The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-05-17
WALTER GOULD DAVIS
Formerly of Danville Was One of
Worlds Best Known and Highly
Respected Meteorologists


Respected Meteorologists
The meteorological service Of the
Argentine Republic will be the en-
during monument of Walter Gould
Davis, whose death on April 30th, at
his old homestead in Danville, VT, re-
moved one of the worlds best known
and most highly respected meteorol-
ogists.
AS young man Mr.. Davis went to
Argentina to serve as assistant to
DIR. Benjamin Apthorp Gould who
founded the Astronomical Observa-
tory at Cordoba, and, in 1872, es-
tablished the Argentine Meteorolo-
gical Service. DR.. Gould continued
in charge of this service until to-
wards the end of 1884, when he left
Argentina, and in 1885, Mr.. Davis
succeeded him as director, contin-
uing in that position until his retire
ment in 1915, after 80 years of active
work. Under Mr.. Davis able lead
ership, the Argentine Meteorological
Service attained position in the very
front rank of government meteoro-
logical organizations. When he re-
signed his post to secure well-deserv-
ed rest and to seek to regain his
health in his own country, the Ar
gentine service extended over an area
of nearly 5000 miles in a north and
south line, its southernmost station
being in the South Orkney Islands, in
latitude 60 degrees 43 south.
Over 1000 stations were then coop
Grating in the work of taking met
geological and magnetic observa-
ionst The morning and evening obser-
vations from nearly 200 stations
were being used in the construction
of the daily weather map, in addition
to the daily rainfall records from
about 1850 rainfall stations
Mr.. Davis was tremendously keen,
active and progressive director. He
was always well abreast of the times,
and often was a pioneer in keeping
ahead Of the times. An illustration
of his desire to have the organization
under his control contribute in every
possible way to the advancement of
meteorological knowledge was his
requirement, in 1904, of the meteoro-
logical and magnetic station at Lau-
RE Island, in the South Orkneys,
which had originally been established
by the Scottish Antarctic Expedition.
Since 1904, this remote southern sta
ton has been operated, without a
break in it's records, as part of the
Argentine Meteorological Service.
The personnel of this lonely outpost
is relieved only once each year, when
supplies are sent for the coming IL
months. The men are then complete
ly isolated, without lat last accounts)
any mail or cable communication, un-
til the relief vessel returns the follow
ing year. Under these conditions of
extreme lonliness and hardship, the
observers at Laurie Island have
maintained labor observations for fif-
teen years. This is a remarkable re-
cord of scientific work of the greatest
Importance in the study of world me-
teorology In this Laurie Island sta
ton Mr.. Davis always took great
pride, and well he might do so.
Fully alive to all the needs Of
his service, Mr.. Davis called to help
him in his scientific work the best
meteorologists whom he could find.
From this country, for example, he
secured Professor F. HI. BigeIow,
formerly of the Weather Bureau, who
has had charge of the magnetic work
in Argentina, and H. H. Clayton,
formerly of Blue Hill Observatory,
and now chief Of the Department of
Forecasts in Buenos Aires.
The high quality of Mr.. Davis
work was fully appreciated by his
meteorological colleagues every
where. His reputation as a meteor
ologist and as the successful admin
istrative head of a large and re-
markably efficient organization won
for him position on the Interna-
tional Meteorological Committee, the
highest international authority on
meteorology. This was a well-de-
served recognition of the Importance
of his contributions to meteorology,
and of his sound judgment on scienti-
tic matters.
The many publications of the Ar
yentine Meteorological Service which
were issued under Mr.. Davis direc-
ion constitute an inspiring record of
splendid work, well planned, thor
oughly organized, and ably carried
out.
By the death of Walter Gould
Davis the world has lost one Of it's
most eminent meteorologists, and
those of his colleagues who had the
privilege of knowing him have lost a
warm-hearted, sympathetic and help
ful friend.
ROBERT Dec. WARD.
Harvard ITuive,.cifu Nav 1919