OCR Text |
Show 344 its 1879 authorization and a supplemental order of the Secre- tary of the Interior.138 Such a classification operates as a withdrawal of the lands from all forms of entry under the pub- lic land laws, subject to the provisions of Section 24 of the Federal Power Act.139 Weather Bureau.-Undertaking certain functions previ- ously performed by the Signal Corps of the United States Army,140 the Weather Bureau was established by Congress in 1890 within the Department of Agriculture.141 In 1940, the Bureau was transferred to the Department of Commerce, where the following functions are performed under the direc- tion of its Chief:142 the forecasting of weather, the issue of storm warnings, the display of weather and flood signals for the benefit of agriculture, commerce, and navigation, the gauging and reporting of rivers, the maintenance and operation of sea-coast telegraph lines and the collection and trans- mission of marine intelligence for the benefit of com- merce and navigation, the reporting of temperature and rain-fall conditions for the cotton interests, the dis- play of frost and cold-wave signals, the distribution of meteorological information in the interests of agricul- ture and commerce, and the taking of such meteorologi- cal observations as may be necessary to establish and record the climatic conditions of the United States, or as are essential for the proper execution of the fore- going duties. In addition, we have already referred to the 1938 statutory provision for establishment by the Weather Bureau of a cur- 188 Act of March 3,1879, § 1, 20 Stat. 377, 394, see 43 U. S. C. 31; Depart- ment of the Interior Order No. 2333, June 20,1947,12 F. R. 4025. 189 Act of June 10, 1920, § 24, 41 Stat. 1063, 1075, as amended, 16 U. S. O. 818 (Supp. III). 140 Act of October 1,1890, § 1, 26 Stat. 653. 141 Id., see 15 U. S. C. 311-324. 10 § 3, 26 Stat. 653, as amended, 15 U. S. O. 313. See 1940 Reorganization Plan No. IV, §8, effective June 30, 1940, following 5 U. S. G. 133t; see 15 U. S. C. 311 note following. |