Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
SIGNALS AND STORMS.
USE OF THE MOONS LIGHT IN
GEODETIC WORK.
Storms on High Peaks in Utah
and Nevada.

Edward Goodfellow, scientific author
ity of Washington, D. c., in letter t.
Science, and which is published in that
journal, says:
Trials of the moons light with view
of determining its effectiveness for signal.
in the primary triangulation of the Coast
and Geodetic Survey were undertaken by
William Eimbeck, assistant in the survey
in 1888, al Phoebe Station, Nevada. The
results obtained over line of TWENTY-FIVE
miles in length were sufficiently promising
to warrant a resumption of the expert
ments over longer lines
In 1887 the occupation of Mount NebC
"a station of the transcontinental TRAN
gulation in central Utah, at an elevation
of $4,000 feet above sea level-afforded the
desired opportunity. At three of the sta
tions of the triangulations connecting with
Mount Nebo the heliotropers were duly
instructed to show the moons light for two
hours continuously between the 29th OF
June and the 4th of July, the moons age
between these dates ranging from first
quarter to full moon. They were to begin
during twilight, or about forty -iive minutes
after sunset and to substitute for
their helIotrope-mirrors rehectors of extra
size, proportional to the length of the
respective lines of sight. These were forty
eight miles to Draper, seventy to Onaqui,
and nInety-seven to Ogden; and the diam
eter of the mirrors ranged from six to
eight inches at Draper, eight to ten inches
at Onaqui and twelve to eighteen inches
at Ogden.
The atmospheric conditions proved un-
favorable, high winds, a murky atmos-
phere and decidedly hazy sky prevail
ing, except upon the nights of the ID and
Sd of July, when the lights from the
selenotropes at Draper and Onaqui were
plainly visible in the illuminated field of
the telescope. Distinctness aud steadi-
ness were the most striking characteristics
of these signals. They shone as mere
dots of white light and for precise point
ing, were of ideal perfection. The light
at Ogden was not seen.
Mr.. Eimbeck's conclusion for these trials
is, that during period of from twelve to
fifteen days in each lunation the moons
light can be used to much advantage for
geodetic signals in the attitudes of the
arid regions of the interior, upon lines
trending in all directions, if they do not
exceed about fifty miles IN length
Referring to the electric thunder-storms
that prevail in the higher mountains OF
Nevada and Utah during July and Au-
gust, and not unfrequently hover about
the King Peaks for days in succession, Mr..
Eimbeck observes that these storms are at
times very severe and not without danger.
They were especially so towards the close
of the occupation of Mount Nebo in July,
and also at Tushar and jeff Davis Peaks,
lasting for over seven days. The vio-
lence of the electric exhibitions, and
the almost constant detonations of
the discharges of electricity were so grand
and overpowering that the parties of hello
troopers stationed at Tushar and JEFF Davis
Peak abandoned their stations in alarm for
their lives. Those at Tushar returned
after the storm had abated, but those who
had been at JEFF Davis Peak (13,100 feet
in height refused.
The effect of these storms upon expert
enced officers of the service is to produce a
great strain upon the nervous system, and
the sudden fall of temperature with which
they are attended is a source of much
physical discomfort. With the mercury
almost down to freezing-point and an at
mosphere of moist iciness the body be-
comes benumbed, and the mind sluggish.
There is also the apprehension, not with
out reason, of instant death by lightning.
The summit Of one of the peaks was often
struck, and also the tent occupied by the
men, but fortunately at time when no
one was in it.