The National tribune., 1890-04-24
.,,...........

Tornadocs arc indigenous TO certain portions
OF the United States. They may occur any
where east of the Tooth meridian aud north of
the 30th parallel, but there are certain sections
IN this region which are fifty termed tho bat
tlcground Of tornndocs- notably, the Lower
Missouri Valley the Ohio Valley, and the cen
trail portions of Alabama. Georgia and the Caro-
lnaS. They are also of yearly occurrence IN
portions of Minnesota Dakota, Wisconsin,
southern Michigan, Pennsylvania and New
York
There Is no Disgusting the fact that tho tor
nado IS an element Of common and constant
danger, and, like fire. pestcnce and death. IS
risk surrounding life and property which
must be taken into account in those CONNER
cial methods which aim TO secure protection
against loss. Tornado insurance OF properly
has made great progress since its inception in
1879, 80, at the instance of the writer. More
than l00,O0000O have been written since then,
aud the amount is constantly increasing.
The destruction OF iitc or tho occurrence OF
serious bodily injury is almost inseparable from
the occurrence of a tornado, aud this creates Il
necessity for tornado accident or life Insurance.
Inc risk against property is naturally the
greatest. but that against life aud limb Is sulli
GENTLY great TO merit the development and APP
plicatiOn of this means Of protection. Property
IS limited to the employment Of Insurance to
protect, but not so with life In tho latter case
N-'N '''hf hA'titiH w a'liolN NHi'H Ntih h' NNN"
that will afford absolute defense against loss of
life. or even bodily injury. / refer to dugouts
and cellar caves. Both are properly designated
under one tornado caves They are
underground retreats which provide convent
ent and perfect shelter during the passage Of
the storm. The cellar cave is au excavation
made In the trcd wall of the cellar, on a level
with the floor of II. aud carried underground
uutil sufficient distance is reached TO afford
comfortable quarters for those who propose TO
occupy 10. The oyerhauging arch OF earth
must be supported with the strongest tlmhcrs
and scaled up with heavy plank. Rroovcd and
matched, With the seams and upper surface we'll
tafred 10 keep oui moisture. The sides OF tho
cave must hc protected in the Same manner It
wohld bc better II 5touework could be used,
with mn interior iul8h of light wood. This,
however, Is a question Of expense.
The du2nnt Is constructed ia manner SINH
iar 20 the cellar cave, but - not necessarily
connected with any bniidIng However con
strueted, these means Of retreat are more or
less expensive; but 1t should he borne ia mind
that when not necessary % have them In readi-
ness for protection against the violence of tho
tornado, they can be employed for some useful
purpose IN the storage of property.
The means Of protection now presented con-
cede thst the tornado must DO met on is own
ground and endured. II admits that the power
Of tire atmosphere when taking tho form Of
this mighty maclstFUm Of tho upper air cannot
bo overcome 10 any stage oi its development
JorBHdocs will come white the earth has mn
atmosphere and tho sun shines upon IT, As yet
nothing has been devised which by any prac.
teal proof, has demonstrated It's power 10 ward
of or destroy the forces of the tornado cloud.
Various devices, constructed on the suppnsi-
tion of the electrical origin Of the tornado,
have been presented with the idea that tho
force Of tho storm could be- conveyed away,
scattered and destroyed Other devices in
voved the dissipation OF tho storm by coucus,
Sion, employing great quantities of guupowder
stored IA convenient magazines, TO be fred
BY electricity, or Inc use of high explosives in
various ways. So far all methods for tho de-
struction ol the tornado have remained in the
pupa state They are resting quietly on paper
or Ia tho minds eye" where they are likely
10 dwell! Undsturhcd Tor some tima to come
An inventor OF national Tcpubtti on, Dr. A.
DE BaussCt. of the Boston Electric Club has
devised au air ship on the vacuum principle
to be propelled by electrical power, which when
available Tor use Will 0Her means 0I exploring
the atmosphere aud max ing AN i'm ortant study
OF tie conditions which give rise 10 tho tor
nado. 1t is a matter OF tho greatest importance
10 know tie distribution OF heat and moisture
at various attitudes IN the atmosphere IN to
near the limit uf the cirrus.clOud formation
This grsat desideratum can never be fully real
lied until navigation Of the air is made prac-
tcable. IL is hoped that Do Bausset's plan
may be carried 10 successful completion in
which case extraordinary progress could be
made ia meteorological science, leading among
other things, 10 unexpected developments in
the study OF local storms aud toruadocs.