WEATHER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. 177 



the three observations each day and correcting them ready for use, and that 

 these observations have to be taken every day in the month, it will be readily 

 seen that they are entitled to a great deal of credit for the faithful perform- 

 ance of the work which brings them no remuneration for the time given to 

 the work. 



In this connection I would recommend that an "instrument shelter" be 

 furnished to each of the voluntary observers, so that the shelters will all be 

 uniform and better results be obtained thereby, and as a means of better pro- 

 tection to the imstruments of the service. Another important reason for this 

 move is, that when an observer is supplied with instruments, it takes from 

 one to two months before the observer has a shelter made so as to make a 

 satifactory report to this office. A shelter sent with the instruments, ready to 

 be put up, would obviate the difficulty, and would secure to the service good 

 observers, where it is now impossible to do so, more for the reason that the 

 observer does not understand exactly the plan for the shelter, and that he 

 may not have the ready money to expend to construct one properly. The 

 director believes it would be more economical in the end to furnish the shel- 

 ter direct than to have the voluntary observer furnish it. The matter of 

 paying a small amount to each observer for each monthly report has been 

 recommended, and I believe it to be of some importance that it should 

 be done, as a means of securing better and more continuous reports. There 

 are on the list of the service 103 voluntary observers, and of that number 56 

 make a continuous report for the entire year, the remainder having omitted 

 from one to two or more months, so that the reports had to be thrown out 

 of the annual summary of observation. I believe that a small compensation 

 will in a great measure obviate the difficulty. It is not recommended that 

 the observers be paid a regular salary yet, but a sum that would, in a measure, 

 reimburse them for the money paid out to place the station in shape for 

 making regular reports. Some observers have paid out as much as $50 to 

 have their station in the best possible condition for making the reports. 

 The value of the reports of these observers should be recognized in some 

 substantial manner, and the director believes that the one recommended 

 would be satisfactory to the observers. 



The reports of the observers are, upon receipt at the central office, care- 

 fully computed, proved and entered on the appropriate tables, for publica- 

 tion each month by the Secretary of State in the crop report. 



There has been an average of 75 voluntary observers reporting each month 

 during the year, and since July 1, eight of the U. S. Service. These reports 

 contain the following data: Kecord of barometer, temperature, relative 

 humidity, precipitation, wind, clouds and the state of the weather at each 

 of the three observations. 



Weather-Crop Bulletin. — This bulletin, which was inaugurated May 7, 

 1887, and continued during the growing season, was published each Satur- 

 day morning from March 4, to September 29. As has teen stated, this 

 bulletin in no way encroaches upon the prerogatives of the Secretary of 

 State, but simply gives the condition of the growing crops for the past seven 

 days, and what effect the weather has had upon them. Seventy-five copies 

 were issued weekly, and the information given to the daily papers of the 

 State was also published in many of the weekly papers. The information 

 thus given placed the condition of the crops before the people every week, 

 and has been of no little value to the agriculturists of the State. It is the 



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