St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-29
BY ELECTRIC FLUID.
Another Theory as to How Cy-
clones Are Made.
To the Editor of the Globe

To the Editor of the Globe:
In the GLOBE of the Goth inst. there is
very quaint and curious cause assigned
for cyclones. 1t may be right. If right
why, with population of I.early $780,
000 people, does London, and in fact all
the British Isles, escape these destruct-
i've monsters when there is a continual
cloud of soft coal smoke, which nearly
ObscureS the sun? No. Mr.. Chase, it
cannot be smoke. We will now proceed
to give yOu our theory as to how cy-
clones are made. We will assume that
there are several solar systems like our
own, and that there is another grand
center system around which these per-
form systematic revolution, much
the same as our planets reyOlYe around
the sun. Each system having differ
ent orbit, they must in the course of
time and at stated periods occupy the
same longitude, and, of course, be in
conjunction with the grand center.
Now let us assume that the entire inter
stellar space is one vast, bOundlesS sea
of electricity, or electric fluid: that
from the smallest asterOid to the largest
planets it forms medium through
which they move. Suppose this con-
junction of systems occurs once in 5000
years, and that the period of conjunc-
ton continues for fifty years before the
maximum point is reached. During
this period each planet in system is
positively charged with electricity, or,
in other words, has absorbed more than
its natural quantity of the fluid. This
surplus. in consequence of the mutual
repulsion of its particles has tendency
to escape and does so until the cause
c rQrnnxrn6 Inv tho
ferent positions. So the particles of
electric fluid repel each other and at
tract the particles of all other matter
with varying force. During this con-
junction period certain heavenly bodies,
perhaps belonging to other systems,
may become so Oyercharged as to be dis
traught in their orbits, and from sober
world with steady habits become an
erratic comet rushing through space
with an unmeaSured velocity until the
attractive force of the medium collects
the scattered particles and cools them
down to business again. Now how does
this affect our earth? 1t is highly
charged with electricity at the present
time. Each year from 1873 to the present
time has added to the accumulatiye
force of this useful, but destructive ele-
ment. Almost every locality at the
present time is developing into natural
gaSometer, which gas is being set free
by the gradual, but sure accumulation
of electricity in the earth.
With the earth thus electrified, every
passing cloud is source of more or less
danger. The phenomena of the trans
ference of electricity being modified by
the form of the bodies-being regularly
diffused over a ball or globe and in
pointed bodies greatly increased in the
eXtremities-giveS the fluid very DOW
erful tendency to escape. This attract
i've force collects and concentrates the
storm cloud and gives to it the murder
GUS funnel shape, and when near the
point of contact it is violently repealed,
and right here the mischief is accom-
pliShed. In dry weather, the air being
non-cOnductOr, the earth is perfectly
insulated, but when it becomes moist it
then becomes a conductor and the form
and temperature of the cloud govern the
intensity of the charge. Pointed con-
ductOrs give off electricity with great
freedom, hence the electric tension of
the point is very great and it gives off
or receives it with great velocity, which
impartS to the pointed or funnel-shaped
cloud such destructive force.
Cyclones are, then, the result of an
abnormal electric condition of the earth.
AT present they are confined to locali-
ties where the surface of the earth offers
the least resistance to the movement of
storm centers. The earth is one vast
history OF cyclOnic periods. All our
primary drift is the result of these ter
rifle storms. There is no drift theory
tenable but this. We find trees buried
fifty feet below the surface under vast
bed of unfOssiliferouS clay, and the re-
mains of all ancient forest on the top of a
crag. For the past ten years we have been
gradually entering this ''cyclonic''
state, and these disturbances will con-
tinue to increase in force and frequency
until the maximum point of systematic
conjunction is reached.
Natural gas will lncreaed in quantity
and frequency of discovery until it be-
comes common necessity, except per-
haps in certain localities, where it will
have a perniciOuS and deadly effect.
The winter cholera in Minneapolis may
be caused by an insidiouS faint of nOX-
iOus natural gas set free by accumulated
electricity in and under theSedimentary
rocks which form the foundation for the
Flour City. The same power which
produces cyclones will produce epidem-
les, contagious and deadly. Increasd
evaporation will produce violent, de-
Structive and stupendous storms. The
inhabitants of the earth will again be-
come cave jewellers, and their poSterity
will uncover our buried cities and read
our history as we are reading that of
thenations who dwelt here before the
las great cataciysm, and reared the
walls which link their existence with
civilization. J.F.I.
Pine City, Feb. 81.