Meteorology. 33 



The work of the Weather Bureau in connection with the rivers of the United 



States, W. L. jMoork (U. S. Dept. Agr., TVeather Bureau. Bui. 17, pp. 106, figs. 3). — 

 The history of the work of the Weather Bureau in connection with the river floods 

 and the value of the river and Hood service are discussed, together with a list of 

 special river stations; an explanation of the system of flood warnings; tables of 

 distances, river tributaries, and rate of flood movement; and reports by officials in 

 charge of river stations at Montgomery, Alabama; Fort Smith and Little Eock, 

 Arkansas; Redbluft" and Sacramento, California; Augusta and Atlanta, Georgia; 

 Cairo, Illinois; Davenport, Dubuque, Keokuk, and Sioux City, Iowa; New Orleans, 

 Louisiana; St. Paul, Minnesota; Vicksburg, Mississippi; Hannibal, Kansas City, 

 and St. Louis, Missouri; Albany, New York; Raleigh, North Carolina; Cincin- 

 nati, Ohio; Portland, Oregon; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Charleston, South Caro- 

 lina; Yankton, South Dakota; Chattanooga, Kuoxville, Memphis, and Nashville, 

 Tennessee, and Parkersburg, West Virginia. 



"The special work of the Weather Bureau in connection with the rivers of the 

 country is to facilitate commerce on navigable streams by publishing' daily informa- 

 tion' as to water stages along the course of each river, and to issue timely warnings 

 of floods so as to efl'ect the saving of life and property. 



"On January 1, 1896, the Weather Bureau river and flood system consisted of 135 

 special river stations, equipped with standard river gauges for measuring the ver- 

 tical rise of the surface of the water, and in many cases with standard thermometers 

 for measuring air temperature. These stations were manned by local observers 

 receiving from the Weather Burean pay commensurate with their services. There 

 were 44 rainfall stations, equipped with rain gauges and manned by local paid 

 observers, and so distributed in the various catchment basins of the tributaries to 

 important rivers as to give, in connection with the regular meteorological Weather 

 Bureau stations, a fair approximation to the average rainfall throughout each water- 

 shed. There were 38 completely equipjied meteorological stations of the Weather 

 Bureau where river measurements were made, and 22 Weather Bureau stations which 

 were centers from which flood warnings and forecasts of expected changes in river 

 level were issued." 



Warnings against tornadoes, E. S. Holden {Iowa Weather and Crop Servtec, 

 Montlily Beview, 7 {1896), No. 5, p. ?). — The author suggests surrounding towns on the 

 soiithwest side at a distance from the town of about 2 miles by wire strung on poles 

 and terminating in electric signal bells in houses, etc. Part of the circuit is com- 

 posed of short stay wires which hold up vanes (6x4 in.) on the poles facing the dan- 

 gerous quarter. These stay wires are so constructed that they will break when the 

 wind blows at a rate of 60 miles per hour. The breaking of the wire sets the signal 

 bells to ringing. 



A prognostic of thunder, B. Woodd-Smith (Nature, 54 {1896), No. 1390, p. 151).— 

 It is claimed that the formation of a small group of parallel streaks of clouds, seldom 

 more than 3 or 4 in number, definite in form, and limited in extent and duration, 

 appearing either as white streaks on the blue, or more rarely as darker streaks 

 against nimbus or cumulo-nimbus, is almost always followed by thunder within 24 

 hours. 



Scientific kiteflying {Science, 1896, May 39, p. 801; Nature, 54 {1896), No. 1390, p. 

 156; Monthhj Weather Bcv.,2S {1895), No. 11, pp. 418-420, figa. 5),— "Instead of being 

 flat and tapering at the lower end, the kites used are box-shaped, with their ends 

 open and their sides partly covered with cloth or silk, and when fine piano wire is 

 used instead of twine they are found to be splendid flyers. Recent ascents have 

 reached altitudes of nearly a mile above sea level, and excellent results have been 

 obtained by means of a self-recording instrument made by W, II, Fergusson, of the 

 Blue Hill Observatory, which gives automatic readings of temperature, pressure, 

 humidity, and wind velocity. Among the most important matters that have hith- 

 erto been noted is the presence of cold waves and warm waves at considerable eleva- 

 tions some hours before the temperature changes are noted at the earth's surface. 



