The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-01-30
Problems Of Serious Character
Must Be Faced.
VALUE OF SERVICES GROWS
Passing Of Wartime Conditions
Finds the Bureau Up Against Prob
lens More Serious Than Difficulties
imposed by War-Pians to Make
Serbia Useful in Aeronautics-val-
ue in Military Operations Demon
strated in Late War.

with the close or the nScal year n
the passing Of war conditions the
weather bureau Of the United States
department Of agriculture finds itself
face to face with postwar conditions
Of more serious character ven than
the difficulties imposed by the war.
says the annual report Of the chief of
the bureau, an extract of which Is
given below.
Applied meteorology as never before
in history has come to be recognized
as a highly important factor and guide
in the conduct of almost every activ-
ity of any consequence OF the nation.
Never before in any previous war did
the science of meteorolOgy play any
important part or have a place in the
program of military and naval Organ-
izations and operations. Now it Is
regarded as Indispensable and is des-
tined to become a permanent feature
Of each arm Of the service.
Created in 1870 as a part of the
signal corps of the United States army
by a joint resolution Of congress ito
provide for taking meteorological OBJ
servations at the military stations in
the interior Of the continent and at
other points in the states and terri
tories of the United States and for
giving notice on the northern lakes
and on the seacoast, by magnetic tel
egraph and marine signals. of the ap-
proach and force Of storms" its net
work of stations soon embraced the
entire United States.
Designation Changed.
Subsequently the designation Of the
service was changed to the weather
bureau, which by act of congress ap
proved October 1. 1890. was trans
ferred from the war department to
the department of agriculture and itS
functions extended to cover the en-
tire domain of meteorology, including
the duty OF preparation and issue Of
forecasts and warnings Of weather,
storms, cold waves. heavy SHOWS.
floods. and the stages Of rivers. all in
the interest Of commerce, agriculture.
and navigation.
Al PiCSCut uudluluIuS VSCi t"V
hundred fully equipped meteorological
stations, and about 1.4OO subStations
classified a special meteorological.
river. storm-warning. hurricane. ma
rine. cotton region. """a-aaa-'~h'"'t
region. fruit. cranberry. aai fire.
weather warning stations. In adj
ditiOn to these the bureau maintains,
in connection with Its Chronological
work, about $500 stations known as
cooperative stations, the equipment
being furnished by the bureau and
the observations being taken by pub
iic-spiriteda ~citizens who render gratu-
ttous service. Its cooperative work
extends to practically every ocean Of
the globe. and the masters OF many
vessels (the number was greatly re-
duced by the war. but Is now on the
~increase) ali out rms Of daily mets-
geological observations on every roy
age. to be forwarded on arrival In
port. Before the war daily observa-
lions received by cable and otherwise
from selected stations ' the entire
northern hemisphere were collected
and published. Negotiations to re-
store this exchange are under way.
A highl! trained. eflcient, and expert
snced personnel Of over 500 commits
stoned employees. helped BY shout l.
400 who receive q small compensation
for the regular performance Of spe-
cihc duties. conducts the work Of the
bureau. and In addition the marine
and cooperative observers constitute
! host Of nearly 5000 public-spirited
individuals who serve gratuit0usly.
Such. In brief. 10 the machinery and
organization Of the weather bureau.
IT, createst Value.
While The bureau IL best known to
the public through the issue ef IL
daily forecasts. maps. and bulletins,
90 doubt its greatest value In m eco
aomie sense CONSISTS in the immense
saving effected By it, special warn
ings, - Of storms and hurricanes for
the benefit o. marine interests. warn.
ings Of foods that occur On the prin-
cipal rivers. warnings Of cold waves
which accompljsh pFekAction,. TO- prop
srty and foedstu91 liable to damage
b. inJuriously low temperatures. and
warnings u frost and frsesing wealth
= for the benefit Of the fruit. sugar,
tobacco, cranberry. market gardening,
and eehsr interests.
Its duties and authorities by law
are broad and comprehensive, ana
postwar conditions bring Il Nv ard
important obligations and responsible
tiles. With the experience and tra.
ditions Of nearly ifty years to its
credit, the bureau II In 4 position TO
render practically every service Of q
meteorological nature which may be
required Of such an agency.
A few only Of the postwar prob
lems and demands In the adminlstra-
don Of the Affairs OF the weather bu.
reau are mentioned heee.
notoorotonv and Aoeonaw4loa