Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-03-23


s,orm mud Flood Signals by Means
Of tho Telegraph Rnd Cannon,
Mainly for tho Bsuent of AgFieui-
turs aud Com merce-ro be rested
~ Forts and Military Stations.
II IL estimated that more than one fourth
Of the hay aud grain crops are, on an aver.
age injured annually by storms dur log bar
vest Large quantities are cut down, and
then storm comes on suddenly or as q set
tied rniu, and they get wet to degree that
they are materially damaged. II farmers
bad warning Of these approaching storms in
time to get their grain or hay under cover,
or 10 situation to shut out the rain, much
Of this injury would be prevented. By the
adoption Of the following simple plan, II is
believed that this can be effected at trialug
cost
when a storm has formed and commences
to travel In any certain direction the first
telegraph station or stations over which II
passes Ia To send the news to all the tele-
graph citations at cltles, coputy.seats, and
principal towns, scores or hundred miles
In advance, according to tho kind Of storm
or probable distance that II may travel, al.
ways keeping suitable distance In ad
vance.
At each city, county.scat and principal
town a cannon Is to be kept ready by the
officials at the courthouse, or by Dire com.
pany, aud as soon as the news u received OF
a coming storm, Il IL to be fred three times at
Intervals OF Que minute lfn tornado, thunder
or hail storm, terrible gale or destructive
storm Is approaching at intervals OF three
minutes II an ordinary rain storm ls ap
preaching rapldlyi at Intervals Of sir min
utes " MI ordinary rain storm Is approach
ing slowly; aud at Intervals OF ten minutes
u destructive river food Is approaching.
In case Of very destructive storms or Hoods,
the Signals may bo repeated, after a suitable
Interval, TO give additional warning. At
large cities, when destructive storm is APP
preaching, are and church bells may also be
RUG, aud steam whistles be blown three
times, at the same Interval as tho guns, to
Increase the warning.
AZ a good-sized cannon eau usually be
heard from IS to 20 miles In every direction
from the place Of firing, or over a space Of
from 30 to 40 miles square, Il, 600 square
miles by firing one at each county seat and
principal town, the farmers over the whole
country, In harvest time, will be warned TO
stop cutting, and to get their grain or hay
under cover, or 10 situation to shut out the
rain, thus saving not only that por-
tlon which had been cut aud cured pre-.
vlOus TO tho warning, but also saving that
portion which otherwise would have been
cut during several hours or n whole day
without such warning.
The storm signals will also be OF great
value 10 commerce on our extended coasts
and In narrow channels, and particularly
on our numerous bays, rivers aud lakes, aud
especially In severe storms aud hurricanes,
by warning vessels TO seek places OF safety
or prepare for the coming storm. Terrific
storms also sweep through our seaports,
causing great damage TO shipping, where
even few minutes warning would save q
vast amount Of property. The signals will
save numerous lives, will be useful TO com.
merce, to agriculture during harvest, aud
In seed time spring and fall, and III fact
will be Of value TO every business city or
country,
The signals used for storms when located
a, river towns may also be used to give
warning Of destructive river floods. By
drlng cannon at the principal towns on q
river q coming food may be slgnallcd
throughout It's entire length several hours
In advance, by which many lives and large
amounts Of property will be saved. Even
an hours warning will oflen DO Of great
value when the river rises suddenly and
runs with destructive rapldIty and force.
This plan has been approved Of by the
| NthltIu OulOu company HulCn
owns a large majority OF the lines through.
out the Union and In order to test the sys-
| ten will supply kilograms OF approaching
storms, "wheuevor In very considerable mum
Der Of cities aud towns shall make arrange
ments to are signal guns according to the
plan proposed" The plan has also been
approved Of by many Of the most prominent
newspapers. The Scientific American recently
had tue following 1--WE believe the modern
idea OF giving warning to distant localities
Of the approach OF storms by means Of the
telegraph, Is destined eventually to prove OF
Immense benefit TO the world aud the sug.
grstlon that announcements be made to
large agricultural districts by artillery sig.
malls, prearTanged to indicate the Intensity,
rapidlty and dsection Of approaching
storms, seems to US to be very practical and
promising. This system would save crops
from destruction, vessels from shlpwreck
and much sacrifice OF human lie"
| Through a recent act Of Congress TO Is
tabllsh storm signals at military stations
this plan will be tested on rivers, lakes, bays
and on the coast for the benefit OF commerce
aud Incidentally Of agriculture. But a
these military stations arc not numerous
and will be OF lnconsiderable utility to ngrl
culture, except to test the system, II Is there
fore recommended that agricultural sOCle
ties aud city and town authorities take i'm
mediate measures to establish the Signals a
every city, county seat and principal tow
having telegraph facilities. Many cities auC
towns have n suitable cannon, which cOulC
be lred by 1ro company, for which they
may receive additional pay, their duties
being increased 10 storms as well as 10 fires
Where town has not q suitable cannon to
be used as storm gun application should
| be made to TO the State or the patloual Gov.
| eminent, whose arSenAls are full of these
| Implements Of destruction, which may now
be used for the saving Of life and property.
Every newspaper should publish this cir
cular that the plan may become generally
established In time for the coming harvest
A. WATSON.