116 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



fore, while at some of the remaining 11 stations exorbitant rentals 

 were demanded, in one instance as much as 150 per cent increase, 

 bringing the total to $25,082.64, an increase of $5,711.28. After 

 extended negotiations office space was reduced and compromises 

 effected Avhereby new leases were executed for these 24 stations at a 

 total cost of $22,794 for next fiscal year, an increase of $3,422.64, 

 a clear saving to the bureau of $2,288.64 over and above rentals as 

 originally demanded and keeping within the limits of the appropria- 

 tion. Enforced removals were made at Tacoma, Wash., and Dayton, 

 Ohio, due to building operations, and rental of roof of an adjoining 

 high building for exposures of instruments at Dubuque, Iowa 

 ($100 per annum), is included in the above total. 



FEDERAL BUILDINGS IN RELATION TO ADJACENT HIGHER COMMERCIAL BUILD- 

 INGS. 



Federal buildings at places where the Weather Bureau has field 

 stations generally are not more than three or four stories, and it is 

 rare that suitable exposures for Weather Bureau instruments are 

 available thereon. In recent years, and especially during 1923, the 

 erection of higher commercial buildings in the vicinity of Federal 

 Iniildings thus occupied has seriously interfered with the exposures 

 of recording instruments. Funds for moving from free quarters 

 to a rented building are in depleted condition, and in order to obtain 

 proper exposures of instruments for meterological observations which 

 are of paramount importance it has been necessary in some instances 

 to place the instruments on higher adjoining buildings, with electri- 

 cal connections to registers in the office of the Government building, 

 tliereby avoiding payment of high rentals for office quarters. 



REPAIRS AND UPKEEP OF WEATHER BUREAU BUILDINGS. 



Only a few repairs were made to the buildings and grounds owned 

 by the Weather Bureau during the year owing to limited funds. 

 Repairs and repainting have necessarily been postponed from year 

 to year and must now be taken up to insure proper preservation of 

 this property. 



Among the more important repairs and improvements effected 

 during the year were those at Tatoosh Island, Wash., where a com- 

 bined water-supply and electric-light equipment was installed, cis- 

 tern water being the only available supply at this isolated place. 

 This is collected from the roof of the observatory building and 

 pumped into an elevated tank. Electric light (110- volt direct cur- 

 rent) is furnished for the buildings and will also be utilized for 

 storm-warning displays, all greatly improving the usefulness and 

 efficiency of this important station located at the Pacific Ocean en- 

 trance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. 



At Sandy Hook, N. J., the two-story brick building erected Au- 

 gust, 1914, has never been satisfactory as an observatory and resi- 

 dence for the official in charge due to porosity of exterior walls caus- 

 ing interior dampness. Aj)plications of fluorspar compounds having 

 failed to make the structure waterproof, the entire surface of the 

 building was given two coats of magnesite stucco. Work was com- 

 pleted December, 1922, with effective results since. 



Needed storage buildings were erected on the reservations at Cape 

 Henry, Va., Burlington, Vt., and Abilene, Tex. 



