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HERE Is now ncnrlng
completion In the
mountains of north
ern Virginia a weath
er forecasting out
post upon which tho
tnuea htates gov
ernment nas expended thou
sands of dollars
during the past
two years nnd
which is unique
in the world.
This institution,
known as the
Mount Weather
observatory Is
one of the most
Important under
the government
and when its new
buildings aro fin
ished and its
equipment fully
Installed this au
tumn so that the
scientists can en
ter in earnest up
on their novel in
vestigations it is
relieved that this
experiment sta
tion above the
tlouds will con
tribute more than
any other factor to Increased ac
curacy in weather forecasting. The
new institution is very different
from the ordinary weather observ
atory to be found in every one of
our large cities, and It is even dis
similar in scope and function to
the headquarters observatory of
the weather service at Washing
ton. However, the new observa
tory will, through the exploration
of the upper air contribute greatly
to accuracy in weather forecasting
In general and will especially point
the way to new development in
what is known as long range fore
casting.
The project of this weather bureau station
for upper air exploration is not a nsw one
though the institution In Its present guise, and
particularly its home, now nearing completion,
are of comparatively recent inception. Some
years ago the scientists at various United
States weather bureau stations and at the Blue
Hill observatory near ISoston, took up the
study of the best methods for lfftlni? Kolf.i-p
cording instruments high above tho earth's
surface. Up to that time all human knowl
edge of the conditions of temperature, pres
sure, humidity, wind velocity and direction and
other ingredients of the weather had been
based upon observations made at or near the
surface of tho earth. Spurred by the necessity
for a better knowledge of temperature nnd oth
er conditions at great altitudes, the scientists
first took up work with Ingenious forms of
kites, and this was supplemented in 1901 by
the use of specially designed balloons as ve
hicles for carrying the thermometers nnd other
Instruments to heights that could not be
reached by any other means.
Finally the United States took
among the nations of the globo
with a project for a special observ
atory designed for and devoted al
most exclusively to aerial research.
A piece of land was secured In an
isolated part of the Blue Ridge
mountains in Virginia, and work
was Inaugurated on an establish
ment that is expected to do much
to meet the future needs of me
teorology and will play a most
prominent part In ultimately en
abling longdistance forecasting
that is, the forecasting of a type
of season rather than tho mere
prophecies from day to day. such
as are now given out. Unfortu
nately however, the weather bu
reau was greatly retarded In this
new line of work by a disastrous
fire which occurred at the newly
established observatory on tho
morning of October 23. 1907, and
which resulted In tho total destruc
tion of the main building, contain
ing laboratories, offices, etc.
The whole project for this upper air explora
tion station represents a scheme so new and
untried that it was feared for a time that
there might be a difficulty In obtaining the ap
propriations rfcessary for the rebuilding of the
structures needed, but this did nt matcrlallzo
ana now me omciais are reany to take posses-
I V tL. I . .
eiuu ui it new iiuiuu mm is mum more com
plete and pretenlloiiB In every way than were
the old quarters. More than $100,000 has been
expended upon tho buildings of this lofty sen
tinel post the ono and only institution among
the weather bureau's 200 station In all partB
of the country that is devoted especially to re
search work, Best of all, most of tho 'new
buildings are of tho latest approved fireproof
construction, so that the safekeeping of the
valuable instruments and the invaluable rec
ords to bo obtained is well assured.
Tho restored Mount Weather observatory oc
cupies the same site as the old, namely the
tract of 77 acres purchased by the government
In the autumn of 1902. As has been said, it is
In a decidedly isolated locality, some 20 trilles
south of Harper's Ferry, and 47 miles in a di
rect line from Washington. Situated ot ?r al-
tltude of 1,725 feet above 6ea level on the cry
crest of the Blue Ridge mountains It ovcr'oo! s
to the west the entire Shenandoah valley i.o:n
Btrasburg to Harper's Ferry, whllo to (he enf-t
all that portion of Piedmont, Virginia, betweea
the Blue Ridge and the Bull Run mountains, is
In full view. This extenrlvc sweep of valley,
mountains and plains affords rare tpportuni
tics for the study of storms, but the ronst ruc
tion of large buildings on this somcv.'.iat lnac-
f cessible Bite probably presented more puzzling
problems for builders and contractc s than
have been Involved in any other governmental
undertaking of the kind. Mount Wi thcr, ns
Undo Sara has christened his mount In po.ik,
la six miles from tho nearest railroad .-l.vlun
that at Bluemont, Virginia. All tin Ivlldini;
material had to be trannported to tl eiwoiv
lory sit ty u"u of .1 n . ;'rln:s
jJ !l . MMJmk 8
lor -)ia
L it
P.1.. sVia.Qs 'rJn
mm
1 - Jrfl
THE KITE
AMD SQLL00n MOW
freighting teams that
found hard climbiug on
tho steep mountain road
that was specially con
structed to give access
to this outpost. More
over, the bricklayers and
other artisans who have
gone from Washington
to construct tho new
buildings had to content
themselves with board
ing places miles away
from their scene of em
ployment, for thee aro
no habitations, other
than those of the weath
er bureau officials, with
in some miles of tho ob
servatory. . This Isolation which,
as may be surmised, has
had Its disadvantages
Is exactly what the
government wanted for
its observatory. There
i iV i' nil
Alt ir. ' r. . h.. I !r) T 'Jj C M'- .m
i
V
I'rof. Allied J. Henry of Wasliington.
the executlvo ollicrr In charge at Mount
Weather: Mot than 25 kites are con
stantly kept on hand, Including the
model's used by all the various foreign
governments that have undertaken sci
entific kilo flying. There havo lately
been nded to the equipment several
specially designed kites for uho In tho
high wliU which prevail during the
wluter. "The ordinary kites will fly in
any wind with n velocity of teu miles
per hour, or more, but aro not adapted
to use wbvn tho wind exceeds 25 miles
per hour. However, the new style emer
gency kite nt Mount Weatlwr. weighing
eight ptmmls, and having a lifting sur
face of r.S feet, lias made, successful
nights more than a mllo lu height when
the wind was blowing n gale of 4(1 miles
per hour.
Fewer balloons than kites ore on
hand, for tho season that balloons nre
used only when the wind is too light to
permit of kite flying. Orlwinnlly small
rubber balloons were used nt Mount
Weather, but latter
ly there have been
adopted spherical
balloons of var
nished cotton cloth
which havo n capac
ity of 905 cubic feet,
nnd cost several
hundred dollars
apleco. Kites have
been flown at Mount
Weather at tho re
markable altitude) of
2.1.000 feet, and cap
tlve balloons nre
frenuently sent to a
height of several
miles. Tho weather
bureau officials aro
lust Inaugurating
particularly Interest
ing experiments
wherein small rulv
tier balloons carry
Ing self-recording In
- -frjj-
oooooo
a
lirillor. dent nml brown,
"N'v lionrtH for old!"
Ilio IdKliwuy through tho
ATI
Lm
Thert i-t lilt1
Wlio crli'd
llii IrudKoil
tuwii.
IHk video wim Hlinrp and cold.
Hut many n man mid many a muld
K.in all . r Mm (lint they nilKht trnda
An uld lieiirt fur a new
l'or ninny u malil nnd many a innn
llt llevi'il It wiih a Bpli ndld plan
And one of piiillt, loo.
The peddler llfld up Ids p.'ielt
Anl Inok their hearts mvay,
Ho hwiiiir It k illy to his lllll'IC
And mild he inlKht not tday.
And many a man nnd many u maid
Hinlh'd merrily ns off he Blrnyed
With their old hearl.s for new.
Aye. many a muld nnd many a man
To Kin with Joy lit mien heKalt
As ho went out of view.
To-day the folk In nil that town
Who havo new hrnrls for old
Wntrh for the peddler bent and brown.
WhoHe volee Ik nliarp mid eold,
For manv n man and many a muld
Hlnee llien would nodly sums have pall
For tho old hearts nneW
And many a maid nnd ninny n man
The broad hlhwiiy will dally iseun
Tho peddler man to view.
the. peddler ninn Ah. where Is li7
None knows whleh way ho strolled.
Ho may bo near or oversea
TiadliiK new hearts for old,
Hi.t many n man nnd many a malil
ltns sorrowed ov-r that rash trado
An olit heart for il new.
Ami many ii maid nnd many a ninn
Highs that it was n foolish plan
Tor old hearts nyn aro true.
! viK al " .VMH
IUJ
AUTOMATIC WEATHER RECORDMG APPJMTUfi
are a number of reasons for this. In the first
place, the study of the tipper air, demanding
as It does, the use of kites or balloons, re
quires a locality with a high average wind ve
locityone where sometime during each day
thero Is a strong possibility of having n wind
of at least eight or ten miles per hour. It also
call3 for a location ten miles or more away
from cities and electric light wires, since in a
populous section loose wires falling down as
the result of accidents to kites or ballons in a
storm, would prove very troublesome, and even
a source of danger. Besides, the surrounding
country for 15 or 20 miles should be compara
tively open so that lost kites and the costly In
struments they carry can be readily recovered.
Secondly, magnetic work of tho most impor
tant character is a feature of the operations
of this laboratory, nnd this requires a location
remote from cities. Thirdly, solar investiga
tions which aro likewise included in the re
search work call for a place away from tho
smoke and dust of cities and above the haze
of the valleys. Fourthly, the physical labora
tory which Is a part of the Institution, must be
free from the disturbing Jars of heavy traffic.
Added to all these specifications was tho sup
plementary consideration that it was desirable
(o have this very important part of the weath
er lureau's work done as near a3 practicable
to Washington, in order that the central office
n.ay be as clorely In touch with It as possible.
The varied retirements made it no easy task
to find an IileaiLlte for the new Institution,
but the domain llnally discovered in tho Old
Uoininlnn seems to have proven Itself pos
sessed of exceptional qualifications.
Ono of the principal buildings In the group
of new structures recently erected at Mount
Weather 13 the physical laboratory. This is
a three-story structure of stono construction
tlnoiiRhout, nnd with Immenso pillars of solid
loncrctc supporting tho portico. The whole
Imllilli.g Is to be given over to scientific pur
lers. Departments tor the testing of Instru-
AFFIXING
RECORDING mSTr?lJfvOT
TO KlTt BEFORE FLIGHT
tnents and the invention and con
struction of all forms of apparatus
will bo conspicuous features. Tho
third floor of this $0,000 building
will be given over to spectroscopic
work of tho most Important char
acter A short distance from this
laboratory building Is a handsome
frame dwelling of the typo usual
ly found In residential suburbs.
Since the fire this has served as
Mvlng quarters for practically the
.tit Ire staff of Mount Weather, but
when work at the observatory is
on a permanent status it will be
converted into a two-family resi
lience for the use of a cou
ple of scientists who will
bring their families to the
mountain top.
Tho main observatory nnd
administration building
in a senso n3 the keystone
"" - v. "
( h
AFFIXING RECORDING
INSTRUMENT TO BALLOON
which will Rervo
of the Mount Weather group, will cost lu.ouu
and is a three-story structure of fireproof con
struction. Tho first story Is constructed or
solid concrete, while the upper stories have a
facing or brick, backed with terra cotta. Alike
to all the buildings at Mount Weather the
whole construction and especially tho fittings
of windows and doors has been planned with
ospecial care In order to afford protection
against the high winds that sweep over the
mountain in winter. The first floor of the main
building is to be given over to offices, while
the second and third floors will be occupied
for the most part by living rooms for the sci
entists. Beyond the administration building in
the most Isolated part, of the grounds are two
buildings from which tho visitor fj barred ir
he carries a watch, or offers a disturbing in
fluence of any kind. These frame structures
constitute the magnetic observatory, and con
tain many delicate instruments.
One of the most important acquisitions of
-this scientific community umid the mountains
is a new central heating and power plant. The
power house, of stone and concrete construc
tion, cost with Its equipment moro than $15.
000. H contains a 45 horse power engine, di
rectly coupled to a 25 kw. generator which
supplies the current for lighting and heating
the buildings; operating the machinery in the
laboratories; producing tho hydrogen needed
to inflate the balloons; making liquid air; and
operating tho great reel upon which is wound
tho wire that holds captive tho kites and bal
loons that are rent aloft with recording In
struments. Th9 Btone and frame building which served
ns a power hotiFo In tho early days of tho
Mount Weather observatory Is now used as a
kite and balloon hoiu:o, and Is tho headquar
ters of the flvo men who devote all their limo
to aerial work under tho general direction of
William R Blair, and with the supervision of
struments of especially light weight aro be
ing liberated and allowed to make their own
way In the upper air currents. By this way
records at elevutions of from 30,000 to 50,000
feet will be obtained.
On tho kite and balloon field at Mount
Weather is a reel house or circular tower
mounted so as It can be rotated. Its double
doors may thus bo made to face in any direc
tion nnd this facilitates kite flying, no inntter
what the direction of the wind. The interior
of this revolving tower Is largely given over
to the three horse power electric motor and
tho monster reel of forged steel carrying the
line upon which the kites are flown. Tho tor-
tiOc strain Involved in kite flying in high winds
served to break In quick succession two cast-
iron drums which were installed, one after an
other, nt Mount Weather, and each of which
gave way under the pull of 20.000 feet of wire,
but now the klto flyers have installed a forged
steel drum capable of carrying 50,000 feet of
plnno wire line, and bellevo that they are pre
pared for all emergencies.
Tho Subject and the Speech.
Careful observation this last year
discloses the fact that our public men
are losing their co-ordinate powers of
mind. In no instance under scrutiny
has ono of them delivered a speech
that had any particular bearing upon
tho topic assigned or tho occasion
utilized for the delivery of tho speech,
For example:
In a Memorial day address on "Our
Fallen Heroes," Hon. Golngsomo
spoke for two hours and forty minutes
on tho need of n thorough rearrange
ment of the management of railways.
In a Memorial day address on the
advertised topic of "Our Country in
Fence nnd Wnr," Hon. Whooplt took
85 minutes of tho time of a perspir
ing audlenco to make a demand for
tho free coinnge of sliver, or some
thing of the sort.
In a Fourth of July address, said to
have been on "Heroes of iesterday
nnd To-Morrow," Hon. Ciabbso spoke
for two hours on the necessity for a
high protective tariff on tobacco and
hairpins.
In a banquet address on "True
Manhood In Public Life," Hon. Vote-
chaser told his way of building tho
Fanama cannl nnd Intimated that he
would like to see a tunnel under the
Uocky mountains.
In a commencement address on
"What Citizenship Demands of tho
Young Man," l'rof. Dryerndust de
manded simplified spelling of a list of
nine hundred words, which he read to
the audience.
Dedicating a Masonic temple, Hon.
Hangon defended his bill authorizing
a fleet of military airships.
Just So.
Lives of toothless men remind us
We must reaeh our ni-als on tlm
Or thn lift boys else will find us
I'letcherixliiB ns wo climb.
THE SWEET TOOTH VINDICATED.
Sweetness Is to the taste what beauty Is
to the eye, affirms Dr. Woods Hutchinson
nature's stamp of approval and vindication of
wholesomeness. Sugar, says this authority, Is
one of tho most universal flavors of food
stuffs know n. One half of our real foods tasto
sweet or sweetish. About one-third taste salty.
Not more than one-tenth taste either bitter or
sour. The experience of millions of years,
reaching far beyond even our arboreal ances
tors, has taught us beyond possibility of for
getting that, while there are hundreds of
things that taste salty which have no food
value and scores of things that taste bitter
that not only have no food value but are even
poisonous, and thousands of things, like leaves
and sawdust and cocoanut matting, which
have no food valuo at all, there are compara
tively few things that taste sweet which are
not real foods. A very few of theso sweet
tasting things, while real foods, are also poi
sonous, but these wo soon learn to detect and
bewre of. Current Literature.
Same Thing.
"I suppose you are satisfied now an
to Throttlem," says the friend. "You
used to be criticising him all the time
because ho talked so much about his
automobile nnd why ho bought it in
preference to some other make. Ho
has sold the machine, I understand."
"Yes." replies the mnn with tho dis
located eyebrows, "but now he talks
nil tho time about the reasons that
impelled him to sell tho thing. I wish
ho had kept it."
What Wealth Vill Bring.
"You want an airship, madam?" In
quires tho suave salesman. "Cer
tainly. Wo nre now taking orders for"
i ho latest model aeroplane."
"Aaeroplane?" sniffs the haughty
lady, whore husband happened to
trlke the right sldo of tho market.
"Plain? I want you to understand
that wo want tho fancy kind, with ns
many trimmings ns can bo rut on It."
L