Publication History

The meterological service was transferred to the Department of Agriculture, in compliance with an Act of Congress approved October 1, 1890. This Act stipulated that the duties of the Signal Corps pertaining to the weather sevice be performed, on and after July 1, 1891, under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture. Professor Mark W. Harrington from the University of Michigan faculty was appointed the first civilian Chief of the Weather Bureau. The Service was reorganized to carry out the expressed intention of Congress to develop and extend its work in the interest of agriculture. Funds were made available to increase the distribution of the forecasts and storm warnings in the agricultural districts of the country.

A Special Report, dated October 1, 1891, which included a general summary of the operations of the Weather Bureau since its transfer, was submitted by the Chief of the Weather Bureau to the Honorable J. M. Rusk, Secretary, Department of Agriculture. Since that initial report each subsequent annual report features both the practical and theoretical aspects of the work of the Bureau: forecasts, warnings, weather maps, flood and frost warnings, climate research, meterological records, the State Weather Services, instruments, soil physics, crop conditions, and more. Report of the Chief of the Weather Bureau was submitted by Professor Mark W. Harrington, 1891-1894; Professor Willis L. Moore, 1895-1913; Professor Charles F. Marvin, 1913-1934; Dr. Willis L. Gregg, 1934-1938; and Dr. Francis W. Reichelderfer, 1938-1963.

       Professor Mark W. Harrington