82 



The National Geographic Magazine 



It was the special effort of those con- 

 nected with the exhibit to explain and 

 set forth in the strongest and clearest 

 light possible the aims and methods of 

 the United States Weather Bureau and 

 its practicability and great economic 

 value to the people of the United Slates 

 and of North America. Special stress 

 was given to the great importance and 

 the value of its weather forecasts and 

 warnings. 



As a result of the visit of the Jury of 

 Awards and their critical examination, 

 the United States Weather Bureau was 

 awarded a Grand Prix. Gold medals 

 were awarded to two officials of the 

 Weather Bureau, Prof. C. F. Marvin 

 for instruments, apparatus, and appli- 

 ances, and to Prof. A. J. Henry for 

 cloud photographs. 



THE LOSS OF PROPERTY FROM 

 LIGHTNING, 



IN 1898 systematic efforts were made 

 by the United States Weather Bureau 

 to ascertain the frequency of damaging 

 or destructive lightning strokes through- 

 out the United States. The results of 

 the first year's work were published in 

 Weather Bureau Bnlletm No. 26, Light- 

 ning and Electricity of the Air, and also 

 separately as Weather Biireau Bulletin 

 No. igg, Property Loss by Lightning , 

 i8g8. The collection of statistics bear- 

 ing upon the loss of and damage to prop- 

 erty was continued during 1899. 



The total number of reports received 

 4)f buildings struck and damaged or de- 

 stroyed by lightning during the cajen- 

 dar year 1899 was 5,527, about three 

 times as many "as were received during 

 the previous year. In addition to this 

 number, 729 buildings caught fire as a 

 result of exposure to other buildings 

 that had been set on fire by lightning. 



The great majority of buildings struck 

 by lightning were not provided with 

 lightning rods. A conservative esti- 

 mate by Prcjf. A. J. Henry of the total 



loss by lightning during the year would 

 probably be $6,000,000. One-half of 

 the buildings struck were barns, sheds, 

 warehouses, etc., and about 7 percent 

 chur '.hes and schools ; cattle, horses, 

 mules, and pigs were killed by light- 

 ning to the value of about $129,955. 



POLAR WORK. 



PLANS for the Baldwin-Ziegler 

 North Polar Expedition are matur- 

 ing rapidly, for, unlike the majority of 

 Arctic leaders, Mr. Baldwin is not ham- 

 pered for want of funds. Mr. Ziegler^ 

 the multimillionaire behind the enter- 

 prise, has expressed a willingness to pay 

 all expenses under one million dollars-. 

 Half a million was the cost of the Ital- 

 ian expedition of last year, and it was 

 to the complete equipment that was thus 

 possible that the Duke of Abruzzi par- 

 tially owed his success. 



Mr. Baldwin has chosen the Franz 

 Josef Land route. He has had experi- 

 ence with Peary in Greenland and with 

 Wellman in Franz Josef land, and is thus 

 acquainted with the practical difficulties 

 of both routes. Two ships will take the 

 part}^ north, one returning before the 

 autumn ice blocks retreat, and the sec- 

 ond remaining with the men through 

 the winter. Mr. Baldwin plans to take 

 a number of tough Siberian ponies with 

 him, The chances are many against 

 his being able to put them to any prac- 

 tical use, but the one chance is worth 

 providing for. 



The summer of J901 will thus witness 

 the simultaneous inauguration of the 

 most systematic campaign to reach the 

 North and South Poles that has ever 

 been attempted. In the Arctics, Peary, 

 Baldwin, Sverdrup, and a Russian party 

 with a vessel of the type of the ice- 

 breaking Ei^mak will push northward, 

 while in the Antarctics two splendidly 

 equipped expeditions, the German and 

 British, will strive to reach the opposite 

 extreme. 



