WEATHER BUREAU. Ill 



latter project has the cooperation and support of the French Mete- 

 orological Service. The ship makes about three voyages a year, 

 mostly to southern ports. Consequently it renders only intermittent 

 service and is only occasionally on northern routes, for which there 

 is the greatest demand and need for weather forecasts and informa- 

 tion. The forecasts issued from the Jacques C artier are based upon 

 United States Weather Bureau bulletins containing observations 

 from stations in the United States and Canada, upon similar Euro- 

 pean reports broadcast from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and upon 

 reports collected from ships at sea. The forecasts and warnings are 

 distributed by radio twice daily for the benefit of ships of all nations 

 that are within range. 



The Weather Bureau received an invitation to have a representa- 

 tive take passage on the Jacques CaHier for the purpose of observ- 

 ing and reporting on the meteorological work conducted thereon. 

 It was accepted, and last spring the supervising forecaster of the 

 Weather Bureau made a trip on the ship from the United States 

 to France and return. He reported that the work was an unquali- 

 fied success, that its accomplishments demonstrated quite conclu- 

 sively that a forecast service for the ocean is feasible, of great eco- 

 nomic value, and that there is much need therefor, especially on the 

 North Atlantic. 



Continuous service of this character would require the utilization 

 of at least three vessels and would involve no interference with their 

 regular voyages and traffic. Continuous service is necessary to keep 

 vessel masters informed at all times as to the wind and weather con- 

 ditions along the routes they are traveling; advise them as to the 

 location, intensity, and direction of movement of storms which might 

 cause damage to ships and cargoes or at least retard progress ; enable 

 them to avoid such storms as far as possible ; enable them to lay out 

 ship work en voyage and to take advantage of fair weather and 

 smooth seas for painting and other outside work; give them infor- 

 mation of wind and weather conditions to be expected at ports of 

 destination, thereby preventing unnecessary delays, and in other 

 ways provide useful and advantageous information. 



The plans for such service have been worked out and submitted to 

 the United States Shipping Board. They have met with approval 

 of that organization, which has offered cooperation in the way of 

 providing facilities on the necessary number of Shipping Board ves- 

 sels running regularly on the northern routes between the United 

 States and Europe. The bureau is alert to the inauguration of some 

 service of this character at the first opportune occasion. 



The total reported flood losses during the year were $36,591,362, 

 while the value of portable property saved by flood warnings was 

 given in admittedly incomplete returns as $4,240,465. 



ADMINISTRATIVE FEATURES. 



Changes in organization and administration during the year were 

 few and not of great consequence. Several stations of observation 

 were discontinued and others established with decreased cost of 

 operation. 



While the river service east of the Missouri is virtually sufficient 

 for present needs, the reverse is the fact for the great territory to the 



