The state herald., 1920-03-19
new TASKS FOR
WEATHER BUREAU
Problems Of Serious Character
Must Be Faced.
VALUE Of SERVICES GROWS

imposes by War0tIahe - MaHo
Serbia ussfui In Asrsnavtles-v
W In Military Operations Demon
stratsd In Late War.
With the close Of the fiscal year and
the passing Of war conditions the
weather bureau Of the United States
department Of agriculture nnds Itself
facs to facs with postwar co4dltious
ot more serious character even than
ths dia'culties Imposed By the war.
says the annual report Of the chief Of
the bureau. an extract Of which e
given below.
Applied meteorology a. never befers
h History has come to be recognized
- Z highly important factor and guide
n tie conduct Of almost every activ.
~ e sny cousequsues of tie natioo.
Nsvsf before n any previous war did
tAs science Of meteorolegy play any
ineortant part or have place In the
program Of military and naval organ
lsatious and operations. New Il Il
rsgardsd a. indispensable and Il dss-
tiasd to become q permanent feature
oe each arm Of the service.
Created In 1870 a. q part Of the
signal corps Of the United States army
By q Joint resolution Of congress ''to
provide for taking meteorological OBJ.
servations At the military stations 10
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-
peoach and force Of storms" Its net.
WORK Of stations soon embraced the
satire United States.
Designation Changed.
Subsequently the designation Of the
service was changed to the weather
bureau. which by act Of congress ap-
proved October I. 1890. was trans.
fssrsd from the war department to
the department Of agriculture and it,
functious 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 snows.
foods. and the stages Of rivers. all In
the interest Of commerce. agriculture
and navigation.
At present It maintains over two
hundred fully equipped meteorological
stations. and about LOO substations
classified n special meteorological
river. storm-warning, hurricane, ma.
dne. cotton region. corn.and.wheai
region. fruit. cranberry. and hre
weather warning stations. In ad
dltion to these the bureau maintains.
In connection with it, Genealogical
work. about $500 stations known ~
eo-operativs stations the equipment
being furnishsd By the bureau and
ths observations being taken BY pub
lie-splrited citiseus who render gratu.
itoss service. Its csopsrativs wort
extends to practically every ocean Of
the globe. and the masters Of many
vessels (ths snmber was greatly re
dscsd By the war. but b now on the
incrense) an out forms Of daily mete
oeological observations on every voy
aga. to be forwarded on arrival ip
port Before tho war daily observa
lions received by cable and otherwise
from selected stations over the entire
northern hemisphers were collected
and published. Negotiations to re
store this exchange are under way
A highly trained. efficient. and expert
enced personnel Of over 800 commits
stoned employees. helped by about l..
100 who receive small compensation
for the regular performance Of spe
ci6c duties. conducts the work Of IN,
bureau. and In addition the marine
and cooperative observers constitute
. host Of nearly 00oo public-splritet
individuals whe serve eratuitousIy
Such. In brief. II the machinery ana
organisation OF the weather bureau
lts Greatest Value.
While the bureau In best known te
the public through the Issue Of IL
daily forecasts, maps, and bulletins
no doubt Its grcntcst value In an eco
nomic sense consists In the immense
saving effected BY rs special wnrn
ings. as Of storms anl hurricanes 10,
tho benefit Of marine interests, warn
lngs Of foods that occur on the prln
cipni rivers. wnrnlngs Of cold wave,
which accomplish protection TO prop
crty and foodstufYs liable TO dnmnF.
by injuriousiy low temperature. aad
warnings OF frost and freezing wealth
cr for the hcncil, Of the fruit, sugar
tobncco. crunberry, market gardening
nnd other interests.
fta duttaa opl outho,iti.. he Lao