The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-02
OCEAN STORMS AND CURRENTS.

VCGAN 04Uhm0 AMI VUnhGN1S
Storm Signals TO Protect Commerce ON the
Atlantic and in the Gulf.
To TIE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD
LIGHT House, KEY WET, Nov. 10, 1897.
A. wArsos, ESQ.,
sRYour letter dated October H. In relation to estab
fishing storm signals received late last night,
and lose no time in replying that the plan Of signals
and lights as suggested by you meets with my hearty
approval and adopted will prove OF ncalculabe bene-
ct to the commercial intercourse OF the Gulf OF Mexico
The geographical position Of Key West, with It's tee.
graphic communication, both from the North and tho
South renders 1t proper point 10 carry out your
gsstions From this lighthouse signals could be
snicated by day night to Sand Key Light to tho
south nine miles distant, and TO the Northwest Light
about the same distance These positions having your
signals would inform all vessels passing Of the condition
Of weather in advance OF them.
am sure II your plan is adopted that in one season
such benefits will be derived from that will be hailed
s. a. hase ssaTs H HEN y9a q
In the HERALD October II letter from the keeper
Of Cape Hatteras lighthouse published In which an
opinion expressed follows:-I think your idea
in establishing system Of storm signals at this cape
and at prominent points on the coast 70 be good one
and you are successful you will soon the benefits
derived therefrom" Now we nave an opinion from
Key West. which s even stronger than the other from
importance TO commerce The number OF vessels pass
ing through the Florida channel especially In winter s
onoTmOub, anu the NUMBER wrecked these numerous
keys and dangerous coasts is very great This part OF
the might with proprisy called the Gogotha Of
ships from the sreat number OF wrecks that line its
shores; hence the necessity Of establishing the storm
signals Immediately, TO be useful in the coming
winter storms
The keeper OF the Ksy West lighthouse who is fully
acquainted with all Of the surroundings having ex-
pressed an opinion very favorable ought TO have
great weight and In connection with the facts known
all would seem to be conclusive. The plan will be be-
fore tho Committee OF Commerce Of the House OF
personalities Congress convones and II the
Chamber OF Commerce, Board OF Trade and marine in
suRnce companies together with shpowners, will act
In the matter the storm signals may be established
along the entire Atlantic and Gulf ooass "n'e' s'0S
WASHINGTON, D. O. A. WATSON
Ocean Currents-The Gulf Stream.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
or all the dissertations the currents OF the ocean
none have been less understood than the Florida Gulf
Stream popular name for that branch dow Of tepd
water along coast coming does from the influx
In the Gulf OF Mexico passing around Cape Sable merg
ing into the Atlantic between the Florida the
Bahamas and extending along the whole line Of
coast until reaching the island of Nantucket divergn
more eastery by Georges Shoals the tail OF the
Newfoundland or Grand Banks, disseminating itself in
stripes southeastery past the Azores reaching the
Of Portugal around Cape st. Vincent portion entering
the Straits of Gibraltar southery by Cape 6pael
until 1t reaches and loses Its identity among tho local
VI OL OHuhry lapo vera
which again minge with the Offset Of the equatorial
rents The supposed origin Of this stream has
promulgated by many essayiss and many dissenting
points have been put forward by theorists regard
and its origin but the most lucid and idea OF the
practical observer is that the perennial winds blowing
from east southeast TO south southeast have
the power to influence o surface current; and
southern poin. from the latitude thirty degrees south
and incining easterly on approaching the equator
being as It is In limo with the south African coast
force tho waters In the until reaching
Gulf Of Guinea, where it 10 again thrown of to the
westward. meeting with and forming portion Of the
equatorial current tacceerated BY the earths moon
striking northeast coast Of South America between
Cape Sc Rogue and the Isle Fernando Noronha sweep
ing past the mouth Of the Amazon and coming within
the power Of the northeast perennial wind driven along
the north coast into the Caribbean Sea- washing the
coast OF Central America in its clrcutous route thence
into the Gulf OF Mexico and finally finding its outlet
by the OF the northern passage OF the Antilles
around the Flordas before described carrying with
variation, until approaching the extreme north from
that had acquired in the t0rrd In thus
ena il viii BE- observed that Inc blowing into and on tbs
accumulation Of waters in the Caribbean Sea by the
northeast trade winds and the Windward isles forms
than that which il seeks north Of tho tropical
line. The diagonistic points Of the stream are
many and varied, more especially outside the
limits Of the monsoous, or trade winds and Il ~
subject OF controversy among the experienced
nautical community 20 establish permanent point OF
Of the Bahamas on our coast giving an indefinite and
variable limit to is msanderings, which, from numer-
from i've degrees Of longitude according TO the
winds prevailing In the latitude OF observ ation but
undoubtedly establishing the fact Of its being influenced
In its by such Winds As of proving the
Of the Stream being In the Of the ther.
mometcr showing the warmer temperature within u
than that Of the ocean outside still have often found
the mercury, on submeson OF the above instrument to
fall ton twelve degrees Fahrenheit while within its
influence showing streaks Of cold current which had
n N tha
latitude Of Bermuda while sailing in and along with
Stream have often tested tho temperature of the
hourly with great variation although the velocity
not diminished. In the winter OF l844-45, while the
islands Of Bermuda, made q number of observations
during heavy gales from southwest and west when the
stream div erted along those islands, and found the
variation OF temperature from eighty TO sixtyour
degrees-a fall Of seventeen degrees--n dimensions
made within two minutes of time, the current running
from two and half TO three aud half per nour
again IL has often been that during prevalence OF
southery winds In the winter the warmth has
been felt the beach Of the island Of Nantucket show
Ing the fact that there s certain point Of longitudinal
data to establish the limits boundary Of the
current OF the socaied Gulf Stream north OF the Ba
hamas. The winds blowing from the different points
the temperate our coast have great power in
For example, southeast wind drives the flow OF current
nshore and soundngs consequently contracting and
adding TO its impetus, which have found during such
time In latitude IS degrees the edge Of sounding at
tour and a half to i've knots per nour-one Of the
Of quick passages from the south, also
sty the part OF the navigator correct his
southwest wind does accelerate the strength OF the
current but widens its margins and allows IL to flow
more regular and natural course during tho tme and
from which winds tho true position of the Stream should
be taken. The northwest winds prevalent on our
coast during the winter have tendency 10 throw the
Stream into tho ocean ana disseminate II with its cooler
waters In such case rppes of tho outer edge OF the
Stream are discernibo, aud In using tho thermometer q
sudden decrease OF the temperature may be Observed
and 10 the smooth Sticks between the rppes the tepd
water Of tho Cuffs again found but setting to the south
eastward entrance, as writer mas observed in remarks
the edge Of the Stream II resembles the cured
OF feather These rlpple3 hardly TO be
with the inner edge IL Is known fact that an
east and northeast wind wdens the stream, aud In gale
makes most bosterous sea- and dreaded by all marincrs
I'm the gale OF wind Ia November and December lSs4,
there were from fifteen TO twenty vessels put into ST.
Georges Bermuda having suffered from the effects OF
tho and wind while IN on the outer edge OF the
Gulf stream besides others which put into other ports