Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-01-28

NRS Ton, ~. =. Inc etoi
n goes back to the sos,
not long after young
Marvin had passed a civil service ex-
animation and secured an appointment
as "junior professor odd title
designating position in the signal
corps which In those days carried on
weather forecasting and related work
known TO science as meteorology. 1t
was the famous discoverer of unknown
land north OF Greenland, Maj. Gen.
A. w. Greeley. U. S. A.. who dis
cerned, while head of the signal corps,
after his return from the North, that
Marvin possessed exceptional ability
In mechanical engineering. He fore
saw the great service which the young
man might render 10 his country in
the weather forecasting organization,
and opened the door of opportunity.
Il told you so" the venerable gen.
eral says In effect, when folks talk
about the record Marvin has made in
the thirty and more years ne has been
working for the government. II am
proud to take q good deal of credit
for having started him on path
which has led to wonderful achieve
ments,"
II it seems far cry from mechan-
Teal engineering to weather forecast
Ing, let the reader remember that So
TO 30 per cent Of the day-to-day fore
casts of the weather bureau are &C.
curate and that this remarkable record
has been possible because of the In
creasing skill of the forecasters. sun
plemented by one of the most extra.
ordinary collections Of scientific ap-
paratus and instruments to, be found
anywhere in the world. Among the
inventors of these meteorological in
struments Mr.. Marvin stands first.
Had Mr.. Marvin spent his life IN
private employment and made as
many fundamental inventions for some
chosen industry as he has while in
government service. he would have
been rewarded many times over what
Uncle Sam has paid him. When he
became chief Of the weather bureau
IN 1918. after 20 years of service In
subordinate positions, his salary was
placed at $1,000 There II has 70.
manned, regardless of II. c. L.. and
his invaluable contributions to a gov.
ernment service which annually saves
the farmers, through it's timely warn.
lngs. hundreds of thousands of dollars
Toss In live stock and crops; a service
which also acts as the trusted lookout
for numberless shippers on land and
water, warning them of approaching
storm. cold or heat; service perform.
Ing score of other important tasks
touching the nations daily life. One
or the most remarkable facts ahout
the weather bureau is that in recent
years not single great storm has
occurred in this country which has
not been adequately heralded by tbe
governments forecasters.
Mr. Marvin's contributions m h,s
chosen science have received CRAFTY.
Ing recognition In the scientific world
When the office of chief of the waotb,
err bureau became vacant in 1918 Pres.
ident Wilson asked the national acod.
envy of science 10 submit list az men
Il would recommend for appointment
Mr.. Marvin's name was one OF fopr
submitted. His appointment as chief
came as well-merited reward.
Everybody has heard of box kltes
hut few know that an improved TYNE
OF box kite which will go up mile
or more was devised by Marvin ana
built TO carry what Is called q kI,o
meteorogi aph, which is also Marvin
invention. This little instrument
weighing about one and a half nonnds
records the atmospheric pressure tom.
perature, the humidity, and the va
locity Of the wind Large numbers ~
these kite meteorographs are IN use nv
the weather bureau. Incidentally Tho
rreling APP Gratus by which each k,ta,,
$4,000 or $4,000 feet of steel wira Is
wound up automatically is also Mar.
wins invention.
Ever hear of Maryln's nyrheliom.
eter1 Its mighty Important IN.
strument for measuring one Of the
forces fundamental to al life-ihe
amount of heat received from tn. sun
ON which plant and animal processes