90 AGRICULTURAL APPROPRIATION BILL, 1924. 



USE OF AIRPLANK.S AND BALLOONS. 



Mr. AxDERSox. Are airplanes or re<rular balloons used at all in 

 making these observations^ Have thev been occasionally or regu- 

 larly or otherwise used? 



Mr. Marvin. Very little use has been made up to the present time 

 of air})laries for takin«r observations in the free air. We can «ret 

 better results at less cost by takinji observations with pilot balloons 

 and kites, l)ecause we have better information as to the position of 

 the balloon at the time. The instruments carried on airplanes and 

 moving freely around have not heretofore been made useful in 

 meteorological work. 



Mr. Anderson. I would assume, not knowing anything about it all, 

 that to be of any value you would have to have a series of observa- 

 tions. It would be verj^ difficult. I Avould suppose, with an airplane, 

 and expensive as well. 



Mr. Marvin. It is a much more expensive method of getting the 

 observation. 



Mr. Gregg. I may add that the principal element of interest in 

 aviation is the wind, and it is quite difficult to make observations of 

 the wind in an airplane. 



Mr. Anderson, Which do you consider of the greater importance 

 under this item — the general research work in its relation to the 

 scientific study of meteorology or the forecast which 3'ou make for air 

 travelers ? 



Mr. Marvin. With respect to the increase. Mr. Chairman, we would 

 hope out of that appropriation to derive the greatest immediate 

 practical benefit from the forecasts to aviation, but I want to say this 

 about the whole appropriation with its increase. It is the way we 

 have of accumulating information which must go on for several 

 years before we get data from which forecasts studies can be made. 

 The work under this appropriaiton, apart from its benefits to avia- 

 tion, is a contribution to science and is something the value of which 

 increases with the accumulation of observations. It is only with the 

 accumulation of these observations that useful research work can be 

 carried out. 



Mr. Anderson. When you get down to brass tacks, how extensive 

 is air travel in this country at the present time? 



Mr. Marvin. The travel at the present time, I tliink, is limited to 

 the Army and the Navy maneuvers and to tiie Post Office Dei)artnuMit. 

 I think weather advices are very important in devel()i)ing aviation, 

 and certainly this country ought not to be bai-kward in developing 

 civil aviation, regardless of its great need as a part of the national 

 defense. 



Mr. Anderson. That completes your item does it? 



Mr. Mai{\in. Iliat is the oidy remaining \Xow\ we ha\e. Mr. Ander- 

 son. AVe would like to see this increase as an e\ iileiue of the snppoit 

 this feature of the work is getting, because we feel it is important 

 both to practical aviation and to the science of meteorology. 



Mr. Anderson. Is tliere any relationsliip at all between these up- 

 pei'-air ob.servations and your forecast on the gictund^ 



Mr. Marvin. There is; the forecasters depend upon them every day. 

 We use these reports that we get from the stations we now have and 

 chart them in the office on the maps for the different !(>vels and the 



