340 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



THE MISSOURI WEATHER SERVICE— SHALL IT BE SUS- 

 TAINED AS A STATE SERVICE. 



I;Y FRANCIS E. Nll'ilER. 



HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION. 



In November, 1877, the writer entered into correspondence 

 with gentlemen in various parts of the state, which resulted in the or- 

 ganization of a volunteer weather service in Missouri. The number of 

 observers at the outset was about forty, and the observations were be- 

 gun December i, 1877. 



The observers were nearly all furnished with tested rain gauges, for 

 which they paid the cost price ; many of them also secured thermome- 

 ters, which, however, have never been compared with any standard, nor 

 were any instructions issued regarding the proper exposure of these 

 thermometers. 



The scope of the service was, primarily, to investigate the rainfall 

 of the state, and the work has been largely confined to that subject, 



The scope of the subject was thus limited by reison of the fact 

 that the director could not afford to give the time and means required 

 to carry on a more extensive work. 



Nevertheless, most of the observers have made observations upon 

 temperature, some using ordinary thermometers, and others providing 

 themselves with Green's or other good instruments. 



At the time of organizing the service, a state weather service had 

 already been organized in Iowa, in October, 1875. by Dr. Gustavus Hin- 

 richs to vvhom belongs the honor of being the pioneer in state weather 

 service work. 



In those days the Signal Service was unfriendly to the State Ser- 

 vice work. Many observers in Iowa and Missouri remember the circular 

 letter of the Chief Signal Officer, Gen. Meyer, dated November i, 1877, 

 warning them that '■ no circulars or circular letters relating to the taking 

 of observations, the concentration of reports, or in other ways connect- 



