Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-06-14
CAVES OF THE WIND.

Where TOrnadoes Arise and whittier They
GO-Theorics Concerning the Origin and
Pathways of Wind Storms-Safcty Pre-
cautions.
The disastrous tornadoes Of last Fri
day afternoon and evening have invested
the consideration of the phenomena of
tOrnadocs, or cyclone storms, with I'M
usual interest, not only from the stand
point of news touching the frightful
details, but likewise concerning their
origin. characteristics and movements.
If examination be made of the dis
patches in the Times of Sunday last re-
lating to the storm, it will be found that
in every instance where the direct on is
given the tornado proceeded from the
northwest to the southeast, and is de-
scribed as being funncl-shaped, balloon
shaped, or of some other similar con-
formation, composed apparently of
clouds. in some cases illuminated by
lightning, and in all eases the smaller
end touching the earth where the dam
age was done. That is all that common
observation covering many years has
developed as to the nature of tornadOes.
Popular ignorance concerning tor
nadOes finds IN ample apology in the
lack of information i'm the textbooks
on mcteorology. Loomis disposcS Of
the matter briefly and in manner that
is altogether inconclusive. There is,
however, a theory advanced, founded
on observation of their characteristics,
that in the absence of any other eX-
PLANTATION or contradiction may be fair
" accepted rs true. In the United
10, Ia, l,.,,
east of the Rocky Mountains and move
eastward at the rate of about twenty
miles an hour, DETECTING more or less
to the northwest. These storms vary
in size, but commonly have diameter
of three hundred to six hundred miles.
They also have their est ablshed routes
Thus those storms which most visit
Chicago and vicinity originate in the
western part of Nebraska and move
eastward. touching with their lower
limits the northern portion of Illinois.
Another ell-defined storm path lies
almost parallel, passing through South
crn Missouri and Southern Illinois up
the Ohio River. Along these two
routes there is a constant procession of
storms, some so small as to be easily
identified and isolated, while others are
SO large as to occasion a combination
forming one continuous storm.
IT the reader will take a map and out
line one circle of about five hundred
miles i'm diameter, having Cairo, ILL.,.
for its center, and another circle having
st. Paul for its center, he will find that
the edges touch each other There
would be i'm this nothing remarkable
except for the fact that i'm storm the
winds all rcvOlve, curving inward to-
ward the storm center in opposite di-
rection to the movement of the hands of
awatch. Thus the wind at Rock Island
would be blowing west or northwest,
and at Peoria east or southeast. 1t is
prcsumabic that between these two
points there is an area of no wind or
shifting winds Suppose that the two
storms having these winds, going in OPP
pOsite direction, BE- brought into sudden
contact; that is to say. two bodies of
air i'm motion in opposite directions at a
rate as high rs twenty-five to thirty
miles an hour. it is evident that at the
point of contact there must be consider
able commo,ion or, as it were, fraction.
This line of contact of opposing winds
or tornadoes. which vary i'm intensity
according to the force of the winds.
This theory is the only one that en-
deavors to account for the phenomena
and existence of tornadoeS. Another
modification of the same idea is that the
seyerer tornadoeS are caused bv the i'm
pact of directly colliding. winds. sending
of eddies and producing the same gen
eral movements that are produced by
the collision of two bodies of water.
The very nature and frighfulness of
tornadoes has prevented any accurate
observation of them. 1t has been
shown, however. by the destruction
they cause that their motion is gyratory
and forward; that. in fact, they have in
narrow compass all the concomitants
of a regular storm. In some cases the
presence of electrical phenomena and
ball lightning has led some to account
for them on 4 theory based on electrics
altogether. Prof. Maury, for example.
argues that by the commotion of the
elements an electrical vacuum is in
duced. anu the electricity rushing from
the earth TO fill it occasions the destruc-
ton. To sustain this theory the facts
that chickens are defeathered. leaves
singed, houses burst. as if from an ex-
plosion of gunpowder metal sometimes
melted, with many other similar phe-
nomena, are advanced. 1t does not
appear. however, that Maury's theory
has been sustained by recent investiga-
tions. That electrical disturbances
should arise where there is so great
commotion of the elements is not sur
prising, and while electricity is admit
ted to be accountable for some of the
effects by the best Judges, it is vet held
to be itself resultant and not productive
of the storm.
Last winter the SgEal-Service issued
a adjudication showing the result of in
vestigatlons into the phenomena of six
hundred tornadoes in the United States.
These Investigations were conducted
with great care by an officer of the SER
vice who visited the several localities
whence they We're reported. These inves-
LEGATIONS show that the month of June
had of the 600 the largest number. 1l2,
with April, %; July, 80; May, 81: Sep
tembcr. 80. and August. AZ. The show
ing is that most tornadoes occur i'm
summer and the next largest number in
the spring. Illinois ranks next to the
highest State in regard to the number
cftornadots. the following being ten