The New York herald., 1872-12-11
Tho Late Hurricanes and the Law
of Storms.


Of storms.
In connection with the late terrible storm
disasters on the sea reported by cable from
England and Ireland, and the losses slstainesf
by shipping within the last two days on this
side Of the Atlantic, we print on another paco
of the HERALD two interesting charts on TIN
laws Of hurricanes and cyclones in the North
ern and Southern Hemispheres The services
to commerce in this branch of meteorologR
are incalculable, and that science is now able
to say with perfect knowledge how storms
upon the great oceans may be met and COM
bated successfully is reason for sincere con-
graduation. Accompanying the charts, which
are ingeniously and simply arranged. will b.
found series Of instructions To mariners,
which contain all the knowledge on the sub
ject at present attainable, and in such
handy shape as to impress itself easily
upon the memory. The storms which have
caused such immense destruction are likely at
this and other seasons Of the year to be re-
peated and we commend these tables, instruc-
tons and charts to the shipping interest Of
the country, that there may be no excuse for
ignorance In those whose duty takes them in
responsible positions upon the treacherouS
deep. With heavy gale beating upon lee
shore, or with leaky, back broken vessel over
taken at sea by such cyclone as the charts
describe, instructions and knowledge might be
Of little avail But good stout ships have
been lost by hundreds in these cyclones from
an utter want Of knowledge Of the theory Of
circular storms and the practice to be OBJ
served when they are encountered.
Tue DELAY IN THE STOKES TRIAL.-Tt
seems impossible to account for the repeated
postponement Of the Stokes trial, except on
the supposition that the business Of the Dis
trict Attorneys Office must be ineficiently
conducted. The idea of keeping prisoner in
jail year when he is anxious for q trial and
where there can be no good reason for delay
is preposterous. The witnesses in this par
ticular case could have been more easily
obtained by the prosecution eight months ago
than they can be now, and there does not
appear to be any excuse for procrastination.
If the prisoner is guilty he should suffer the
penalty of the law; if innocent he should be
set at liberty At all events, both for tha
sake of the public and of the accused.
second trial should take place at once. There
are plenty of other cases in which similar
unaccountable delay has occurred If this is
the fault of the law, the law should be altered.
If it is the fault Of the law officers, they should
be made to bear the responsibility.
TIE SUBJECT OF FIREpRooF BUILDINGS is
now attracting very serious attention, in view
of the awful visitations by fire which DESC
lated within year the youngest and the Oldest
of our greatest cities It is now conceded
that the buildings called freproof have been
only SO in name. The first principles Of re-.
sistance to the destructive agency have been
neglected by using infammable material in
constructing parts really exposed to danger.
such as foorings and roo6ngs. We call at
tenton, therefore, to the description elsewhere
of the really fireproof building now nearly
completed on the site Of the old HERALD
building, on Nassau street, between Ann and
Fulton, which will be ready for occupancy by
the 1st of Nav next.