," said Fred, under his breath to Ross. "I'm going
to run this in the _Review_!"

"Snow warnings," the Forecaster went on, "are of equal value. All over
the western country, where the snows are apt to be heavy, the tonnage of
passenger and freight trains is made up in accordance with the expected
weather, and the snow-fighting equipment is prepared. On the great
Western ranches, stock is hurried from the open range either to
constructed shelters or to naturally protected gullies, on notice of
blizzards, northers and heavy snows. This is especially necessary on
sheep ranches. Twenty-four hours' notice of a heavy snow-storm saves the
country at least half a million dollars in stock loss and property
damage.

"Storm warnings, perhaps, are even more important. Hundreds of lives are
saved, every year, by vessels remaining in port when a storm or
hurricane is expected. A recent storm on the Great Lakes was forecast as
being so severe that scarcely any vessels left port. Many ships,
undoubtedly, would have foundered, had they been out in the gale. Yet,
aside from the Weather Map, there was no local indication that bad
weather was brewing. When storm warnings are issued, fishermen take
steps to protect their boats and nets and a fisherman's boat and net is
his whole livelihood. Lumbermen make their booms of logs secure.
Rice-planters flood their crops to prevent the breaking of the brittle
straw by the wind. Wherever construction work is proceeding, and a wind
of unusual force is forecast, builders and engineers make doubly secure
that which is already constructed, instead of proceeding with outlying
portions of the structure.

"In short, Mr. Tighe, there is scarcely a business in the country which
would not be benefited by a close study of weather conditions. The
difference between a careful man and a careless one is the difference
between a man who thinks in advance and a man who does not think until
some condition of grave difficulty is thrust upon him. Weather is, to
this day, and will ever remain, one of the most potent factors in human
welfare, and a man cannot plan for the weather in advance, unless he has
a weather forecast."

The farmer brought his fist down on the table with a thump.

"Tell me, then," he said, "since all the big business firms in the
country use the Weather Bureau so completely, why do people laugh at the
Weather Man?"

"That's very simply answered," the Forecaster replied, "it's because
every