WEATHER BUREAU. 67 



not only forecasts of surface and iipi)er-air conditions that would be 

 encountered, but also weather observations taken at the surface and 

 aloft. Temporary headquarters were located at the starting grounds 

 and telegraphic and telephonic communication established directly 

 with the St. Louis office of the AA'eather Bureau. Each contestant 

 was supplied with the observations, forecasts, and advices without 

 delay. The information furnished was of pronounced value and the 

 forecasts were accurate to a remarkable degree. 



Recruiting tour of Navy hydroplane "NC-4." — The naval fly- 

 ing boat NC-Ii. began its recruiting trip from Rockaw-ay Beach, 

 Long Island, the latter part of September, the first part being a re- 

 turn trip to Atlantic City, thence to Portland, Me., from Avhich place 

 the route extended doAvn the coast to the Florida Straits, thence over 

 the Gulf of Mexico to Pensacola and New Orleans, up the Misisssippi 

 and Ohio Rivers as far as St. Louis and Cin(^innati, back again to 

 the Gulf, and westward to Galveston. During this cruise, which cov- 

 ered several months, the Weather Bureau furnished a. m. and p. m. 

 forecasts of weather and wind directions and velocities, both at 

 the surface and aloft, for the aviation zone in which the boat hap- 

 pened to be at the time. 



National balloon race. — This race was schedided to start from 

 St. Louis, Mo., at 6 p. m. October 1, 1919. A special message was sent 

 that morning stating that there would be showers and thunderstorms 

 to the east and north of St. Louis that night and the following day, 

 and that the conditions would not be favorable for free ballooning. A 

 second forecast, based on special observations, was sent at 2.33 p. m. 

 advising that the race be postponed, as the balloons would be carried 

 nortliAvard toward the Great Lakes, Avhere squalls and thunderstorms 

 Avould be experienced. Notwithstanding this advice, the race was 

 started at the appointed time. The contestants, 10 in number, were 

 carried northward as predicted, and squalls, thunderstorms, and gen- 

 erally unfavorable weather occurred. One of the balloons, with its 

 two occupants, was lost in Lake Huron. 



TRAXSCONTiXENTAL IIELIAUILITY AEUOPLAXE RACE.— This raCC WaS 



confined to aA'iators of the Ignited States Arm}'. Starting points were 

 San Francisco, Calif., and Mineola, N. Y., the course being a round 

 trip between the two points. It l)egan October 7 and ended October 

 31, 1919. Special forecasts were prepared for the benefit of the con- 

 testants each morning and evening during the entire period. For this 

 l)ui'[)ose tlie route was divided into seven zones, and a separate predic- 

 tion of weather that would be encountered was issued for each zone 

 and telegraphed to the control stations. These forecasts were of 

 <rreat assistance to the fivers. The race was won by Lieut. Belvin AV. 

 Maynard. Li comincuting on the race tiie official news bulletin of tiie 

 Air Service said : 



Lit'Ut. Maynard's \v()ii(U>rfiil time was due to the fact that he took advsmta^i' 

 of the splendid servuc rondoicd by tho Woathcr Hunan in sonding tlio weather 

 foivcasls t<i ill! of tho control stops. If lio had been inlorniod tlnit tho wcnthcr 

 Wduhl 1)0 hud lor the next control slop, ho would iuiniodintcly take olf iind j,'ot 

 to this stop hcl'oro the storm had approached. This en:ii)le(l him to fjuin a dis- 

 tinct advantaRP over the other participants at tho very out.set of the race. 



