National Republican., 1877-07-24
PROTECTION AGAINsT STORMS
Storm Signals by Means Of tho Telegraph ant
Cannon to Protect Great Cities and Sea
uorta

storm Signals by Means Of tho Telegraph and
Cannon to Protect Great Cities and sca-
ports.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN Tho season Of de-
| structive hurricanes, tornadocs, hail storms
and terrific gales, caused by excessive heat
being at hand, to continue four months, with
destructive gales occurring In all seasons, l
therefore again offer my plan Of storm signals,
| by means Of tho telegraph and cannon, to give
certain, instant and general warning to large
cities and seaports Of coming destructive
storms. The means are all at hand, and only
| require to be put into operation ut trining
| cost. The plan Is simply to instruct n tele-
graph operator or station agent at all towns
and stations within about seventy miles Of
every great city or seaport to telegraph de-
| structive storms passing over such town or
station In the direction OF the great city. This
warning by telegraph is to bo made known in
stantly over the whole city by firing three
minute guns at navy yard, fort or other mill
tary station most accessible TO tho telegraph,
and If tho city Is very large and q great sea-
port, with more than ono military station, tho
signals are to be repeated by sound at all such
ports.
These destructive storms generally come
from the northwest or west though they may
como from any direction. They travel from
thirty to fifty and sometimes one hundred
miles In q straight direction. Their coune
eau therefore bo telegraphod with great GER
tainty, and can be made even more certain as
they often break down tho line, which tho OPP
orator Mt the city or seaport can ascertain by
keeping up communication with tho station
from which the warning Is sent, and when he
finds the line broken, this fact will be certain
evidence Of its direct, continued and dcstruo-
tive approach, which he should again notify
to the signal station, who will repeat tho FIR
ing, rs also all the other posts by soahd. And
l-EA s,.,N late IL
from all stoam whistles may be sounded, to
make the warning more universal also bells
may be rung rapidly threo times.
A these destructive storms travel from forty
to eighty miles por hour, such warning would
give from half m hour to IN hour TO prepare.
but oven fifteen minutes would often b Of
great value. In the city y would essbls poo.
articles, to turn up awningS TO close blinds,
and even to secure roof, walls and other ex-
posed structures In process Of building, by
which many lives, with much property, would
bo saved. If at . scapoft, 1t would enable chip
ping in the harbor to prepare for 1t. to secure
sails and rigging, To put out extra anchors or
change positions so as TO prevent collision and
sinking; Others sailing, evon at q distance, TO
lower and secure sails and come to anchor, and
thus prevent capsizing or running on shore by
being suddenly struck without warning; and,
lastly, small cnft and row-boats, often filed
with mon, women and children, would be
warned in time to reach places of safety-all Of
which would save large amounts Of rigging,
numerous vessels and cargocs together with
many lives.
By this plan the numerous telegraph lines
leading from great city or seaport, with
agents in towns and stations surrounding 1t,
would aot rs double picket-guard on every
side aud warn 1t Of coming danger. The tcle-
graph station agents or operators should bo
paid good round sums for every destructive
storm accurately telegraphed. which would
insure watchfulncss and precision. The firing
Of signals at military posts for tho public bene-
fit could doubtless be arranged with tho Cen
cral Government, and at no cost to the city.
If no military post exists the firing could be
done by fire company. The cost Of tho
whole plan would, therefore, be trifing while
the saving would be very great. The authori-
ties Of every large city, and especially soa-
ports, together with the great commercial in
terest, should SEQ TO it that this plan is estab-
lished Immediately.
If successful, It will establish my universal
system Of storm and flood signals, for the bene-
fit of agriculture during haying and harvest,
and warning against destructive floods.
A. WATSON