Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-06-05
Storm Signals During Harvest.

OF the grain and bay crops are injured an
nually BY storms during harvest. Large
quantit es are cut down, and then \ sioim
comes on suddenly, or IS a settled rain, and
they get wet to degree that they are ma
terially damaged II farmers had ,cdTning
OF these approaching storms, in time to get
their grain or hay under cover, or in a sit
uaiion to shut out the rain, much Of this in &.
jury would be prevented. By the general
adoption OF the following simple plan. ii is
believed that this can be affected.
When storm has formed and commences
to travel in any certain direction, the first
telegraph station or stations over which it
passes, is to send the news TO all the ielc-
graph stations at county seats, and princi.
pal towns, scores or hundreds OF miles in
advance. according to the kind OF storm. or
probable distance that it may avel.alwsys
keeping a suitable distance in advance.
At each county scat and principal town,a
cannon is to be KEEP, ready by the officials
at the Court House. or other suitable place.
and as soon as the news is received OF 8 com
ing storm, IL is to be fired three tmcs; at
intervals of one minute II tornado. hail
storm, or destructive storm is approaching
at intervals o! three minutes. il an ordinary
rain storm is approaching rapidly and At
intervals OF six minutes il an ordinary rain
storm is app oaehing slowly. The very
rapid. or slow travelling storms. 10 be indi
Gated by the very rapid. or slow firing of
the 'torm guns. In large cities. il n dis
trurtive storm is approaching. bells may al
so be rung, or steam shistles be blown, a,
the same intervals as the guns. TO increase
the warning At cities or towns where
there is a navy yard, fort arsenal barracks.
or post, the storm guns may be fired at such
military stations. This plan can be tested
by an act of Congress ordcIia. signal guns
to be fred at navy yards. forts, arsenals,
and barracks
As a good sized cannon can be heard dis
tinctly from Is 10 20 miles in every direc
ton from the place of firing or over a space
OF from 80 TO 40 miles square. by firing one
at each county seat and principal town. the
farmers over the whole country in harvest
time. will be warned 70 stop cutting, AMI TO
get their grain or hay under cover. or in
situation TO shat cut the rain; thus saving
not onl, that portion which had been cut
and cured previous To the warning. but a'so
saving that portion which otherwise would
have been cut during several hours or
whole day. without such warning
The loss OF crops Il ON storms during the
last harvest, in America and Europe, and
which could have been saved by the storm
signals. at trihing cost, mast have been
more than $500, 600. coo. In America the
loss was less than usual. while in Europe IL
was much greater, causing much distress in
the latter country; which may be reversed
The present year as such calamiii rarely
succeed each other in the same country
BY this simple invention the price OF bread
and meat vii! be considerably reduced, md
the saving OF food would more than feed Il e
starving poor ofthe world.
The stoIm signals will also be OF grea.
value TO commerce on our extended coasts
and III narrow channels, and particularly on
our numerous bays, rivers, and lakes and
especially in severe storms and hurricanes.
by warning vessels to seek places OF safety.
or prepare for The coming sto,m. Terrific
storms also sweep through our seaporis
causing great damage to shipping. when
even few minutes warning would save a
vast amount Of property The signals will
save numerous lives. will bc useful to com
merce. to agriculture during harvest. an
IN seed time spring and fall. and in fact
will be Of value TO every business city and
country.
This plan has been approved OF by d.,
press, and by telegraph companic, Tn
Western Union Telegraph Company OH e
atN York and which owns large major.
ity OF the lines ihoropghon; The Union, ir
order to test the system will supply ,eIe
grams Of approaclin. storms. ',rienere,
any considerable number IF cities or torn.
shall m0kc arrangements fo fire signal guns
acco'diHg 10 tie PiqH pr0Yosei
Every newspaper vi p'case pub ish III
circular, aud every sbipOwnor or household
or, and especially every farmer. should ca
It out for future reference; and then writ,
10 The city authorize. in favor Of the plan
which will cause it to be established and be
come generally understood in time for tho
coming harvest A WATSON.
Washington, u. c.. 1868
n