Daily south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1881-18??, 1885-10-01
STUDYING T0RNAD0ES.
How Wind-Storm Reporters Do
Their Work.
1ne Difference Between u Cyclone and
Tornado-Thc Former belongs
to the East aud the Lat.
ter to the West.

Lieutenant John p. Finley, Of the
Tornado Division United States Signal
Corps, arrived in Philadelphia yester-
day TO make special study Of the de-
struclive storm which passed ovar Cam
den and Port Richmond August I'd.
The official Government investigation
ol the typical American tornado began
in 1879. when Lieutenant Finley under
took, single-handed, TO visit the track
Of every tornado reported TO the Sig
mai Service Department at Washington
Tbs undertaking was necessarily un-
satisfactory aud expensive. owing 10
tie vast area trayersed by the storms
and the frequency OF their occurrence
Mt certain seasons OF the year.
The chief difficulty was in gothngupon
the track OF them soon enough, a week
sometimes elapsing before the invcst-
cation could be made, during which
interval much of the destruction
wrought was covered up. Individual
testimony was the only report obta n
able in many cases and this could not
always be relied upon for official pur-
poses. However. at the close Of the
Year 1879. the first publicat on Of Tor
nado Studies" by the then Sergeant
Finley, appeared In 1850, by special
act Of Congress, II second edition was
issued
During 1850 the investigation, though
still far from being thorough aud com
plctc, was continued upon the same
plan of operation, the service, though
ot incalculablo value 10 the Govern
mcnt. being necessarily expensive.
Wherever n storm appeared men and
wagons were hired to collect particu-
lars Of its track and force. In 1881 an
other volume OF Tornado Studies"
appeared. in which minute details of
600 tornadoos were recorded. Tho
work was assuming magnitude and
Importance previously unthought of.
In 1883 an organi'ati OF a staff of
Tornado Reporters" was ordered, and
under the direction of Lieutenant Fin
ley so successfully conducted that 800
names are published IN the annual re-
port Of the chief signal officer Tho
list comprises business men. physicians.
professors and farmers in all parts of
the United States, who render their
services to the Government without
salary. Each reporter is furnished sta.
iioncry. free copies of all tornado pub
licatlons aud allowed free Use of the
mails in forward ng official corre-
spondence. Blanks specially prepared
with full set OF questions covering
every conceivable detail of the storms
are supplied by the eSignal Service, with
a pamphlet of instructions TO govern
the reporter in obtaining all necessary
and valuable points. The whole serv-
ice, though purely voluntary, is most
trustworthy and accurate; the appoint
ments being eagerly sought for by men
of prominence who interest themselves
in studying the phenomena of torna-
docs.
HOW FACTS ARE OBTAINED.
The mode of obtaining complete
onic al information of each tornado re-
ported by the Signal Service stations TO
the headquarters at Washington i
most comprehensive and thorough.
Immediately upon the receipt of the
announcement tho Tornado Division"
issues circulars addressed TO men living
in the direct path of the storm, and
who are likely TO be trustworthy sources
of information. These circulars. con-
tanning full series of questions, go to
Postmasters, County Clerks, railroad
officers, and other persons, requesting
their assistance in preparing report
of all particulars. tirculars are also
sent out TO persons living upon each
side of the path of destruction, where
the phenomena are different from the
center of the storm path. BY this
means the whole territory is covered
and every interesting point obtained.
These circulars are forwarded to Wash
ingtoh, where the local tornado re-
porter's statements have already been
received, and the whole mass OF facts
is then compared with the official re-
port of the chief signal officer sta
tionod nearest the locality visited by
the storm, one account serving as q
check upon another A local or geo.
graphical chart is then prepared show
ing the course from beginning to finish.
This Is furnished free to the public
in week or two by application
10 the chief signal officer at Washing