The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-04

With the spread OF the network OF our
meteorological stations to the West Indies
we shall obtain frmer basis of calculation
of the phenomena--cyclones, squalls and
misrepresentation make navigation in those
waters so perilous at certain seasons Of the
year The addition Of an accurate notation
of the electric condition, currents and dis
turbances all over the territory under the charge
of the Weather Bureau at Washington will
prove also, we believe, of immense service, for
it cannot fail to increase the accuracy Of the wea-
Their reports, already of such value. The idea
is admirably conceived and is fully justified
by the present condition Of electrical science.
The attempt to utilize electrical premonitions
is said to date far back in history, when the
old Roman castles on the Adriaic were
equipped with iron-pointed bastions, to which
the guards on duty presented their iron hal
herds, and when they perceived the spark
gave warning to the farmer and fisherman of
an approaching storm. But the elaborate re-
searches in the field of atmospheric electricity
within the last few years amply sustain the
old popular notion that this mysterious agent
is one of the almost invariable precursors Of
severe tempests and in a form that is unmis-
takably cautionary. In his very recently pub
lished work, bearing directly upon such prac-
teal use OF the electrometer as a weather
glass-hardly less valued than the other
instruments of the meteorolgist-
William Thomson, of Glasgow, has shown
that certain conditions of weather are beauti-
fully indicated by the strength and character
of the electric currents in the air, and he has
also strilingly confirmed the views of Becca-
ria famed Italian philosopher of the last
century. Lecturing in the Royal Institution
during rain storm Thomson quoted the old
scientists observations and tested their cor
rectness by his own instruments, which, it was
afterwards found, had enabled him to make q
brilliant representation of clear weather,
verified, as it was. before the lecture was
over.
1t is. unfortunately, too true that the cleo
trio ocean which envelopes the earth is less
known and studied than the marine fauna and
fora of the deepest valleys of the Atlantic
bottom but enough is already discovered in
the former domain to warrant hopeful and
extensive system of continuous research. In
vestieation conclusively shows that in serene
weather the earth's surface (including in that
term the surfaces Of the sea, of the vegeta-
ton, the buildings and inhabitants) is, as q
rule. everywhere negatively, or resinously
electrified while all meteoric bodies, flying
birds, clouds, fogs, &C., not in contact with its
crust, but floating through its atmosphere,
are oppositely affected with positive electricity
This we'll known fact affords the basis for
such research as we speak of, since the cleo
trifcation of any station must remain per-
manenuy the same in degree and kind until it
is disturbed by the passage or approach Of
electrified air or storm clouds An observer
noticing varying and unusual proportion OF
the electricity at any station furnished with
an electrometer would, therefore, have timely
intimation of advancing clouds and other
atmospheric connections which would be OF
great value for the purposes of weather tele-
graphy. That such deductions would not be
useless is proved by experiments and prog
nostics already made by eminent scientific
observers. The celebrated Saussure and his
fellow traveller on Mont Blanc once observed
spontaneous flashes from their bodies, and
even sparks were emitted from their metallic
buttons, just as they noticed in the distance a
dark thunder cloud nearing their lofty view
point. Similar electric premonitons of APP
preaching tsmpests have been recorded by
Humboldt, Arago and all mountain explorers.
For several days preceding the terrible English
storm of October %, 1859, Admiral Fitzroy
recorded extraordinary disturbances of the
electric currents in the telegraph wires above
ground, and Mr.. Marley, the electrician of the
Atlantic telegraph, noted very strong reflections
in the submarine cable currents. So marked
and 80 many are the electrical indications
previous to the East Indian typhoons that Mr..
Piadington, the Calcutta meteorologist, with
many others, held that the origin of these
msteors was exclusively electrical And the
great Glasgow physicist alluded to in the outset
of this article, in his electric observatory on
the island of Arran, has noticed that when he
could not perceive IN east wind which his
electrometer had warned him to predict, he
Immediately found by waves coming inshore
that the wind must be actually blowing o
short distance out at sea.
It is evident, therefore, that the endeavor is
not premature to employ the electrometor and
electroseope in the network of signal stations
and thus to put electricity-that great magi-
clan Of the atm osphere-under rigid surveil-
lance. The knowledge of natural laws thus
acquired will also be alike doubly valuable to
the mariner (by enabling him to anticipate and
avoid the stealthy cyclone, squall or water
spout) and to the intelligent physician in
practically applying the principles of medical
meteorology.
The Latest Great Connagration.
One great fire rapidly follows upon another,
and in two years the valuable parts of four