Report of the governor general of the Philippine Islands. [1908]

REPORT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.

The scarcity of competent third-class observers is another difficulty
which is proving serious. The work required of these observers is of
such a nature that most of their time is left free, and it was expected
that their salary of 1P30 per month would only supplement what they
would earn in other ways, but unfortunately many of them have
fallen victims to the belief only too common in these islands that they
must live on their salaries, or rather that the government ought to
pay them salaries large enough to furnish them a living. This can
not well be done in this instance, as the sum above mentioned is adequate compensation for the work they are called upon to perform.
Further difficulties arise through the necessity of granting leaves of
absence to first and second class observers, the number of both being
so limited that no substitutes are available to take the place of those
who go.
METEOROLOGICAL AND GEODYNAMIC OBSERVATORY AT BAGUIO.
Through the liberality of the Society of Jesus, quarters have been
provided for a meteorological and geodynamic observatory on Mount
Mirador, at Baguio, and equipment has been purchased. It is anticipated that the building will be completed and most of the instruments installed by January, 1909. This observatory will, in effect, be
rather a branch of the Manila central observatory than a secondary
station, and its situation on a mountain top 4,970 feet above sea level
is particularly well adapted to the carrying out of certain special
lines of work, including variation of rainfall, humidity, temperature,
and evaporation with varying height; differences of temperature and
evaporation on windward and leeward slopes, and seismological
observations covering far distant and local earthquakes.
When Baguio is provided with an electric power plant, it is proposed to establish on Mount Mirador a wireless station which will be
most useful in sending typhoon warnings to vessels on the China Sea,
and possibly to points on the neighboring Asiatic coast.
The results of the work of the weather bureau during the year have
been so concisely stated in the report of the director, " Appendix G,"
that it would be useless for me to endeavor further to condense them
for the purpose of this report.
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF BUREAUS.
A statement of the receipts and disbursements of each bureau of
this department will be found in the annual report of its director.
Very respectfully,
DEAN C. WORCESTER,
Secretary of the Intericr.
To the PHILIPPINE COMMISSION,
Manila, P. I.