EXPERIMENT fcJTATlON REPORTS. 163 



both in operation and contemplated. In no othei* way could the 

 weather bureau have aided these projects so effectually as by the long 

 series of observations that it has prepared at very little expense during 

 the past twenty years. 



Cities and villages are constantly calling for rainfall data in con- 

 nection with their public works, especially sewer systems. The medical 

 profession is using all of our records, especially temperatui'e, precipita- 

 tion and cloudiness. The manufacturers, spurred on by a keener com- 

 petition, are considering the effect of the different phases of climate 

 on their product, and, altogether, the Weather Service is finding itself 

 a very important source of information. 



The observers' work is done by a corps of cooperating observers who 

 perform their services voluntarily and without any remuneration other 

 than the publications that this office can send them. The work of 

 the voluntary observers, as a whole, is very satisfactory, prompt and 

 intelligent. The administrative work of caring for this large corps 

 of observers is considerable. One phase of it is a constant course of 

 instruction, because the personnel of the observers is changing, more or 

 less, constantly. The various stations must be kept fully equipped 

 with serviceable instruments and the stationery used in connection 

 with observation work. On the other hand, an immense amount of 

 labor is necessary in collecting, carefully checking and compiling their 

 reports so that they can be easily referred to. 



In the distribution of the daily forecasts and the occasional frost 

 and coldwave warnings a great advance has been made in the past two 

 years, due principally to the rapid extension of the telephone to the 

 rural districts. By a system of cooperation with the principal tele- 

 phone companies throughout the state our forecasts are regularly de- 

 livered to over twelve hundred exchanges, from which radiate thou- 

 sands of farmers' telephone lines. By this system any farmer who 

 has access to a telephone can secure the forecast every morning about 

 ten a. m, by simply calling up central and asking for it. This is not 

 only true for the farmer, but for any telephone subscriber. Through 

 this telephone cooperation the weather bureau forecasts are at the dis- 

 posal of over 140,000 subscribers in Michigan. 



The rui-al mail delivery has not proved a satisfactory means of dis- 

 semination, principally because most of the rural mail carriers leave 

 on their trips between 7 and 8 a. m., while the Aveather bureau fore- 

 cast for "tonight and tomorrow" is not available for issue until about 

 a. m. While the telephone, at present, does not reach as many as 

 the rural mail delivery, it is a more satisfactory method of distribu- 

 tion on account of its involving much less labor and expense. The 

 rapid extension of the rural telephone lines indicates that it will not 

 be many years before nearly every progressive farmer has a telephone 

 or access thereto. 



The weekly, monthly and annual publications of the service have 

 been continued along lines similar to those of previous years. The 

 reports appear to be verv popular and are much sought after. 



C. F. vSOHNEIDER, 



Director. 



