Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-04-13
Calculating the Power OF a whirlwtna.

Calculating the Power of whirlwind.
Professor Stoddard of Miami University, delivs
! cred lecture in Hamilton, last week, detailing
his nvestigations of the hurricane in Knox coun-
tyln January,last. Among other interesting par
tculars, is an estimate of the power of the wi irl
wind. 1t is no uncommon thing TO reckon the
power OF the steam engine 10y specifying the num-
Der OF horses which would be necessary to do the
work which it is capable Of doing. But this cal
culation of the force of the whirlwind, by compar
ing 1t with the power of number of steam en-
gihes oil, gwen sze' is s"something l,ter
H. SUM-"
The velocity OF the wind was measured ly n cal-
Gulation oil The orce eSerted, near the village Of
Brandon, which was almost entirely DESTROYED: a
grove OF oaks was entirely blown down. One of
tneSe, Tree oil some three feet III diameter, was
selected. Assuming its diameter at q feet, from
Known principles, force OF $4,000 lbs. would
be required stobreak it. Assuming its surface ex-
poSeu 10 tile action Of the wind, ut 600 superb
cal ieet, winch was very liberala force more than
IDS per square foot was exeied, aud Stree the
Iorce OF moving body va:i.s as The square of its
velocity, velocity Of not less ;han III miles per
hour or25l feet per second was required 10 pro-
duce the effects i'll question. This is nearly one
fourth of the initial velocity OF a cannon ball.
: 1t the force eXerted be calculated, l47 lbs.
per square foot, and the height OF The whirwind
be assumed at GO feet, force was eXerted at one
time along that track of half mile, ii 5,544, OOO,
600 lbs We lost in attempting to realize such
an imm-nSe power. Take steam engine Of n 30
int Il cylinder feet stroke, under pressure Of so
lbs. per square inch, and making 20 strokes per
minute, and the working power of that hurricane
wns equal to That OF $500 such engines, OF more
;han half the Steam power Of the globe. 5-
Ice IN THE ATLASr.c.-The Liverpool packet
ships, arriving here, continue 10 report encounter
ing immense islam Is of ice,I on the passage. 1t is
not often that ice is seen in these lower ATTITUDES
in such qua utilities, early in the. season. Refer
ence has already been male 10 the perio,ls a,lven-
lures OF The Collins Steamship Baltic among the
cebergs, on her last passage 10 Liverpool. A
passenger on board, writes 10 The journal OF Com
merce, the foilowing interesting particulars in adj
dit iOn:--
We left Sandy HOOK, 5th March, a. NJ, and
had made very fast progress until Thursday March
~ wtleii III lat. 460 Ion. 4S0 about 3 p. NJ, we
ieIl IN with some floating lcv the water ami at
mosphere Icing 80 deg. and the horizon loaded
with rain and log. Capt. Comstock proceed d
with much caution until $3.50 P. NJ, when he
found oul course completely hedged up by an un-
broken field of drift ice, interspersed with con-
siderable number Of large bergs OF cliff ice from
winch there appeared to be no practicable escape
The ice extended from F.. around the southern
BOARD 10 5. w. The engine was slowed, and we
were compelled to steer To the North ana West
ward with the hope that five could not gel 10 the
Eastward, we could at |. asst retrnce o,.r COURSE
lhe Effort was, however, trniteSS, for on follow
ing VEN OF water, we found the ship nclosed in
n.compIete labyrinth OF heavy cliff ice dotted with
Inhufn' Iaole bergs an attempt was made 10 force
the good ship Baltic through the ice, but it cost
paTt OF her stern and bows, aud the breakaEe OF
ootn wheels THIS stopped the vessel. a mer.
c"ui providence sent us Slight breeze and COM
paTatlyely calm weather.
On the following day the sea remained entirely
lItled with ice, 10 The horizon, as far as ina ST.
head observation could reach. Ate a. NJ. started
Ior streak OF water visible at a short dis: a,ce.
nu Fr1,t. ii
cry possible point OF the compass. Our general
course was w. S. W., and distance run 200 miles,
during The StoPpage necessarily required by The
lhick log that enHeiopcd US, repairs to the
wheels were made.
March 18th. AT 6 a. NJ. we were still in The
;ce' and fresh gale was blowing from S. E. mix
ed with snow aud hail. AT 81 a. NJ. started the
engine Tor any vein OF wcteree might find, and
ut halt speed we found ourselves heading south.
ward. Just beforeinocn, we cleared what appear
ed 10 be the S. and W. extremity of these fields
and. mountains of ice, and the Captain ventureu
10 head one mere 10 tie Eastward. AT this time
the gaie had become exceedingly fresh, aud hea-
Wy sea was running, rain aud fog obscured our
VISION lor long lime, and prevented all observa.
non. We lound ourselves this day about lat. "a
uee., ana lon 4s deg, having run to the South
ward and Westward Sune 300 miles
w hen God gave us this escape from Il e horrors
OF snpwrcck on ice ergS, we could not but IeeI
hankul lor HIS kindness 10 us, and soIicitous for
any vessels that might be involved in The same DIFF
hcuHleS w however saw vessels, though we
passed what appeared 10 he the rudder of Slim
aud Shortly attctM ards mast.
cannot hnt feel assured Mt The cool Boston
calculation OF young lady, who could not, of
course, hail from any OTHER land than goId New
England. Surrounded WERE 10y floating ice
an" large -beres, AMI at the imminent peril ui
The SLIP and pa SengerS, "wlat n fortune could
we lnuke," said she, 'coud sc only get some OF
them Me-berGs 10 Boston,
-r------s-------
The VINO PARTY.-"The Wings could receive
no higher eulogium of the men and their measures
than have been bestowed by reclamation Of the
entite country upon Clay and Webster, the repre-
sentatives and eubodimentS of both.''
We are (says the Fayetteville Observer indebt
ed TO kind and valued friend, whose firm adhe-
renee TO The men and measures Of the party has
long commended him To all who know him. for call.
lrg oul attention 10 The sentiment which we have
placed al the had Of this article. How grateful
anu refreshing arc such snggestions We know
not 10 whom SHOULD be attributed the credit for vi
terance OF so strong truth, but, whether it came
from Tie granite hIis OF the North, the sunny cline
oil the South, or tue brIau prairie of the West il
speaks TO The heart of every true Wing Language
winch he should never forget, and truth which
Shou'd urge him onward wheneve! il is sought Il,
destroy that party eter byopen foes or secret and
concealed enemies.
Nopahy which has ever existed in our own
country other a. ,,o,n.,. ,>o-a