Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1920-01-09


Finds the Bureau Up Against Prob
lens More Serious Than Difficulties
Imposed by War-Pians to Make
Serbia Useful In Aeronautics-Vai-
ue in Military Operations Demon
strated 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 finds Itself
face to face with postwar conditions
of more serious character even than
the difficulties imposed by the war,
saws 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 highly important factor and guide
i'm 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 place In the
program of military and naval organ
izations and operations. Now 1t 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 APP
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 APP
proved October /, 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,
| foods, and the stages of rivers, all in
| the interest of commerce, agriculture,
and navigation.
At present il maintains over two
hundred fully equipped meteorological
stations. and about 1,400 substations
| classified as special meteorological,
river. storm-warning. hurricane ma
rine, cotton region. corn-and-wheat
region. fruit. cranberry, and fire
weather warning stations. In ad-
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-spirited citizens who render gratu-
| itouS 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) fill out forms of daily mete-
geological observations on every voy-
age, to be forwarded on arrival in
port Before the war daily observa-
tons received by cable and otherwise
from selected stations over the entire
northern hemisphere were collected
and published. Negotiations to re-
store this exchange are under way
| highly trained, efficient, and expert
enced personnel of over 800 commits
stoned employees, helped by about l..
400 who receive a small compensation
for the regular performance Of spe.
cific duties, conducts the work of the
bureau. and in addition the marine
and cooperative observers constitute
a host of nearly 5000 public-spirited
individuals who serve gratuitOusly
Such, in brief is the machinery and
organiza ton Of the weather bureau
Its Greatest Value.
While the bureau is best known to
the public through the issue of its
daily forecasts, maps, and bulletins
no doubt it's greatest value in an eco
nomic sense consists In the immense
saving effected by its special warn
ings, as of storms and hurricanes fol
the benefit of marine interests. warn
ings of floods that occur on the prin
cipal rivers, warnings of cold waves
which accomplish protection to prop
erty and foodstuffs liable TO damage
by injuriously low temperatures, and
warnings Of frost and freezing wealth
er for the benefit If the fruit. sugar
tobacco. cranberry. market gardening
and other interests.
Its duties and authorities by law
are broad and comprehensive, and
postwar conditions bring II new and
important obligations and responsible
tiles. With the experience and ira
ditions of nearly fifty years to lis
credit. the bureau is in a position tC
render practically every service of 9
meteorological nature which may bs
required of such an agency.
A few only OF the postwar prob
\ Iatpc ond dop,onds I'm tho odofpi cf 20