37^ ALLISON ON CANADIAN WEATHER TELEGRAPHY. 



the disturbance is not merely local. The display of the signal drum 

 does not convey a distinct prediction , but simply indicates the 

 existence of a storm elsewhere, and that the probability of its 

 reaching the neighbourhood of Halifax is sufficient to call for 

 vio-ilance. It must be understood that the utility of the drum for 

 warning ships about to leave port is not impaired if the storm 

 should be diverted from the immediate vicinity of Halifax. 



Taking the above extracts from report and notice, by G. F. 

 Kingston, Meteorological Superintendent, Toronto, as my texts, I 

 propose to read a few notes on the present telegraphic branch of the 

 meteorological system. For better understanding the present, it is 

 advisable to look back briefly at the past. After the branch of 

 climatological statistics, (on which I have here and elsewhere 

 endeavoured from time to time to give some information) had been 

 rooted but a short time in Nova Scotia — and still more briefly in 

 many other portions of the Dominion — some pressure was brought 

 to bear upon the leaders in this department to publish telegraphic 

 reports of weather changes and warnings of approaching storms. 

 This was the hasty action of the mass which always clamours for the 

 so-called " practical results," never giving time for the truth con- 

 tained in a theory to prove itself, and consequently falling into 

 error from forgetfulness that Nature's mills though ' ' they grind 

 very slow, they grind exceeding fine." 



In 1872 I proposed to the Chamber of Commerce in this city, 

 to publish a daily bulletin of the chief characteristics of the weather 

 here and at several stations in Canada and the United States ; but 

 there was an opposition in that body, partly from some who wished 

 Government to undertake the whole expense of the enterprise, and 

 partly from others who did not understand the objects to be attained, 

 or the manner of their attainment. At that time Government w^as 

 not prepared to inaugurate solely on its own account, and without 

 the co-operation of the chief cities, the system which the next year 

 it found itself enabled to begin. A little was however accomplished 

 that Autumn in the way of receiving a daily bulletin from seven 



