74 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



RENTED QUARTERS FOR WEATHER BUREAU OFFICES. 



A o;eneral increase in rentals was demanded for office quarters 

 wliere leases exi)ired by limitation on June 150, 1020. AVhere re- 

 movals to less ex[)ensive {jiiarters and reduced space could not be 

 effected, it was necessary to renew existin<!: leases, and the total cost 

 to the Bureau by reason of these increases for the next fiscal year, 

 even attended in some cases Avith reduction of floor space, is $4,548.10. 



Status of Weather Bureau offices at stations outside of Washington. 



Free qunrtors and accormnodations: 



In observatory buildings (owned and controlU'd by the Weather 



Buroan ) 45 



In Stale iiiiivei-sity buildings^ 5 



In Federal buildings 74 



Total free of rental 124 



Rented buildings, etc., owned by individuals or corporations: 



In ollico buildings 81 



In buildings with grounds, aerological, and special meteorological 

 stations IG 



Total number rentetl buildings partly or wholly occupied 97 



Total 221 



The foregroing does not include Weather Bureau buildings at 

 Narragansett Pier, R. I., and Mount Weather, Va., which continue 

 unoccupied, in charge of caretakers. 



TELEGRAPH SERVICE. 



No material changes occurred during the year in the operation of 

 the " circuit " system whereby reception by telegraph of about 175 

 coded weather observations are reported to the central office twice 

 daily. By the same means 140 stations connected directly with these 

 circuits, 21 in number, receive a specified number adequate to their 

 needs. In addition to these circuit reports, daily observations are 

 received from approximately 40 other points by special message and 

 cablegram and about 50 from ships at sea by wireless. 



Close cooperation of the Western Union Telegraph Co. has ex^ 

 isted since the foundation of the circuit system many years ago 

 and is vitally necessary for the effective maintenance of the work. 

 Steadily increasing use by this company of the " multiplex " machine 

 system, mentioned in report of last year, has continued to militate 

 somewhat against accurate and prompt transmission of reports and 

 general miscellaneous business by special message. 



Reception of reports from cable stations has not been as prompt 

 as heretofore except in isolated cases. Several important cables 

 were broken or interrupted at various places during the autumn of 

 1919. In consequence, the wireless systems of the Navy Department 

 became greatly congested in an effort to carry the business, which 

 included numerous daily weather reports from cable stations and 

 also from ships at sea. Embarrassing delays naturally ensued. This 

 condition continued throughout June, the beginning of the hurricane 

 season, and still obtains at this writing. Vigorous efforts have been 

 made to effect improvement Avithout sensible results. 



