The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-03-11
tFrom the New York Tribune
storm and Flood Signals by Means
Of the telegraph and Cannon.

1t is estimated that more than one fourth
of the grain and hay crops are, on an aver
age, injured annually by storms during har-
vest. Large quantities arc cut down, and
then storm comes on suddenly, or rs set
tied rain, and they get wet TO degree that
they are materially damaged. If farmers
had WdrninJ of these approaching storms In
time to get their grain or hay under cover
or In situation to shut out the rain, much
Of this injury would be prevented. By the
general adoption of the following simple
plan, II Is believed that this can be effected
When a storm has formed and commences
to travel In any certain direction, the first
telegraph station or stations over which 1t
passes, Is to send the news to all the tele-
graph stations at county seats and principal
towns scores or hundreds Of miles In ad-
vance, according to the kind OF storm, or
probable distance that II may travel, always
keeping suitable distance in advance.
At each county seat and principal town
cannon Is to be kept ready by the officials at
the courthouse, or by fire company, and
as soon as the news Is received Of coming
storm, II is to be fired three times, at inter-
walls OF one minute II q tornado, hail storm,
terrific gale, or destructive storm Is ap-
preaching; at intervals Of three minutes If
an ordinary rain storm Is approaching rap
idly; at intervals Of sir minutes II an ordi-
nary rain storm Is approaching slowly; and
at intervals Of ten minutes If destructive
river flood is approaching.
As good sized cannon can be heard dis
tinctly from Is to 90 miles In every direc-
ton from the place of firing, or over 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 pdrHed to stop cutting, and to
| get their grain or hay under cover, or In q
situation to shut out the rain, thus saving
not only that portion which had been cut
and cured previous to the warning, but also
saving that portion which otherwise would
have been cut during several hours or a
whole day, without such warning.
Tho storm signals will also be of great
value to commerce on our extended coast, and
| In narrow channels, and particularly on our
numerous bays, rivers and lakes, and espe-
| cially In severe storms and hurricanes, by
| warning vessels 10 seek places OF safety, or
prepare for the coming storm. Terrific storms
also sweep through our seaports, causing
great damage to shipping, where even a
few minutes warning would save q vast
amount of property. The signals will save
numerous lives, will be useful to commerce,
to agriculture during harvest, and In seed
| time, spring and fall, and In fact will be of
value to every business In city and coun-
| try. The saving in agriculture alone In
| America and Europe will, doubtless, be
more than S5OO,0OO,OOO annually, or more
than sufficient to feed the starving poor OF
| the two countries. The same signals used
| for storms, II located at river towns, may
also be used to give warning OF destructive
| river floods. BY firing cannon at the
| principal towns on q river, a coming hood
may be signaled throughout Its entire length
several hours In advance, by which many
lives and large amounts of property will be
saved. Even an hours warning will often
be of great value, when the river rises sud
denly, and runs with destructive rapldlty and
force. In cases of very destructive storms,
or foods, the signals may be repeated, after
suitable Interval, to give additional warning.
This plan has been approved Of by the
press, and by telegraph companies. The
Western Union Telegraph Company, office at
New York, and which owns large majority
of the lines throughout the Union, In order
10 test the system, will supply kilograms OF
approaching storms "whenever any consld-
cradle number Of cities or towns shall make
arrangements to fire signal guns, according
the plan proposed"
In order that the plan may be tested so as
to be extended to all the States In time for
the summers harvest, will see that tele-
grams Of storms are furnished free, and Will
also pay the expense Of firing the signals for
three months, TO the first twenty cities or
towns that shall apply. A. WATSON
w IsuINnTON d. C., 1869,