Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-05-22
WEST INDIA HURRICANES.
An International system of Warnings
Outltped by an Expert.


A Kew West, Fla, correspondent OF
The New York Herald writes: 1t is
weIl-established fact that the north At
Iantic hurricanes have their inception
about the vicinity of Barbados. There
is Geographic communication between
thst island and the other West Indies.
It is of the highest Importance and ne
cessity to receive the earliest warning
of the beginning and prevalence ofthese
destructive storms. As these various
islands are the property of the English.
French, Spanish, Dutch, and Danish
governments, it would be Of the great
est benefit to them. As well as ourselves,
il some internal legislation could be
enacted whereby each would bear .
proportionats part of the expense OF
transmitting storm warnings through
the West Indies to the United States.
and thence TO all parts Of Europe.
With this accomplished and these
powers interested, upon the first indica-
lions Of approaching hurricanes, We will
suppose starting In the Barbados, by
telegraphing from place to place hour.
ly-or oftener, if necessary,-all the
meteorological changes, the force, d.
rection, distance of center, its course,
with its diameter or dimensions, could
be accurately known, and ample warn
ing of from twenty-four hours to .
week, according to distance, could Be
displayed. This would give vessels
passing storm-signal stations along the
coast plenty of time to seek harbOr, or,
r5siag in port. they would remain there.
On TO the present time, as far as il
known, no steps have been taken in
the direction of international Legislation,
though the Importance of the question
has been freely acknowledged.
In the summer and autumn Of 1882
the chief signal officer, Gen. Hazen.
took steps to carry out such signal
service by means of Instructions issued
to various consuls, shipmasters and
agents as could be employed; but since
then, for lack of funds, he has been
compelled to give it up. During the
period mentioned the reports thus made
were considered of vital Importance,
and the warnings given were the cause
of keeping many vessels in port, there
by saving large amount of property
and lives. The amount of property
saved in the short period was estimated
at from 5000, 900 to $7,O0O,OO0. This
showed conclusively the paramount inn
portance of these early warnings. This
subject should be brought before con-
gress and an appropriation made d,
once to enable the signal officer to car
~ out these plans as far as practicable
at present, and with view of endeav.
oring to obtain an international con-
vention.
The plan necessary to be adopted, as
described to your correspondent by
Lieut.. Commander VIM, United States
navy, quartered at Key West, and the
originator of Gen. Hazen's investiga-
tons, is briefly an original system OF
hourly observations by trained and in
terested observers, starting at Barba.
does as the initial point. From thence
or any of the West India islands. all
connected by cable, a hurricane could
be acurely traced from point to point,
with the height and changes Of the
barometer and thermometer, form OF
clouds. humidity, etc. With this data
the course, velocity, direction, and dis
lance of center could be accurately OBJ
tanned, so that vessels in the gulf or fur
Their north could receive at least thirty
six hours notice of its approach, and
ascertain from the general direction, as
indicated, whether it is likely to pass
near them.
Lieut.. Commander VIM would sug-
gest that the cautionary signal should
not be hoisted at any time with less than
thirty miles velocity per hour; that dur
ing the hurricane season, from July to
Oct. 20, special hurricane signal be
adopted (say white flag with black CEN
ter hoisted above), and this would indi-
cate quite different character of storm,
rs now indicated by the cautionary or
dangerous wind signal.
Nine-tenths of the hurricanes reach
ing the North Atlantic. Commander
Winn estimates, take their inception in
the Barbados of West Indian islands.
He has closely studied the question, and
regards the lack of signal service from
such points as wanton sacrifice of i'm
mense numbers of lives and vast amounts
Of valuable property.