New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-06
UHERE TORY4DOEs MOST ABOUND.

Sergeant Finley's elaborate and valuable report
on the tornadoes of 1884 recently issued by the
Signal Service Bureau. illustrates with charts the
ia that these startling and destructive phenomena
like most hail and thunder storms, occur In places
lying southeastward of large barometric depres-
sion or slow centre" The observations when
form the basis of this report confirm various
previously accepted theories regarding tornadoes'
such a. their occurrence manly in the afternoon,
their generation by the conflicting polar and
equatorial air currents. and the development Of
considerable electricity in connection with them
But the discovery just mentioned Is of more prac-
teal service than any of the other facts brought
out in Indicating the possible outbreak of lorna
does in a given region. Inasmnch as these storms
occur anywhere from 200 TO 500 miles from the low
centre. large area may be nperilled at one time.
and the suddenness of formation, the narrowness
of track and the brevty of the period of havoc make
it impossible to foretel precisely in what localities
within this broad region the outbreaks will occur;
nor can one say definitely how plentiful brood oil
the destroyers will DO hatched though the con-
dtions favorable to their birth distinctly rec
og,,ized Yet the Importance of even the slightest
valid warning will be apprt ciatcd when 1t Is known
that in single tornado season of n few months
over 900 lives may be lost, $500 persons injured.
and property valued Mt over Sl3,OOOO 600 destroyed
Such at least the case last year. the destruction
wrought in one day, September 8, being estimated
at 81. 100000.
sergeant Finlcys tables show that the South
suffered to an exceptional degree from this cause
in 1884. Georgia, Alabama and the two Carolinas
were visited by one half of the $50 tornadoos
reported from the whole country. That particular
district IA mon liable to such vistations than many
other parts of the Union but not rs much so. on an
average as another tract embracing most OF Kansas
and portions of Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota,
Iowa, Illinois and Indiana, which, together. ex-
per!enced only thirty-hvc last year. schedule
once prepared by Sergeant Finley. who has long
been studying this subject showed the distribution
OF tornadoes for the five years ending with 1850.
This gave the four States first named SO per cent
of the whole number aud 2S.7 per cent to the other
seven Another tabulatIon made by tho Signal
Service including about GOO tornadoes, and COW
ering eighty-seven years. still further established
the fact that the Northwestern tract already de-
scrbed is the ell of sufferer from these alictlons
and the Eastern cotton States come second. Texas
is the region OF next greatest frequency.
No theory is contained In Sergeant Finley's report
TO explain this exceptional prevalence Of tornadoes
in the south last year. An analysis of the returns,
however. shows that a large proportion of last
war;, crop was produced In the spring season.
while vet the low centres which, at intervals OF
several days, are forever crossing the country In
an eastery or northeasterly direction, were taking
a some hat more southerly course than In the
summer months-usually the period of greatest
frequency. Thus. more tornadoes occurred in Feb
ruary last year than in July although they were
confined TO two days in the former month. and dis
tributcd among fifteen IN the latter The tornado
season tins year did not fairly open until May
the greatest abundanceiwas produced in June and
July. when tho low centres. mostly born in the
middle plateau of the Rocky Mountains, were
travelling along north of. the line of the Great
Lakes: and q great majority of the attendant tor
nadocs have been experienced in the Northwestern
area already indicated most liable to be thus
visited. Still. without extending ones observation
beyond these two years. 1t would be hasty to
assume that the distribution of tornadocs any year
depends upon the time at which the season opens.