The Detroit times., 1916-06-05
Weather Bureaus Origin

In letter to the Scientific Amer
lean, Cleveland Able. founder of the
United States weather bureau, calls
attention to the fact that its origin
is a matter in which the central
west figured prominently. Indeed,
IL is 10 the central west. and in
particular to the Cincinnati cham
Der OF commerce. that DR.. Able
owed the support by means OF which
he demonstrated that with the aid
OF reports on weather conditions
from various parts OF the country IL
was possible 10 forecast with some
degree OF accuracy the weather for
the next day or two, or more. He
says that an article which William
Ferrel wrote for the Mathematical
Monthly in 1857 or 1855 brought TO
him the realization that Ferrel had
overcome many OF the hidden dim
culties OF the theories of storms and
winds. During the next six years
Able was engaged in astronomical
work in this country and Europe.
but he continued TO think on the
problem. In an address delivered
at Cincinnati May J.. 1858. he point
ed out the possibilities OF COM
prehensive system OF weather re-
porting. emphasizing the effect on
the welfare OF man and the benefit
to astronomy.
John A. Gano, then president OF
the Cincinnati chamber OF com.
merce. was impressed with the idea.
A committee from the chamber met
DIR. Able and suggested that he see
what he could do TO benefit the peo-
pie in the vicinity OF Cincinnati.
With this support, he arranged with
40 voluntary meteorological cores
pondents 10 send him information
about the weather. Shortly after
this, on his return from viewing
the great eclipse OF 1869. he stopped
al Chicago and endeavored TO OBJ
tain the support OF the Chicago
board OF trade In the interests Of
the lake district. but the invitation
was declined. On Aug. l6, 1869. a
Chicago paper printed an editorial
commenting the scientific basis OF
the work. DR.. Able issued his first
weather bulletin in Cincinnati on
Sept. /, 1859 II was written In his
own hand and posted in promi
nent place in the hall OF the cham
Der OF commerce. II contained q
few observations telegraphed from
distant points and announced prob
abilities" for the next day. Unfor.
tunately. DIT. Able misspelled Tues
day, and a prominent packer named
Davis wrote below the "probabili-
ties" "A bad spell Of weather for
Old Probs.'" Dr. Able Is still con.
nected with the weather bureau In
Washington. and this name still
sticks 10 him.
The Cincinnati bureau received
daily report from the Smithsonian
observer, Prof. Increase Allen Lap
ham, then at Milwaukee. who met
William Hopper and John A. Gano,
OF Cincinnati. at the meeting OF the
national board OF trade in Rich.
mond, Va. Out OF this meeting
grew a plan 10 induce the federal
government 10 take over the entire
project. The national board OF trade
indorsed the idea, and the law was
passed. On Feb. 0. 1870. the secre-
tary OF war was authorized to carry
out the new project on a large scale.
The Western Union Telegraph Co.
offered free reports on the weather
TO the government such as II had
been giving To the Smithsonian insti-
tuition and the newspapers. At FIRST,
the forecasts were made from the or.
iginal observatory at Cincinnati. The
srmy signal service then conferred the
service in Washington. and DR.. Able
became associated with II Jan. 3,
1871. and instead OF weather prob
abilities" the government began to
issue weather forecasts"