The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-31
4 keokuk's Weather
Is an Interesting Process

are four hollow cup shaped affairs
mounted on cross arms, revolving on
q spindle, which catch every breeze
and which give accurate measure
ments with every revolution. The
sunshine g,lage, the maximum and
minimum thermometers and the rain
and snow guages are all found on
the observatory on the roof. Dupli-
Gates of these are kept In the Office
downstairs
In the instrument shelter on the
roof is an ingenious device by which
a continuous record of the temper
atures Is traced on a paper covering
"a metallic cylinder which is moved
by clock work and makes one revolu-
ton in seven days, thus giving the
temperature of any given moment
during the week.
Making up the Map.
The local observations, then are
completed at o'clock in the morn
ing. Shortly after, the telegraph
company delivers to the observer in
code messages the reports showing
the high temperatures OF the day be-
fore, the low temperatures, the con-
dition Of the weather at each sta
! ton, wind and velocity and precipi-
| tation. The barometer readings are
also given, and with these the observ-
or marks his weather map with the
{ isobars. These give what are known
as "low'' pressure areas, and high"
pressure areas, and enable the OBJ
server to see just where the storm
! OF yesterday is today, and how fast
and in what direction it is moving
For instance, storms in the Dahotas
will reach Iowa, if they are headed
this way, in the next "a to 36 hours
as a rule With this weather may to
show the general trend of the wealth
err conditions, the country over, sup
plemented by a Geographic forecast
Of the weather from Chicago, based
on the same sort Of a map, the OBJ
server is able to say whether the
white flag, meaning fair weather, or
the blue and white flag. meaning
local storms, or the black flag, mean
ing storm, shall be displayed. "a
triangular black flag displayed above
or below the big flag tells what the
temp will be-either rising or
| falling.
Special Warning Service.
Special storm warnings are sent
out by the bureaus at Chicago for
4 this section. Frost warnings are
| repeatedly received from this source
| and save the pickle and apple grow
ers, in this section thousands OF dol
lars. Flood warnings usually are
telephoned from the different sta
| tons along the rivers.
| AS soon as the daily report Is
made up, it is made on a mimeograph
sheet on typewriter In the local
office and mimeographed on blanks
provided for this purpose. These re
ports are then mailed out TO various
people as we'll as being posted all
over the city in bulletin boards main
tanned for that purpose. The weatner
forecast likewise is prepared and
| printed on cards and put into the
mail by 9 o'clock each morning.
Visitors Are Welcome.
Records are carefully kept in the
bureau Office and the observer and
his assistant who make Keokuk's
weather. are kept on the job and busy
| every minute OF the day. The &C.
| canacy of the reports and the speed
w.th which thew are circulated are
1 IN Integral part OF the weather bu
reau service.
interested visitors are always vel
come at the weather Office, afternoon
hours being the most convenient
when the observer Is pleased to sho"
and explain the different instruments
and their uses.
| Hotel bars throughout Australia
are now closed at 6 p. m.