Weekly Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1919-1920, 1919-05-21
WALTER GOULD DAVIS
Formerly Of Danville Was One Of
Worlds Best Known ana Highly
Respected Meteorologists


Argentine Republic will be the en-
during monument Of Walter Gould
Davis, whose death on April Goth, at
mis- old homestead in Dunvillc, W., re-
moved one of the worlds best known
and most highly respected mcteorol-
ogists.
A. Il young man Mr.. Davis went to
Argentina TO serve as assistant to
DR.. benjamin Apthorp Gould who
founded the Astronomical Observu-
tory ut Cordoba, and, in 1872, eS-
tabliShel the Argentine Metcorolo-
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 30 years OF active
work. Under Mr.. Davis able lead
ership, the Argentine Meteorological
Service attained a position in the very
front rank OF government meteoro-
logical organizations. When he re-
signed his post to secure well-deselv-
ed rest and to seek to regain his
health III his own country, the Ar
yentine service extended over an area
of nearly 5000 miles in q north and
south line, its southernmost station
being in the South Orkney Islands, in
latitude go degrees 43 south.
Over 20O0 stations were then coop
Grating in the work Of taking met
geological and magnetic observa-
| jonst The morning and evening obser-
vation' from nearly 200 stations
were being used in the construction
Of the daily weather map, in addition
to the daily rainfall records from
lbout 1850 rainfall stations.
Mr.. Davis wassa tremendously keen,
active and progressive director. He
was always well abreast OF the times,
| md often was pioneer in keeping
ahead of the times. An illustration
| Of his desire to have the organization
| undcr his control contribute in every
| possible way to the advancement of
meteorological knowledge was his
requirement, in 1904, of the mcteolo-
| logical and magnetic station at Lau-
RE Island, in the South Orkncys,
| which had originally been established
| )y the Scottish Antarctic Expedition.
Since 1904, this remote southern STA
ion has been operated, without Il
| break IN its records, as a part of the
Argentine Meteorological Service.
The personnel Of this lonely outpost
rs relieved only once each year, when
supplies are sent for the coming IL
months. The men are then complete
isolated, without Cat last accounts)
my mail or cable communication, un-
ii the relief vessel returns the follow
| ny year. Under these conditions of
extreme lonllncss and hardship, the
Observers at Laurie Island have
maintained labor observations for ff-
| teen years. This is u remarkable re-
cord of scientific work of the greatest
Importance in the study of world me-
.corology. 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
aim in his scientific work the best
netcorologiats whom he could find.
From this country, for example, he
secured Professor f. H. Bigelow,
formerly of the Weather Bureau, who
mas had charge of the magnetic work
in Argentina, and H. H. Clayton,
formerly of Blue Hill Observatory,
md 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 Il meteor
)logist and as the successful admin
istrative head Of large and re-
nalkably efficient organization won
Tor him a position on the Interna-
.ional Meteorological Committee, the
highest international authority on
meteorology. This was a well-de-
served recognition of the importance
Of his contributions to meteorology,
md of his sound Judgment on scienti-
lc matters.
The many publications of the Ar
gentinc Meteorological Service which
were issued under Mr.. Davis direc-
ion constitute an inspiring record of
splendid work, well planned, thor
)ughly organized, and ably carried
out.
BY the death of Walter Gould
Davis the world has lost one of its
most eminent meteorologists, and
hose of his colleagues who had the
privilege of knowing him have lost
varm-healted, sympathetic and help
ful friend.
ROBERT Dec. WARD.
Harvard University, May 3, 1919.