred the
 meteorological work of the signal office from the office of the Secretary of War to that of the, department of agriculture. This act was approved October 1, 1890, and the duties of the service are thus summarized:
 Forecastlng the weather the issue of storm warnings, the display of weather and flood signals, the guaging and re- porting of rivers, the maintenance and operation of sea coast telegraph lines, the collection and transmission of marine in- telligence, the reporting of temperature and rainfall conditions for the cotton in- terests and the display of frost cold waves and other signals
 There. are 200 regular observation sta- tions scattered through the United States and the West Indies, each representing about 15.000 square miles. Each of the weather bureau stations are op\rated by one or more trained observers and Is equipped with mercurial barometers. ther- mometers, wind vanes, rain and snow guages. and thermometers and many of them with sunshine records, barogra phs, thermographs and other devices which make a continuous automatic record of the local weather conditions and changes The weather bureau stations outside of Washington require the constant service of 600 employees. In the business office at Washington there are 200, the dlsburse- ments of the bureau amount to S1,6O0, 0O0 per annuI1.
 Two observations are made daily, at I a. m and at D. m., central time. The al hSa fiops a ra in, nvv, ,bor circuits, like press circuits, as all ob- servations are made at one time, the news is sent and received within an hour after the observation is made, thus an exchange of reports is had all over the United States and southern Canada an hour after 1t Is taken.
 AS soon as the report Is made 1t Is en- tered upon chart and maps are printed which indicate the wind pressure and the temperature. A daily bulletin is issued and the report telephoned to all telephone stations so that they may send the word to the rural districts, teIegraphic com munications are also used and a rural delivery gotten out. Weekly reports arc sent to all country newspapers and month ly reports are also printed. A crop report is made for Alabama and the United States and sent to the country newspapers. This report gives for instance. a comparative estimate of the number of bushels. say of corn, read ing as follows:
 Corn-eeptember forecast: Alabama, bushels. 7.6oO0O0; United States. 2.9S0 00O.- 000 final, 1914. Alabama, bushels, 55. 4s8, ,OOo; United States. 2.672. 2.S04,00o.
 This crop estimate is made by the weather bureau with the cooperation of the United States department of agri- culture.
 A cotton region bulletin is also made This Is in no way statistical report, but gives information concisely and clear ly in relating to this very important com modity.
 A weather flag is displayed in a promi- nent part of the city and cards interpret ing it are distributed, such flag is on the Chamber of Commerce building Nineteenth street and First avenue
 The local station Is beautifully situated in Fountain Heights on a prominent knoll and from the roof, where the instrument to register the wind velocity Is located, may be seen the entire city. and the love ly Alabama mountains surrounding Bir- mingham
 on the grounds are the weather os- server's equipment and the rain gauge. The local bureau is in charge of Edgar C. Horton as local forecaster, with two as- slstants. The government requires these forecasters to stand civil service examin- ations. besides the examination in rnete- orclogy.
 The present building was built by the United States government after Bifmlns- ham had donated the land and was com .pleted in 1908. Before that the daily ob- servatiop6 were made by Bon M JacobA Alabama has four stations receiving direct communications. one ct Montgofn- cry. one at Anniston' Mobile and Biz
 How does the weather bureau servc the public outside of the forecast borvice?
 This Is q natural question. if you have never thought seriouDly Of the extent of the work. Here are q few, of the ways: The West 1ndies enable tho bureau eo