Logo
Prev
Bookmark
Rotate
Print
Next
Contents
All Pages
Related Articles
Browse Issues
Help
Search
Home
'
National Geographic : 1892 Mar 26
Contents
Development of Meteorologic Methods. accepted with reluctance, and proves, if proof were needed, that the holding of a commission does not emasculate intellectual qualities. As to the Signal service in general, it collects and distributes an enormous amount of weather data. In accuracy of collation, in speed of collection from and distribution to distant points, in extent and in legibility even of its ephemeral publications, the service is not only unrivaled, but is not even approached by any other weather service in the world. In attaining this practical excellence, many peculiar methods of work and a large number of special mechanical devices were essential to the present suc cess, and in this connection the intelligent ability and interest of the enlisted men who served as observers is evidenced by the fact that far the greater part of these improvements in mechani cal details and office methods is due to ideas, suggestions, etc, therefrom. The local observers in charge of stations throughout the country have, almost without exception, obtained their entire knowledge of weather predictions and their meteorological in formation while in this service. More than one-third of the observers in charge of stations have had the benefit of some col legiate training, and the satisfaction of observers with their status is evinced by the fact that their average length of service has been 13 years, while the entire life of the service has only been 20 years. Only a small percentage of the observers have left the Signal service save to benefit themselves by accepting duties of a more responsible and better compensated character, which often have opened up to them through their connection with the Signal service. The military staff of the Signal service has all these years worked under the greatest possible disadvantages, receiving no additional pay for the performance of weather duty. Their pro fessional standing in the army often suffered from their absence from their corps, and they received scant acknowledgment and honor from other sources. This, too, while serving on such a pay and under such conditions in a large city as to prevent officers from living in accord with their brother officers serving with their regiment or corps. More than one hundred officers have been detailed for signal duty, but not more than a dozen have ever been willing to remain for any length of time, and the number of these was subject to change and depletion by promotion, resig nation, or the assumption of better paid duties bringing profes 14-NATr. G(,og. MAG, VOT. IV, 1892.
Links
Archive
1892 May 15
1892 Feb 19
Navigation
Previous Page
Next Page
