Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1915 — GOVERNMENT WEATHER EXHIBIT AT EXPOSITION [ARTICLE]

GOVERNMENT WEATHER EXHIBIT AT EXPOSITION

Former Jasper County Boy Write* About Features of Exhibit He Superintends.

By J. Cecil Alter.

The Weather Bureau exhibit at the San Francisco exposition occupies a space 28x59 feet (1652 square feet) in size, located near the south or main entrance to the Palace of Agriculture, the southwest corner of the exhibition area being 40 feet from the doors.

The main avenue through the Palace, 16 feet wide, bounds the space on the west. A 12-foot aisle and the government balustrade form the south and east boundaries, and a 7-foot passage way across the north side separates the weather bureau space from other U. S. government exhibits. The agricultural exhibits of the Argentine are across the south and east aisles.

The exhibit is open in arrangement, a view being afforded of practically the entire space from every side and comer. The floor space actually occupied by the stands, tables, instruments and the massive balustrade is only 17 per cent of the total exhibit space alloted to the bureau. This arrangement is very satisfactory, as it enables large numbers of visitors to patronize any or all of the exhibits and displays.

The cases, tables and other furniture are finished in light oak, giving a uniform and. pleasing appearance on the oiled pine floor. There is a 10-foot entrance through the balustrade on the south side and another on the east end, and with the open aisles to the north and west, easy passage is afforded, and invited, into and through the space.

The glass weather map, the wind instrument tower carrying its active instruments, the model storm warning tower, the kite, the baloon, suspended above the general exhibits, are visible several rods away from the spaed.

The Exhibits. The new 8-foot glass map of the United States upon which the prevailing weather conditions throughout the country are placed each morning, stands at the northeast comer of the exhibit, the fronting open, and aisle space of 15 feet being utilized for spectator space. A large settee is placed in front of the map on the space line. A low chain on posts serves as a railing in frbnt of the map. The weather reports are received from the San Francisco office of the bureau, sometimes by telephone and sometimes by messenger from that office. The map is cleaned each morning by a property man. The map is regularly patronized by a number of persons, and special audiences are before it frequently every day. I regard this as a very important exhibit in showing how forecasts are made, and giving information to many persons on the weather “back home.” It is I believe a conservative estimate, that 95 per cent of exposition visitors who come before the map do not know even the major facts of forcasting, nor of weather movements across the map. This form of map is excellent for audience demonstration, especially in connection with a few series of Washington weather maps on display. 1 A small rack, ait the end of the map frame, carries, for free distribution, the booklet by Mr. Williams, “The Weather Bureau,” the card “Explanation of Weather Flags,” and the leaflet “Explanation of the Weather Map.” Attention is called to this literature by a note on the margin of the map, daily. A station weather map frame, above the literature rack carries the San Francisco may, issued daily. The principal instrument stand, located near the map for convenience in continuing talks from the map, w T as especially made, having three drawers on each side, with space for batteries underneath. The top height is the same as the station instrument stand, the size being 3x6 feet. On it is shown the triple register in operation, being connected with the wind vane, anomometer, rain gage and sunshine recorder, the two latter records being alternated for demonstration. Cards and albels on the case and on each pen explain the records briefly. The thermometric sunshine recorder is rigidly mounted in the center of the table, a specially mounted electric lamp being placed adjacent to operate the recorder as desired. At the other end of the table is a single register recording wind velocity simultaneously with the pen on the triple register. On this stand also are the long range thermograph, the aneroid baragraph in handsome exhibit case, and the hair hygrograph, all in operation at correct values. Previous record sheets are usually left near each instrument. This display creates so many expressions of wonderment and admiration for the service that I am inclined to rank, it as of very great importance to the exhibit. . The rain gage display stand is located just south of the instrument stand. It carries the 8-inch gage complete, the tipping bucket gage, and the Marvin Weekly Float gage, the last two being operated by running water from the city water mains. Drainage is provided so that no attention is necessary to the tipping bucket gage except to occasionally

regulate the flow, or suspend it for a sunshine record. The fleet gage requires watching, of course. A sample of its record is left in sight and the operation demonstrated only at intervals as desired.

A demonstration is occasionally made in the funnel receiver of the tipping bucket gage of an anomalous whirling action to the tomadic whirl. The water, leaving the funnel from a condition of quiet produces some interesting effects, helpful in talking of destructive storms.

The mercurial barometer case is mounted on a building post in the midst of the space, a station mercurial barometer is shown and another of similar pattern with the cistern partially cut away to show the mechanism.

The Marvin automatic river stage indicator is exhibited on the side of this post, the bottom of the still-well being about 18 inches from the floor. It has a water supply pipe and a drainage cock, in demonstration the float rises rapid’. » T and operates the mechanism and the dial in a very intelligible aad interesting manner. The mechanism, with especially made plate g(ass case, is securely fastened to a shelf 6 inches above the top of the 24-inch still-well. The dial ns placed about 2 feet above the mechanism. The batteries, 3 dry cells, are placed inside the framing of the post, access being gained through a small door. A t .rc buttu 3 switch, inside the .bi-r, cuts cut the taTories except u hen itec nstrating the ci » rations of the gage. This gage, and 1 must include the tipping bucket ami float rain gages, are A 1 in importance to the exihibit, if one may judge from the interest shown in them. The number of business men and even educators who do not know how rain is measured is surprisingly large. The weekly float gage and the river stage indicator have been especially studied in detail, already by two engineers interested in hydrological problems in connection with electrical plants. The desire manifested was to utilize the principles in similar work. The new style telethermoscope is mounted on the same post surface with the river gage, its batteries being placed with those for the river gage. The bright bulb is placed just above the case, which is mounted on edge for better examination and operation, the lid being kept open. The Marvin float evaporimeter, in still-well, is placed under the telethermoscope on brackets, and the hook gage and still-well are placed beneath the evaporimeter, 18 inches above the floor for want of a better place. The tsill-well has been plugged and made water-tight for demonstraplace. The still-well has been plugged the still-well, with a chain attached for security.

On the other edge of the large post is the snow measurement apparatus. The Marvin density tube and scales are mounted from a bracket, a tuft of cotton in the end of the tube suggesting snow. The copper pail and spring balances are suspended from a bracket above the tube. The pail carries cotton for snow also. The cadel snow stake, with the metal point telescoped, is mounted cornerwise on the post, showing the two front sides, and the 3-foot hickory measuring stick is made fast nearby. A small electric fan on a bracket above the snow weighing apparatus operates the anemometer about 7 feet away. Above the electric fan, and about 15 feet from the floor, is a large bracket carrying the 10-inch model storm warning almps, oil burners. They are on a pulley and may be lowered for examination.

The combined anemometer and wind vane support is anchored to the floor without braces or guys, by means of heavy bolts through the three-inch floor. The anemometer runs at a velocity indicated at about 6 miles per lour continuously. The cups are about 11 feet above the floor and the 4-foot vane 6 inches higher. The contact box, at about 3 feet from the floor, is left open for examination. The battery wires pass under the floor from the hollow support pipe.

North of this support and west of the rain gages is the table carrying the model house properly wired for lightning protection according to prof. Henry: The house attracts a great amount of attention, and has already been the means of wiring an entire farm premises in Texas, some buildings on a farm in Maine, and another in Nebraska, according to stktements of visitors who themselves have ordered the improvements mentioned, on their property as indicated. Five dry cells, and a spark coil-such as is used in wireless telegraphy work?, connected with a loose wire and the house wiring system are the means of securing a spray of 3 or 4 “lightning” streams about one and one-half inches long, accompanied by a sharp crackfhg noise. This attracts attention very effectively, and serves to show 4 that the entire wiring system must be in one circuit connected with good ground wires. For showing how a farmer, or other person may utilize a bit of the great amount of scientific information gained by the bureau, to his great and direct advantage, this exhibit is probably the best one on the space. It should be duplicated and shown at every State fair in the United States. The major part of the Marvin pyrheliometer, equatorial mounting, also stands on this table. The eye glass and scale galvanometer and other delicate parts are in a locked case. A photographic sunshine recorder la

also on this table. A low table, 18 inches high, 3x6 feet in size, stands next north of the model house and carries the mode storm warning tower, with its lanterns and weather flags, the appropriate flags being displayed each day for tomorrow’s weather forecast. The R. F. D. flags are used and are flown about 17 feet from the floor. The small 6-inch model lanterns are about 12 feet from the floor.

A bromide screen stands just west of the wind instrument tower, with picture surface about 4x6. feet. Next north of the picture screen is the autoprojectoscope, for automatically projecting lantern slides. It faces north, away from the large open windows to the south. A large settee is located in front of the picture machine on the property side. Twenty-five or more persons can observe the slides at one time. The pictures are thrown about 2 feet square and each is exposed 15 seconds. Appropriate explanatory slides, from typewritten copy, precede each special series of views. With a push button cord a demonstrator may hold one slide as long as desired.

West of the picture screen, at the southwest corner of the space, is a transparency stand, carrying two counter cases beneath the transparencies. One of these cases contains books and publications. A few of these are text books and others are sample publications of the buerau. A card states that the attendant will endeavor to furnish weather statistics for any county in the United States or any country in the world on application. The other counter case contains the cloud nephoscope, complete, a kiosfl aneroid, and the same without case showing works only, a pocket aneroid, the kite meteorograph and the baloon meteorograph with extra aluminum sheets. These glass counter cases are good exhibit cases for small instruments and apparatus. They are lined with plush. At the northwest comer of the space, next west of the seat in front of the autoprojectoscope, is another transparency stand with counter exhibit cases. The case on the north side carries the pyrheliometer parts, a short range thermograph (metal coil pattern), two ordinary thermometers, a maximum and a minimupi thermometer on a Townsend support, a hand sling psyehrometer, and a. station whirling psychrometer with shortened handle, and no iron support.

The opposide case contains a Lambrecht’s Hygrometer, Marvin’s kiosk hair hygrometer, a burrette tube, an electric sunshine recorder, Lind’s old style anemometer, small “zero-set-ting' anemometer for light air movements, electrical contacts for wind direction registration, a kite anemometer, and a regular anemometer with cups (k. d.).

Between these two transparency stands is the seismograph in glass case. A smoked record sheet is on the drum but the clock is not running. The pen is caused to vibrate constantly, an inch or two, by the floor movements. A note on the drum at the point of the pen arm explains this, much to the satisfaction of visitors. Another note, with a scale of distances, indicates change of oscillation region due to redistribution of weight about the case, as visitors change places. An enlarged copy of the records of the Mexican earthquake in 1907 is shown in the case. In spite of the fact that an earthquake is not ai- topic here, this has proven to be an especially attractive exhibit, the number of patrons being probaby as great as the number visiting all the other exhibits together,,: though in times of demonstration the lightning rod display has much the larger crowds. The seismograph case is an old one, finished in dark oak, but being the only full glass case exhibited, it presents a very good appearance. The Marvin box kite is suspended from an aerial wire just south of the post near the middle of the south side of the space. It is about 15 feet high and carries the empty aluminum meteorograph case. A sounding balloon about 6 feet in diameter is suspended about 10 feet high, the top being about 16 feet high, over the rain gage and other instrument stand. A parachute with strings, and an empty meteorograph basket are attached. A first mounting, with the parachute hanging above, against it, the balloon resulted in a dangerous stretching of the rubber at the balloon neck after a short time, and it became necessary to invert the entire system, leaving the balloon suspended loose in the parachute, or not display it at all. The basket was attached to the lower part of the inverted parachute. Both the kite and the balloon have proven very interesting to visitors, and the balloon especially brings a large share of praise to the exhibit. Nearly every one who passes through ; the 1 exhibit # takes the time tfo look at it and read ‘the little story of its achievement, briefly stated on a card suspended. It is filled with air, and ,qan readily be refilled as needed at a number of aii* compressing plants among the machinery exhibits of this and other buildings. A wing frame, of 24 wings, providing 96 surfaces 22x26 inches in size, for photographs, maps, charts and so forth, is backed up against the rear of the glass map. On this are photopgraphs of 5 weather bureau buildings, 2 mountain snow views, 1 wireless towers Radio, Va., 1 1 kite and balloon in barn, 8 river and flood views, 8 views at Wagon Wheel Gap,

10 pictures and charts of weather bureau work in Wisconsin chanbefrry. marshes, 3 enlarged special sets of automatic records of meteorological instruments, 24 cloud types and descriptions, 31 plates of ice crystals, 22 plates of snow crystals, 1 general statement enlarged from typewriting about the bureau, 1 U. S. map showing forecast verification percentages by states, 1 chart showing storm tracks from West Indies crossing the Panama Canal sailing, routes, 2 graphic precipitation charts, 2 U. S. maps showing weather bureau stations, 1 corn and wheat service chart, 1 cotton region chart, 2 river service charts, 1 storm warning station on the great lakes, 10 climatic charts of U. S., 13 Washington weather maps jn 3 series, 8 northern hemisphere maps in 1 series with the long range forecast based on the first one, foreign weather maps of Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Russia, France, Japan, China, Egypt, Spain, Argentina, India, Australia, and Mexico, and 11 charts of 165 stations showing diagramatically the precipitation distribution in western stations by months.

Other pictures 22x26 inches in size, and 13x22, are displayed in the bromide screen (oak finish) there being 9 views of the snowy survey work in Utah, 4 views of kites and balloons, 5 of co-operative stations, 2 of instrumental exposures at regular stations, and 2 of the anemocinemograph and Dines pressure tube. The two transparency stands carry a number of hand colored, enlarged transparencies Bxlo and 10x20 inches in size. Ofc one surface are 8 views of the kite and balloon work and apparatus, 1 weighing rain and snow gage, 1 evaporation recorder tipping bucket system, 3 regular station and co-operative station instrumental exposures, 1 float evaporation recorder, 2 vipws of the telethermograph, and 1 each of the normal barograph and siphon barograph.

On the opposite surface are 3 fogs over San Francisco, 9 selected cloud formations, 1 waterspout, 7 tornado, 1 tornado action in felling trees, 1 explosive effect of tornado, 1 scantling in steel web of bridge beam, 3 lightning and effects. The other stand contains, on one surface, 2 hail and effects, 1 steamer ice-coated, 1 Corona, Colorado, station in winter, 1 enlarged snow crystal, 2 views of Marvin’s universal seismograph, 3 shielded snow gages, 9 snow tubes and survey work, and on the opposite surface are 7 views of the central office and other abservatory buildings, 1 kiosk in Washington, 2 storm warnnig towers in use, 2 vessels reporting work at Cape Henry, a steamer, also a bark through the telescope, 4 river gages and oflods in streams, 3 coast storm effects, and on each of the four surfaces in a, transparent, printed statement. While these transparencies are all beautiful, they are robbed of much of their beauty by the flood of outdoor light which pervades the building. The automatic lantern slide projector, carrying 78 slides, is provided with three and on-fourth complete changes of views, there being good series, each, of river gages and floods, snow survey, camberry marsh work, the co-operative experimental forest service station at Ephraim, Utah, the shielded snow gages, orchard heating views, snow scenes miscellaneous, ice formations and effects, fogs, clouds, observatory buildings, kites, balloons, hurricanes and effects, tornadoes and effects, waterspouts, iighning and effects, co-operative weather stations, vessel reporting, central office views, cartoons, charts, diagrams, and 2 series of weather maps for lecture work. There are 5 steroscopes on the space but only two of them carry weather bureau views. The general farm series, the Washington public buildings and park series and the series of colored grains being included in the arrangement for facility of supervision. Each contains 48 views. One or more visitors are always before the lantern slide machine, these views, and the method of presenting being eminently satisfactory. The steroscopes are constantly in use, there frequently being as many as half a dozen persons waiting for a chance to get a look at them. I have estimated that about one-half the people jvho approach them, will look at about half the views in a single scope, probably one-third of the visitors will turn through the entire series of one scope, while probably one person in ten will be able to go through the entire set of five. I presume every one would turn leisurely through all the scopes, but for the tiring of the eyes, for I hear a very great many expressions of pleasure and satisfaction over them. I take the little journey through the central office myself, occasionally, in that way. A flat top desk is located in the southeast corner of the exhibit area. This provides ample space for two chairs, telephone, etc. From here all the exhibits can be seen without leaving the desk except the snow apparatus behind the post All the principal exhibits have printed explanatory labels attached, oij placed adjacent They are behind glass. Many smaller labels for use inside the cases are provided. A few have been typewritten. The (Siphon Barograph, received March 22nd, was placed on the south side of the post