DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 71 



glad to enter into this agreement as it makes their telephones of greater 

 benefit to the farmer and on the other hand it helps the weather bureau 

 because it forwards the dissemination of its forecasts and warnings to the 

 farmer. Our forecasts are now displayed in almost every postoflSce lobby 

 in the State; besides this they are sent out over a number of rural mail 

 routes. The rural mail route, however, has so far been a disappointing 

 medium in the dissemination of the forecasts because most of the rural 

 mail carriers leave their home ofQces between seven and eight in the 

 moTning and the official forecast is not issued until about 9:30 a. m. 



The instrumental equipment of the various observation stations remains 

 in good condition and is complete at every station. The cost of replacing 

 broken thermometers and keeping the remaining paraphernalia is con- 

 siderable, but has been accomplished. 



Toward the close of the fiscal year the chief of the U. S. Weather Bu- 

 reau directed the discontinuance of the two regular weather bureau sta- 

 tions at Lansing and Grand Haven and the establishment in place thereof 

 of a new station at Grand Rapids. This necessitated removing the head- 

 quarter office of the Michigan weather service to the latter place be- 

 cause the director of the service was ordered to assume the charge of the 

 ueAV station. The change was accomplished on June 30. 



Very respectfullv, 



C. F. SCHNEIDER, 

 Section Director. 



