94 General A. \V. Greely — Geograpliij of the Air. 



sional and pergonal reputation. In other words, the Signal 

 service staff lias lieen poorly compensated, either in money or 

 reputation, has had no definite status, and has worked merely 

 for the love of science, which is indeed the most beautiful and 

 stimulating sentiment animating men of science, but which alone 

 and unsupported, as is well known, does not always lead to the 

 l)est results either in theoretical or in applied sciences. 



As regards detailed studies and scientific theses, it may be well 

 admitted that the meteorologists of other lands have contributed 

 more fully to the literature of the day than the meteorologists of 

 the Signal service, but it should be borne in mind that eight 

 years ago a Congressional commission reported against the con- 

 tinuance of scientific investigations previously fostered by the 

 Signal service, and a clause in an appropriation bill compelled 

 the abandonment of the school of instruction and the discontinu- 

 ance of theoretical meteorological research, except incidentally. 

 As to the regular jjublications, reference elscAvhere shows that 

 the unequaled Weather Review of the Signal service has been 

 imitated abroad, and as to the more ephemereal publications, it 

 may be pointed out that the examjjle of the Signal service has 

 also been followed out as to daily weather maps and accompany- 

 ing meteorological data. 



In Australasia, by the combined eflbrts of several states, there 

 is issued each day a weather map; in Belgium, one map is 

 issued ; in Austria-Hungary, one ; in Algeria, one ; in France, 

 one ; in Japan, three ; in India, one ; in Russia, one ; and in 

 Switzerland, one. 



The intellectual activity of the staff of the Weather bureau 

 may be indicated by the fact that more than four hundred sepa- 

 rate articles were mentioned by title in the report of the Chief 

 Signal officer for this year as having emanated from these offi- 

 cials during their connection with the Signal service. Far the 

 greater number pertain directly to meteorological subjects, and a 

 majority of them have been printed without expense to the gov- 

 ernment. 



There has been assertion on the part of ill informed persons 

 that proper attention has not been given under army adminis- 

 tration to the collection and discussion of climatic data. As an 

 answer to this, it is only necessary to point to the monthly 

 Weather Review initiated in 1873. which is, and alwavs has been. 



