WEATHER BUREAU. 7 



on account of the uncertainty of being able to continue the inspec- 

 tions under the conditions prescribed. All amounts not used, there- 

 fore, by May 15 were turned in to be applied to other purposes for 

 which the Bureau had urgent need. Less than $600 of the amount 

 allotted for the inspection of stations was used ; but with this com- 

 paratively small amount 268 stations were inspected, at an average 

 cost of $1.94 per station. The experience gained during the year in 

 this line will prove of decided advantage in the following j'ear, for 

 which an increased allowance has been made and all of which will 

 doubtless be expended. 



While 230 new voluntary stations have been established, the total 

 number at the close of the year was but little greater than at the end 

 of the preceding year, as 209 stations were discontinued. Efforts have 

 been mainly directed toward the improvement of the equipment and 

 exposure of instruments at stations already established rather than 

 toward an increase in the number of stations. A very gratifying 

 improvement in the character of the observations has followed. There 

 can be no doubt that the voluntary observers of the Bureau, as a rule, 

 now more thoroughly understand their duty and perform the same 

 with more painstaking care than ever before. A large number of 

 thermometers of various makes have been replaced by the standard 

 tested instruments of the Weather Bureau, and many rain gauges not 

 of the Weather Bureau pattern have been replaced by those corre- 

 sponding to the regular station equipment. In the work of establish- 

 ing voluntary stations, and improving the equipment of those already 

 established, there have been issued during the year 607 maximum 

 thermometers, 388 minimum thermometers, 313 thermometer shelters, 

 and about 200 rain gauges. 



COTTON AND SUGAR AND RICE SERVICES. 



Four cotton-region stations have been discontinued and 18 estab- 

 lished, 7 of the new stations being placed in the important cotton 

 fields of Texas. These new stations constitute a valuable addition 

 to the cotton-region service. The increase is highly appreciated by 

 those interested in cotton. The number of sugar and rice region sta- 

 tions remains unchanged, there being 8 such stations. The total 

 number of cotton and sugar and rice stations at the close of the year 

 was 1-18 



CORN AND WHEAT SERVICE. 



Two new stations were established and none discontinued, the total 

 number being 133. 



CALIFORNIA FRUIT AND WHEAT SERVICE. 



This service was inaugurated during the latter part of the previous 

 j^ear, at the close of which there were 8 stations. The period covered 

 by the reports extends from .June 1 to August 31. ■ Before the resump- 

 tion of the service for 1902, 12 new stations were established, the total 

 number now reporting being 20. This service has proved very popu- 

 lar; it supi)lies information of much value to the fruit and wheat 

 interests of California. Daily bulletins are issued by the official at 

 San Francisco giving the maximum and minimum temperatures and 

 rainfall for the series of stations, the bulletins being identical in char- 

 acter with those of the corn and wheat and cotton region services. 



