WEATHER BUREAU. 



191 



constant source of vexation. These and other incongruities were 

 brought to the attention of the committee Avhen occasion offered. It 

 is believed that there will be fewer difficulties of this character ex- 

 perienced hereafter. 



Most of the technical supplies heretofore covered by the depart- 

 mental contracts were included in the general contracts for the 

 coming year. 



OBSERVATORY BUILDINGS. 



The main observatory building of the Weather Bureau at Mount 

 Weather, Va., has been completed and was first occupied on February 

 12, 1910. It is practically a fireproof structure, especially designed 

 to meet the requirements of the Bureau for office and living quarters 

 for the investigators and emplo3'ees on duty at the research observa- 

 tory. The building replaces the one that was destroyed b}^ fire on 

 October 23, 1907, and it is the last structure that will be required at 

 that point for the present. 



The observatory building located on Sand Key, Florida, a few 

 miles from Key West, was completely destroyed by a hurricane on 

 October 11, 1909. Congress has made appropriation for the recon- 

 struction of the building, the plans of which are now in course of 

 preparation, and it is hoped that this Avork will be completed before 

 January 1, 1911. The proposed building will be composed of con- 

 crete, with a foundation of concrete piles driven into the solid rock. 

 It is believed that this type of building will withstand future hurri- 

 canes and will involve a minimum cost for maintenance. 



Seven observatory buildings were authorized in the appropriation 

 bill for the fiscal year 1909. They were erected at Abilene, Tex., 

 Canton, X. Y., Dodge City, Kans., East Lansing, Mich., Northfield, 

 Vt., Richmond, Va., and St. Joseph, Mo., during the past year and 

 are now occupied. 



The following table shows where the buildings owned by the 

 Weather Bureau are located, the fiscal years in which thev were 

 erected, and the cost of the buildings and gi'ounds: 



Buildings owned hy the Weather Bureau. 



Location. 



Abilene, Tex 



Amarillo, Tex 



Anniston, Ala 



Atlantic City, N.J... 



Benton\-ille, Ark 



BlniiinKliam, Ala 



Bismarck, N. Dak... 

 Block Island, R.I.... 



Burlington, Vt 



Canton, N. Y 



Cape Henry, Va 



Charles Citv, Iowa. . . 



Columbia, S. C 



Devils Lake, N. Dak. 



Dodge Citv, Kans 



Duliith, .Minn 



East Lansing, Mich. . 



Hatteras, N.C 



Havre, Mont 



lola, Kans 



Total cost. 



$14,841.81 

 7,758.00 



14,720.44 

 5.991.00 

 5,019.90 



15.091 86 



10,085.99 

 8, 702. 75 



10,06.3.50 



14,136.55 

 9.222.45 



12, .375. 22 



12,964.00 

 9. 040. 55 



12.887.62 

 9, 472. 38 



12.792.39 

 5,106.75 

 6,882.08 



11,972.19 



o CrovemTnent reservation. 



6 Donated; figures represent cost of title transfer. 



e Remodeled. 



<* Additional ground purchased. 



