The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-21
Natures weather GnIdes.

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ture and trace their connection with II
grander operations. Especially is thi
true as respects the clouds, which, at thi
season Of the year, so frequently noun
up before our eyes as unerring signals 0
approaching atmospheric changes. Thei
variety and imposing aspect would ap
pear to mark them as subscribing, anon
other Offices, that OF natural weather guides
which, once understood, would not III
likely to mislead the observant. Multi
form as the clouds oil our ATTITUDES are
they may be referred 10 two principa
types, and brought within the capacity O
any average mind to distinguish. These
are the cumulus and the stratus, with cir
rus and their other notifications. The
first, named the cumulus (sometimes call
ed the mount cloud'' Is the dense roll
Ing cloud OF the summertime, rising oVel
the heated and the humid districts, and
forming first an obscure cloud like "cot.
ton ball, US the nucleus Of vaporOus
mass, which afterwards piles up and
spreads mass on mass in Inountain.sized
proportions. The stratus Is more pecu.
liarly a winter cloud, though generated in
all seasons, and forms more frequently in
the afternoon than morning, stretching in
long lines and horizontal strata, as its
name implies, The cirrus, which consists
OF line wavy tibres, is modification OF
one or the other OF the foregoing.
The investigation OF these simple cloud.
forms and their variations has proved one
OF the most interesting as well as instrnc.
tive OF modern researches. Humboldt,
many years ago, noted the delicate, striat.
cd, cirrus clouds in the tropics, ranging
themselves on the celestial hemisphere,
as the marks and stripes on the surface OF
melon, and conveTging very frequently
towards the magnetic poles OF the earth,
from which circumstance he called them
polar bands" These fine cirrus clouds,
though more conspicuous in the tropics,
are sometimes very clearly seen by our
Signal Service observers. While the
weather is still, tranquil and beautiful in
the lower regions OF the atmospheric
ocean, the polar bands, skirting the outer
most limits OF the storm area, indicate the
currents OF air in the higher strata. Storms,
thus, occasionally announce their an.
proach Geographically to the careful
meteorological by means of these celestial
signs. Especially does this remark apply
to the more destructive hurricanes which
emerge from the tropical zones. Although
we cannot see the immense air.currents
which are rushing together 10 initiate the
storm, or in which the aerial conflict, al-
ready In action, is travelling, their move
ments and velocities are BETRAYED many
hours in advance by their cloud.aCcom-
paniments. In like manner, the approach
Of "northeaster" on our coast may be
detected long before the barometer gives
warning, by the accumulation OF thin, hazy
stripes OF stratus.
But the cloud which most interests us
at this season is the Cumnlus, so frequent
and abundant in summer, and bearing in
its vapor.laden bosom alike tho thunder
bolt and the fertilizing shower. Thecum.
ulus is originated and maintained by the
upward current and evaporation from hu.
hid and heated surfaces, especially in val
leys and near water courses. II is shid
that Dr. Kane observed no cumulus clouds
in the Arctic regions, where the suns
force is feeGlv felt. Upon the plateau OF
the Valley OF Mexico these clouds disap.
pear in winter ard rcappear with the
spring, forming about "a. N. daily, and
attaining their highest elevation from to
8 o'clock in the afternoon during the
greatest heat, but gradually vanishing by
sunset. 49,
Their behaviour in our ATTITUDES, though
not quite SO pronounced, is not unlike
what is seen in and near the tropics.
While these summer clouds do not invari.
ably betoken rain, under certain Condi.
tons single cumulus, in tho hottest part
OF the afternoon may prove the nucleus OF
storm. II it is seen lowering while its
cap is ascending rapidly and high, with
the heeCy or dense appearance, its upper
portion is already undergoing chilling and
condensation; and the same may be said
il it encounters cool, westerly wind
brushing portions OF 1t out into a stratus
shape. The vaporous mass is then rapidly
losing its heat, and, no longer able TO hold
its liquid stores, answers the description
OF Tennyson Of the clouds that
Toward drags a labOrinE breast,
And topples round the dreary west,
looming baStlon trlnged With irc."
And it is then sure source Of rain.
1t is not practicable in brief space to Dc
more than to suggest the study Of these
natural storm signals and weather guide
the clouds-as being very interesting to
amateurs, as they are worthy OF the mos
precise investigation OF the meteorological
One Of the best guides is Prof. Blasius
book on "Storms." Another may b,
found in the Signal Office publication en-
titled Practical Use OF Weather Reports.
The Signal Office has bestowed great pain
upon this part OF aerial physics, and on
OF its most beautiful tri.daiIy preparation
Is a special cloud-map, showing the condi
ton Of the sky every eight hours, and ena
bling its officers to study the relations be
tween The wind and storm phenomena, an
the clouds which ioreshadow and fore
token them, No part OF It's popular anC
valuable researches demands more exac
and extensive prosecution. For, as Prc
.iessor Poey, the late Director o! the Ha
vana Observatory has we'll said, 1--WE ma
regard the clouds as weatherceck in III
sky, consta ntly indicating changes so Ion
as single one, however small, exists"
. ONLIMITID MONEY. IA. .
The Views of a West virginia Nasty.
4. HAMPTON SETTLEMENT,
Near Pennsborow,) WEsT FLRGISNY,
| July II, 1870.
Ma. EnlruR:-1 am a young man, b,
that IL no resin why l shud keep still.
am intencly interested in the welfare {
the kentry, and feel tito be mi dooty
speak out and let the publick no who
am, and wat mi political continents {
nashnel questions IL. Wehav reached
pint in our Nashnel Il don't like to u
the word ''nashnel, y but I uze it in a So
. ordinate sense to that oy state) histor
! when good and tru men Il headed at 4
! front, so ! cum toward to liitup mi vol
l., nnoTk ~, tho konakitnffnn and aU