188 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Buildings rented by the Weather Bureau /or living and observatory purposes. 



PERSONNEL OF THE BUREAU. 



The numerical strength of the Weather Bureau at the close of the 

 year was 9,483, as compared with 6,895 at the end of the preceding 12 

 months. This unusual increase is apparent rather than real, how- 

 ever, since the total owes its enlargement almost entirely to the 

 inclusion of 2,416 marine meteorological observers who have hitherto 

 not been considered in the enumeration. Of the total number, 7,390, 

 or nearly 80 per cent, are cooperative observers rendering service 

 without compensation other than that received through the free 

 distribution of Government publications. 



The total number of commissioned em])loyecs at the end of the 

 year, 776, was 16 less than at the close of the preceding year. This 

 decrease has been brought about largely through a lessening of the 

 central office force by 25, owing to the discontinuance of a large 

 portion of the printing work. The actual number of commissioned 

 emplo3^ees at stations, however, was 9 greater at the close of the year 

 than at the time of the last report. 



The formation of the new Division of Observations and Reports 

 practically absorbed the central office clerical force formerly engaged 

 in the duties performed by the Marine, Forecast, River and Flood, 

 and Distributing Divisions. The force in the remaining divisions 

 has been increased slightly in some instances, with the exception of 

 the marked reduction in the Publications Division, already mentioned. 



The enlargement of the commissioned force in the field by 9 was 

 necessitated through the estabhshment of new stations at Dayton, 

 Ohio, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Miami, Fla. At the stations already in 

 existence the working force was lessened by 1 at seven points, in order 

 to meet the demands for additional help at other stations where the 

 service rendered the pubhc had become greatly expanded. The 

 rearrangements thus effected, both at the central office and in the 



