The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-17


including circulation of the Holy Scriptures.
There is something noble in all this. Let us hope
that, in obedience to the call of free America,
the Gear will reveal in higher platform that
benevolence which he revealed in the emanci-,
patton o. his serfs, and establish religious
equality throughout his vast domains. BY so
doing he will win the respect of his generation
and the homage of posterity.
A New Gable for tho BcneAt of storm
Photography.
At recent meeting Of the Academy of
Sciences at Paris the proposition to lay
Geographic cable between the Azores archi-
pelago aud Europe was advanced and strongly
endorsed. The idea has been more than once
set forth and its execution urged in the
columns of the HERALD. M. Buys-Ballot, the
celebrated Director Of the Utrecht Meteorolo-
gical Observatory, has been Appointment advo-
cate of this new enterprise, and has memorial
lied the Portuguese government for the estab-
lishmeut of meteorological station, or, rather,
system, In the Azores. This plan executed
will result in the issuing of regular weather
reports as to the progress of ''the southwest
ern gales" which are well known to advance
on the British Isles and on Western Europe
from the vicinity of the Azores. NJ. Delau-
maya name eminent in Geographic meteor
ology-at the meeting of the Academy read
over the note of NJ Buys Ballot, and made a
strong plea for the prosecution of his learned
colleagues proposition.
The storms which reach the British shores
are borne along in the normal path of the So
called Passage Winds" or "Antitrades,"
aud, at present, the only premontions afforded
the signal officers of England are those of the
barometric changes on the immediate western
coasts of the islands. AS in all the middle
ATTITUDES, in England the preponderance Of
wind is from the west. The United States is
most singularly and happily situated for carry
ing out an exact and effective system of storm
signals. But the French and English meteor
olOgists have no station to the westward in the
Atlantic from which they can be forewarned
Of the approaching and probably tropic-born
hurricane. Even if they could learn the
barometric oscillations aud other weather con-
ditions of some point hundred miles to the
southwestward they would have great advan-
tages, and. since the cyclone seldom travels
more than twenty miles an hour the observer
might have ample time after it reaches such q
point to telegraph his storm warning to every
harbor master on the English coast and dis
play the cautionary signal before the arrival
Of the hurricane. The institution of weather
observations at the Azores would give usually,
at least, thirty-six hours premOniton
TO all Western Europe OF every important
atmospheric change. The result would be Of
incalculabe advantage to all Western Europe.
For, even such storms as the celebrated ''Black
Sea storm" of 1854 (Which came so near de-
stroyng the entire allied Anglo French feet
before Sebastopol, and was forecast in Paris
by Marshal Valiant while it was yet off the
western coast Of France, and, fortunately, pre-
announced more than thirty hours), not con-
tent with desolating the coasts of Western
Europe, invade the Continent and sweep over
the Mediterranean and other inland seas The
seaport of Augra, in the Azores, is admirably
situated for the landing of an ocean cable for
it lies far enough from the extreme Western
coasts of Europe and Africa to be beyond the
influence of the recurvation current of the Gulf
Stream. The sea bottom has also conforma-
ton well adapted as a receptacle for the wire,
and is not exposed, as that off Newfoundland,
to being washed into gullies by submarine cur
rents. The distance from the Azores to Por.
tugal is within nine hundred miles, and as its
ports are much frequented storm signal sta
tIon al Augra might save many precious argosies
Atlantic, and if we are to Judge by the past,
the cost of cable, much less the trihing ex-
pense of signal station or dozen stations.
is not to be compared with the immense saw
ing of life and vessel aud cargo. One invalu-
able good that might result from telegraphic
communication with the Azores is this Our
steamships, when disabled by accident occur
ring between New York and Liverpool, drift
as did one Of the Collins steamers some years
ago-directy down toward the Azores.
With cable connection to Liverpool missing
steamers might be rescued from destruction
by searching vessels sent out in time to
reach them.
The Portuguese government will do much to
win the good will and respect Of all Europe
and the United States if, in subscribing the be-
nign and grand purposes of storm telegraphy,
it shall consent to bring the Azores within
the kindly aud civizing influence of the cleo
A..