WEATHER BUREAU. 19 



For many years we have had but two skilled mechanics in the 

 machine shop, and in the meantime the number of complex automatic 

 instruments at stations has increased from 10 or 15 pieces for the 

 entire service to about 800 now in actual use throughout the service. 

 Some of these are exposed to all degrees of weather conditions, and 

 all are subject to more or less deterioration and wear with use. An 

 increase in the force of skilled mechanics is much needed, in order to 

 properly keep up the repair work on the great number of instruments 

 now in use. 



f 



INSTRUMENTAL RESEARCH WORK. 



The routine operations of the instrument division have so wholly 

 absorbed the time, thought, and energies of Prof. C. F. Marvin, the 

 able chief of the division, and the persons engaged therein as to leave 

 little opportunity for serious application to the several unsolved 

 technical problems involved in the construction and oi^eration of 

 meteorological apparatus. In former years the volume of routine 

 work was much smaller and less exacting than at present; but we 

 earnestly look forward to a time in the near future when the burden 

 of routine duties shall diminish because of the comi^leted state of the 

 instrumental and storm-warning equipments. Then our experts will 

 be able to devote at least a portion of their time to special problems. 



Professor Marvin expresses high appreciation of the conscientious 

 application and ability with which Mr. D. T. Maring, the assistant 

 chief of the instrument division, has assisted him. 



OBSERVATORY BUILDINGS. 



In the act making approj^riations for the Department of Agriculture 

 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902, approved March 2, 1901, Con- 

 gress included an item for the purchase of a site and erection of a 

 small brick and wooden building at each of the following-named sta- 

 tions for the use of the Weather Bureau, at the amounts set opposite 

 each, viz: Atlantic City, N. J., 16,000; Hatteras, N. C, 15,000; Fort 

 Canby, Wash., 14,000; Port Crescent, Wash., $3,000; Tatoosh Island, 

 Washington, $5,000, and Point Reyes, Cal., 13,000; and for the pur- 

 chase and laying of a cable between the mainland and Tatoosh Island, 

 Washington, including general repairs to telegraph line from Port 

 Crescent to Tatoosh Island, Washington, $20,000; in all, $46,000, with 

 the proviso that if any of the money for these several buildings and 

 cable remained unexpended it might be used in the repair, imiDrove- 

 ment, and equipment of the buildings owned by the Government and 

 occupied by the Weather Bureau at Cape Henry, Virginia, Bismarck, 

 N. Dak., Kittyhawk, N. C, and Jupiter, Fla. 



Under this authority the work was immediately taken up by the 

 Weather Bureau, and the following buildings were erected during the 

 year at the total cost set ojiposite each, viz : 



Atlantic City, N. J _ .$6,000.00 



Hatteras, N. C ._ .. 5,000.00 



Fort Canby (North Head) , Wash ... 3,992.63 



Port Crescent, Wash 1, 000. 00 



Tatoosh Island, Washington 4, 950. 00 



Point Reyes, Cal 2, 989. 90 



Total. ^....^..^.^ . ..._,_. 23,932,53 



