1899 Philippine-American War began, Feb. 4. 1914 Panama Canal opened, Aug. 15. lost. Sarajevo, June 28. 1914 Germany invaded Belgium, Aug. 2. 1899 Windsor Hotel fire (N. Y.), Mar. 17, 45 lives 1914 Cape Cod Canal opened. 1900 The Galveston tornado, Sept. 8. 1901 Death of Queen Victoria. 1901 Aguinaldo captured by Gen. Funston, Mar. 23. 1901 Pan-American Exposition, May 1-Nov. 2. 1901 Assassination of President McKinley. Sept. 6. 1901 Marconi signalled letter "S" across Atlantic from England to Newfoundland, Dec. 12. First message sent in Dec., 1902. 1902- Martinique destroyed by volcano. 1902 Pennsylvania coal strike. 1914 Japan declared war on Germany, Aug. 23. 1914 Austria declared war on Japan, Aug. 25. 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition opened, Feb. 20. 1915 Steamship Lusitania sunk, May 7. 1915 Excursion steamer Eastland disaster, July 24, 1915 Wireless communication between Japan and United States established, July 27. 1915 Steamship Arabic sunk, Aug. 19. City, July 30, $33,000,000 loss. 1917 Czar Nicholas of Russia abdicated throne, March 15. 1902 Cuban Republic inaugurated, May 20. 1902 Edward VII. crowned King of Great Britain, 1917 United States declared a state of war existed Aug. 9. 1903 Kishinev massacre. 1903 Republic of Panama established. 1901 The Great Fire in Baltimore, Feb. 7. 1904 Steamboat General Slocum burned, June 15. 1904 The Russo-Japanese War began. 1904 St. Louis Exposition opened, April 30. 1905 Battle of Mukden, Feb. 20-Mar. 15. 1905 Battle of Sea of Japan, May 27-28. This table is made independent of numerous skirmishes and battles of less importance. A treaty of peace was signed and the independence of the country recognized by England September 13, 1783, provisional a articles having been signed November 30, 1782. The British sailed from New York November 25, 1783, leaving the whole country east of the Mississippi and south of Canada in possession of the republic. 78 The French Revolutionary Era. ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO. 1819. JAMES MONROE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. GEORGE III. WAS KING OF ENGLAND, THE ACTUAL GOVERNMENT BEING UNDER THE PRINCE OF WALES (AFTERWARDS GEORGE IV.) AS REGENT. KING OF FRANCE-LOUIS XVIII. EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA-FRANCIS I. KING OF PRUSSIA-FREDERICK WILLIAM III. EMPEROR OF RUSSIA-ALEXANDER I. KING OF SPAIN-FERDINAND VII. KING OF SWEDEN AND NORWAY-CHARLES XIV. SULTAN OF TURKEY-MAHMUD VI. KING OF DENMARK-FREDERICK VI. KING OF NAPLES AND SICILY-FERDINAND Ι. January 2-The Bank of Michigan opens at the city January 19-Centre College incorporated at Danville, Ky. January 19-The United States and Great Britain sign a joint agreement for the occupation of the territory of Oregon. January 24-The first church at Buffalo is com- February 5-Hannah Goes Van Buren, wife of February 22-The Sabine River is agreed on as a February 22-Spain cedes to the United States, by treaty, the territories of East and West Florida, receiving $5.000,000. March 2-The Government of the United States March 2-The Congress of the United States April 10-The steamship Savannah, the first steam- Order of Odd Fellows, known as Washington May 4-The vessels Hecla and Griper start on their May 24-Queen Victoria of Great Britain born. May 28-The steamboat Independence, pioneer June 2-The steamboat Harriet, a pioneer steam June 15-Over 5,000 acres in the Fen districts, June 16-An earthquake causes the Kutch District June 20-The American steamship Savannah arrives at Liverpool, England. July 6-Mme. Blanchard is killed by the burning of July 12-The first United States Custom House in August 1-The Congress of Carlsbad, Germany, August 16-The "Peterloo" political riots occur at Manchester, England. Eleven persons are killed and 600 injured. August 23-Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, of the September 21-Over 200 ships lost in hurricane in September 22-The first steamship on Lake Erie October 11-A convention in Maine appoints a December 6-Gen. W. S. Rosecrans of the Union December 31-Fifteen families settle at Indianapolis, April 26-The first American lodge of the Secret | December 31-A revolution begins in Spain. THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY ERA. In September, 1793. the convention decreed that the common era should be abolished in all civil affairs, and that the new French era should begin on September 22, 1792, the day of the true autumnal equinox, and that each succeeding year should begin at the midnight of the day on which the true autumnal equinox falls. The year was divided into twelve months of thirty days each. In ordinary years there were five extra days, from the 17th to the 21st of our September, and at the end of every fourth year was a sixth complimentary day. This reckoning was first used on November 22, 1793, and was continued until December 31, 1805, when it was discontinued, and the Gregorian calendar, used throughout the rest of Europe, was resumed. The following were the dates for the year 1804, the last complete year of this style of reckoning: The months were divided into three decades of ten days each, but to make up the 365 five were added at the end of September: Primidi, dedicated to Virtue; Duodi, to Genius; Tridi, to Labor; Quartidi, to Opinion, and Quintidi to Rewards. To Leap Year, called Olympic, a sixth day, September 22 ог 23, Sextidi, "the day of the Revolution," was added. To each tenth day, thirty-six in all, were assigned thirty-six "Fetes Decadaires," decreed by the National Convention on the eighteenth Prairial, in honor of the Supreme Being and Nature, the Human Race, the French People, Benefactors of Humanity, Martyrs for Liberty. Liberty and Equality, the Republic, Liberty of the World, Love of Country, Hatred of Tyrants and Traitors, Truth, Justice, Modesty, Glory and Immortality, Friendship, Frugality, Courage, Good Faith, Heroism, Disinterestedness, Stoicism, Love, Conjugal Fidelity, Paternal Love, Maternal Tenderness, Filial Piety, Infancy, Childhood, Manhood, Old Age, Sickness, Agriculture, Industry, Our Ancestors, Our Posterity, Goodness. Coast Line of the United States. WEATHER FLAGS OF THE WEATHER BUREAU, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 79 THE Weather Bureau furnishes, when practicable, for the benefit of all interests dependent upon weather conditions, the "Forecasts" which are prepared daily at the Central Office in Washington, D. С., and certain designated stations. These forecasts are telegraphed to stations of the Weather Bureau, raiiway officials, postmasters, and many others, to be communicated to the public by telegraph, telephone, "wireless" and mail or by means of flags or steam whistles. The flags adopted for this purpose are five in number, and of the forms and colors indicated below: Blasts. One long... Indicate. .. Two long Three long Local rain or snow. Rain or snow. Local rain or snow. Temperature. Cold wave. Fair weather. When number 4 is placed above number 1,2 or 3, it indicates warmer; when below, colder; when not displayed, the temperature is expected to remain about stationary. WHISTLE SIGNALS. A warning blast of from fifteen to twenty seconds' duration is sounded to attract attention. After this warning the longer blasts (of from four to six seconds' duration) refer to weather, and shorter blasts (of from one to three seconds' duration) refer to temperature; those for weather are sounded first. ........... ... By repeating each combination a few times, with intervals of ten seconds, .. Indicate. . Lower temperature. Higher temperature. liability to error in reading the signals may be avoided. As far as practicable, the forecast messages are telegraphed at the expense of the Weather Bureau; but if this is impracticable they are furnished at the regular commercial rates and sent "collect." case are the forecasts sent to a second address in any place, except at the expense of the applicant. Persons desiring to display the flags or sound the whistle signals for the benent of the public should communicate with the Weather Bureau officials in charge of the central stations of their respective States, Arkansas, Little Rock. Colorado, Denver. Illinois, Springfield. Iowa, Des Moines. Kansas, Topeka. 1 Louisiana, New Orleans. (for Delaware and Maryland). North Carolina, Raleigh. North Dakota, Bismarck. Utah, Salt Lake City. Wyoming, Cheyenne. COAST LINE OF THE UNITED STATES. LENGTHS, IN STATUTE MILES, OF THE GENERAL COAST LINE AND TIDAL SHORE LINE OF THE UNITED STATES AND OUTLYING TERRITORIES. Tidal Shore Line, Urit Measure 3 Statute Miles. -The figures under this heading give the length in statuto miles of the shore line on tidaLwaters to points where such waters narrow to a width of 3 statute miles. Tidal Shore Line, Unit Measure 1 Statute Mile. -The figures under this heading give the length in statute miles of the shore line on tidal waters to points where such waters narrow to a width of one statute inile, and include the shore line of those bodies of tidal waters more than 1 mile wide which lie close to the main waters, even though the entrance width is less than the unit measure. Alaska, the Philippine Islands, and United States Samoan Islands were not measured with a unit measure of 1 statute mile, as large areas are unsurveyed, and such a measurement would be very approximate, If not misleading. ; 80 SMALL CRAFT, STORM AND HURRICANE WARNINGS Storm. Hurricane. Small Craft Warning-A red pennant Indicates that moderately strong winds are expected. Storm Warning-A red flag with a black centre indicates that a storm of marked violence is expected. The pennants displayed with the flags indicate the direction of the wind: white, westerly; red, easterly. The pennant above the flag indicates that the wind is expected to blow from the northerly quadrants; below, from the southerly quadrants. By night a red light indicates casterly winds, and a white light below a red light westerly winds. Hurricane Warning-Two red flags with black centres, displayed one above the other, indicate the expected approach of a tropical hurricane, and also one of those extremely severe and dangerous storms which occasionally move across the Lakes and Northern Atlantic Coast. Neither small craft nor hurricane warnings described above are displayed at night. The following new system of night storm-warning displays on the Great Lakes only became effective October 15, 1916: Small Craft Warning-A red pennant indicates that moderately strong winds that will interfere with the safe operation of small craft are expected. No night display of small craft warnings is made. Northeast Storm Warning-A red pennant above a square red flag with black centre displayed by day, or two red lanterns, one above the other, displayed by night, indicate the approach of a storm of marked violence with winds beginning from the northeast. Southeast Storm Warning-A red pennant below a square red flag with black centre displayed by day, or one red lantern displayed by night, indicates the approach of a storm of marked violence with winds beginning irom the southeast. Southwest Storm Warning-A white pennant below a square red flag with black centre displayed by day, or a white lantern below a red lantern displayed by night, indicates the approach of a storm of marked violence with winds beginning from the southwest. Northwest Storm Warning-A white pennant above a square red flag with black centre displayed by day, or a white lantern above a red lantern displayed by night, indicates the approach of a storm of marked violence with winds beginning from the northwest. Hurricane, or Whole Gale Warning-Two square flags, red with black centres, one above the other, displayed by day, or two red lanterns, with a white lantern between, displayed by night, indicate the approach of a tropical hurricane, or of one of the extremely severe and dangerous storms which occasionally move across the Great Lakes. VELOCITY OF WINDS IN THE UNITED STATES. (Prepared by Chief of the U. S. Weather AVERAGE hourly velocity of the wind at selected stations of the United States Weather Bureau, also the highest velocity ever reported for a period of five minutes. Bureau, and revised to January 1, 1918, for THE WORLD ALMANAC.) STATIONS. Average Highest Average Ever Reported Mi. MI. 10 78 Philadelphia, Pa...,. ....... Albany, N. Y 8 ...... 8 74 Pittsburgh, Pa...... Alpena, Mich. Portland, Me.. ...... ....... Atlanta, Ga. 10 10 76 Red Bluff, Cal.. .... ... ........ Bismarck, N. D..... 70 Rochester, N. Y Boise, Idaho. 5 12 72 St. Louis, Mo. ....... 11 75 St. Paul, Minn. .. ....... 14 8 60 St. Vincent, Minn.* 72 ..... 7 84 Salt Lake City, Utah. 6 66 7 66 San Diego, Cal. ... 74 San Francisco, Cal... 4 63 Santa Fe, N. M. ... ..... .... 14 9 75 Savannah, Ga. 7 54 Spokane, Wash 8 7 75 Toledo, Ohio ........ 86 Vicksburg, Miss 11741 12 96 Washington, D. C.... 7 96 Wilmington, N. C.... 78 8 72 9 66 11 Temperature and Rainfall of Foreign Cities. MEAN HUMIDITY OF PLACES IN UNITED STATES IN PERCENTAGES. 81 FROM a table prepared by the United States Weather Bureau, showing the monthly and annual values of relative humidity at regular Weather Bureau stations in the United States, based upon observations made at 8 A.M. and 8 P.M. respectively, 75th meridian time and covering a period of about 25 years of record. Jan. Feb. Mar. | Apr | May June July Aug. | Sept. | Oct Nov Dec. Ann'l Atlantic City, N. J Baltimore, Md. .... .. .... Bismarck, N. Dak. ........ Boston, Mass. .. Buffalo, N. Y .......... ...... Carson City, Nev Charleston, S. C. Charlotte, N. C. Cheyenne, Wyo Chicago, Ill Cincinnati, Ohio. Denver, Col. ... Detroit, Mich. Duluth, Minn....... Fort Smith, Ark. Galveston, Tex. ...... ...... Helena, Mont... Indianapolis, Ind. ........ ......... ........ 76 80 81 Kansas City, Mo.. Key West, Fla. Knoxville, Tenn. ..... ..... .. ...... ...... ... 69 72 7+ 76 ...... ............ ... 76 75 70 63 65 66 65 73 70 69 64 67 68 68 ... Pittsburgh, Pa. Portland, Me. Portland, Ore. .......... ..... Richmond, Va. St. Louis, Mo. ..... ......... St. Paul, Minn. Salt Lake City, Utah. San Francisco, Cal. Santa Fé. Ν. Μ. .. Savannah, Ga Spokane, Wash. 83 76 .... ... Tampa, Fla.. 82 80 79 ...... .... Toledo, Ohio Vicksburg, Miss. Walla Walla, Wash 42 36 37 36 45 TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL OF FOREIGN CITIES. Mean Annual Annual AverTemage pera- Rainfall ture. Inches. Cherrapongee, in Southwestern Assam, is the wettest place in the world. In 1861 the rainfall there reached 905 inches. Mean annual temperature of the globe is about 59° Fahr. The average annual rainfall in the world has been estimated at 30 to 60 inches. The highest temperatures occur in Northern Africa, in the interior of Australia, in Southwestern Asia, and in Southwestern North America. The lowest temperature recorded in the Antarctic by Shackleton was 57° on August 14, 1908 (U. S. Weather Bureau). |