Foreign Esiimates of the Signal Service. 89 



cially in view of the fact that the efforts of Admiral Fitz Roy in 

 Great Britain had resulted so unsatisfactorily. The problem was 

 to evolve out of unknown and unsatisfactory gonditions a system 

 suited to America^ or in other words, a system that should 

 ensure to citizens and tax-pa3'ers practical results commensurate 

 with expenditures. How the system of weather forecasting was 

 built up in detail, it is neither the province nor purpose of this 

 report to consider. It is, however, not a theory but a fact that 

 under the military administration this service throve wonder- 

 fully ; though be it understood the military administration is 

 no more indorsed in all its details than is the civilian adminis- 

 tration of governmental bureaus in all its details. Bickerings, 

 jealousies, repressions, maladministration and inefficiency are not 

 necessary characteristics of either civilian or military methods, 

 nor can either be alisolijtely free therefrom. In short, in every 

 l)ureau the ability, api^lication, energy and all the common- 

 sense characteristics of its chief, be they great or little, find their 

 exaggerated reflex in the work done and the policy followed, in 

 the working out of details and in the accomjjlishment of results. 



The Weather Inireau of the United States, however, soon 

 speedily attained a degree of efficienc}^ and success sufficient to 

 commend it not only to the practical American citizen, Init yet 

 more to the admiring judgment of foreign scientists, who, in- 

 spired by the satisfactory work in the United States, speedily 

 increased the scope of their own duties or persuaded the govern- 

 ment to initiate a like system for their OAvn country. 



The conference of European meteorologists at Leipsic in 1872 

 resulted in a national congress at Vienna in 1873 ; and in an 

 official invitation extended to the government of the United 

 States to take part, it is said — " The Avonderful results which 

 have been obtained by meteorological observations on this conti- 

 nent [the United States] renders its jjarticipation in the afore- 

 said congress highly desirable ; " and the hope is expressed that 

 this government will, " In the interests of science and the 

 general Avelfare, unite through its representatives at this congress 

 the experience of its meteorological institutes to the observations 

 of the meteorologists of Europe." 



The Universal exhibition at Prussia in 1876, in considering 

 the Signal service exhibit, acknowledged in express terms that 

 no award within the iJower of the conmiittee would adequately 



