WEATHER BUREAU. 121 



NORTH HE.'?i.D-FOKT CANBY (WASH.) SECTION (TELEGRAPH). 



Since January 1 of this year the reciprocal arrangement between 

 the Weather Bureau and the Western Union Telegraph Co. for 

 servi3e between Portland and North Head became inoperative be- 

 cause of the decision of the War Department to assess the latter 

 company a definite annual sum for use of its cable across the Colum- 

 bia Eiver for transmission of commercial business. Previously the 

 telegraph company had free use of cable facilities, first of the 

 Weather Bureau cable and later of the War Department cable, in 

 return for free use by the Weather Bureau of wire facilities between 

 Fort Stevens and Portland. This change has not affected transmis- 

 sion of Weather Bureau business, which continues to be transacted 

 directly between the Weather Bureau offices at North Head and Port- 

 land, but greater cost is entailed. 



The Weather Bureau land-line facilities between Fort Canby and 

 North Head are utilized by the telegraph company for a nominal 

 consideration. Interruption between North Head and Portland 

 totaled 175 hours, nearly all of which occurred on the Washington 

 side of the Columbia River, 



Commercial business increased greatly during the last three 

 months of the year, owing to better facilities for communication 

 with Alaska and with ships having been provided in the rebuilding 

 of the naval radio station at North Head, with which the Weather 

 Bureau wire connects. 



It s. ems unnecessary to givp detailed accounts of the several lines 

 operated by the bureau, as these have been given in previous reports, 

 and conditions are not materially different at the present time. A 

 list of the lines, however, is given below. 



Block Island and Matunuck Beach, R. I. — Telegraph line, two-wire, leased to 

 commercial company for telephone communication. 



Norfolk-Cape Henry, Va., and Hatteras, N. C. — Telegraph line. 

 White fish Point and Vei'milion Point, Mich. — Telephone line. 

 Beaver Island and Charlevaix, Mich. — Telephone. 



North and South Mafiitou and Sleeping Bear Point, Mich. — Telephone. 

 Alpena, Middle Island, and Thunder Bay Island, Mich. — Telephone. 

 Point Reyes and Snn Anselmo, Calif. — Telephone. 

 North Head and Fort Canby, Wash. — Telegraph. 

 Tatoosh Island and Port Angeles, Wash. — Telegraph. 



AEROLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS. 



Free-air observations by means of kites and balloons were con- 

 tinued throughout the year. This work has become an important 

 integral part of the Weather Bureau's program. 



I^TE Stations. — Observations with kites were made regularly at 

 Broken Arrow, Okla. ; Drexel, Nebr.; Due West, S. C.; Ellendale, 

 N. Dak. : Groesbeck, Tex. ; and Royal Center, Ind. Kite flights are 

 made daily, whenever possible, and in addition, when conditions are 

 favorable, continuous series of flights are made for periods of 24 

 to 36 hours. Records of air pressure, temperature, humidity, and 

 wind are thus obtained. 



Pilot-Balloon Stations. — Observations by means of pilot bal- 

 loons were made at the six kite stations, above listed, and at Burling- 

 ton, Vt.; Denver, Colo.; Ithaca, N. Y.; Key West, Fla.; Lansing, 



