WEATHER BUREAU. 11 



nearly all bloom, representing many thousands of dollars to the 

 growers, was saved. A large acreage of pineapples and vegetables was 

 also protected and saved. Figures furnished by growers show that 

 the value of orange and other citrus trees, pineapples, and vegetables 

 saved in Florida aggregated over $500,000. 



During February 28 and March 1 a heavy snowstorm extended 

 from the lower Lake region over the interior of New York and central 

 and northern New England. Timely Avarnings of this storm proved 

 of great value to the public. A lieaA'j' and general snow-storm visited 

 the Great Lakes March 4 and 5. This storm resulted in a partial 

 blockade of I'ailroads in Wisconsin and Michigan. All transportation 

 interests had, however, been warned of its approach and prepared for 

 the emergency. 



On the loth of March heavy snow fell in the Middle Atlantic and 

 New England States and the upper Ohio Valley. All interests in the 

 Middle Atlantic and New England States Avere notified the morning 

 of the loth that heavy snow and increasing northeast winds were in- 

 dicated for the afternoon and night of that date from the upper Ohio 

 Valley over the Middle Atlantic and south New England States and 

 the lower Lake region. 



FLOODS. 



The month of April, 1900, was marked by destructive floods in the 

 smaller sti*eams of the Southern and Southwestern States. In dis- 

 tricts where the river and flood service of the Weather Bureau had 

 been organized, Avarnings Avere issued of the" floods referred to. The 

 extension of this service OA'er Texas was begun last 3 ear and Avill be 

 pushed as rapidly as available funds will permit. Notwithstanding 

 the lack of data regarding the ri\'ers of that section the floods of 

 Texas Avere, in some degree, anticipated by the forecasts and Avarn- 

 ings. On the 7th the interests along the Colorado RiA'er south of 

 Austin Avere ad\ised of a sudden and decided rise in the river. On 

 the 27th all points along the Bi-azos and Colorado riA^ers AA^ere warned 

 of a rise, and freshets in the smaller streams of Texas were forecast. 

 In Alabama the damage bj' flood along the Tombigbee and Black 

 Warrior rivers was placed at 11,500,000, and property to the estimated 

 value of $250,000 AA^as saA'ed by the Weather Bureau warnings of the 

 17th. 



DISTRIBUTION OF DAILY FORECASTS AND SPECIAL AVARNINGS. 



The number of forecasts distributed daily during last year was 

 greater than for an}' previous year. The methods of distribution 

 have not been changed in any respect. It has been possible, hoAA-eA'er, 

 to utilize the rural free-delivery serAace in furnishing forecasts and 

 warnings to the rural population in districts where such serA'ice has 

 been organized. 



The use of the rural free-deliverA' service began during the closing 

 months of the j^ear. There is no class of people that Avill apiDreciate 

 the forecasts more than those in agricultural communities, and I feel 

 safe in saying that in reaching the farmer Avith this information hy 

 means of the rural free deliAery Ave haA'e attained one of the great 

 objects for AA'hich the Bureau AA^as established. 



At the close of the year 111 rural free-deliveiy centers of distribu- 

 tion were in operation, supplying 11,625 families, or an aA'erage of 

 over 100 families for each carrier. This Avork Avill be further extended 



