Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-12
--of Sufficient violence to warrant telegraph

--of sufficient violence to warrant telegraph
reports in all the daily papers.
s'The next 26-day period ended about
April "a Storms began and continued for
a week, or to the time Of meridian passage.
Noticeable among the storms were tornado
in Georgia and rainfall in New Of AZ
inches in 40 hours. In another 26 days or
about May 10, terrific rain. electrical and
wind storms occurred in Louisiana, Mis-
souri,, Pennsylvania and Ohio. You will
observe that mention storms only in those
localities where they were of such destruct-
iveness as to have been recorded in the
newspapers. About the middle of June the
same disturbance returned and was again
accompanied by storm action. After still
another 26-day period (July 81, there were
cloud-bursts and floods in various sections.
Proceeding by intervals of (approxi-
mately) 26 days. we find this disturbance
due again about December or 10, and dur
ing the storm period that followed, ships
crossing the Atlantic encountered hurri-
canes and extraordinary electrical phe-
nomena. Balls OF fire appeared in the rig
ging of the Amsterdam, and the man on the
lookout in the crows nest received a severe
shock. At this time 16 ocean steamers had
such severe experiences that they were over
due at New York from to II DAYS.
Following up the sun disturbance of
March Is, 26 days at time (Without dwell
ing upon each reappearance) we find that it
was due about the 18th of December. On the
morning of that day there was sudden fall
OF the barometer and of the temperature,
accompanied by winds of great violence,
with thunder and hurries of snow. OBJ
servation revealed violent solar commotion,
and it was noticed that the storm did not
begin until after the sun had risen. Up to
fh1of nf hos ho.1
notably mild, and the change in weather the
day after Christmas was very abrupt.
81 have followed up only two solar con-
Vulsions. with their regular temperance
and storm producing action. To take up
others would be to repeat slightly varied
tale. There is scarcely a great storm on
record, since 1 began to take observations,
that is not traceable to the varying condi-
tions of the sun. To recount them all would
be to present an array of con6rmatory facts
and figures of too great length to recapitu-
late"
AN INTERESTING SUBJECT.
"The subject is intensely interesting"
ventured to remark "and I do not see how
intelligent people can ignore it."
"Well," replied Mr.. Maine, people are
not ignoring it as much as formerly. I have
fought almost single-handed for the new
meteorology, butI believe it has come to stay.
With scientists devotlng more and more at
tention to it, and with improved appliances,
it will grow to point of technical exactness
and practical value of which we can now
have only faint conception
zone more question:: What are sun spots |
or rather, what is the exact nature of the |
disturbances of which you say they are the |
result?'
"When you tell me what electricity is"
replied Mr.. Maine, impressively, 'I will |
tell you what sun spots are. We know that |
electricity is tremendous force; we know |
some of its effects, and that is all We |
know that there are prodigious convulsions
on the sun, that fires rage with terrific fury,
that energy is exercised of which our minds
can form only the feeblest conception. 1t is
folly to attempt to explain that which we
do not understand; therefore / will leave to
theorizers more bold than myself the task of
your question"
Mr.. Maine has had many sharp tilts with
the priests and prophets of the old meteor
ology, including officials of the United
States Signal Service. He makes no war on
this service, but he does not hesitate to call
attention to its shortcomings. He is a pa
tient, persistent and studious man, and is
brimful of that pluck which is needed to
make way against the conservatism that re-
sists new departures. He does not claim
everything for the sun-spot theory, but he
insists that it has rightful place in modern
science, and should be given that considera-
ton to which its demonstrated merits entitle
it. He is already reaping his reward in the
shape fmany converts, and daily increas-
ing respectful attention and. candid discus
sion of the subject. But he isby no means
a "one-idea man. As turned to go, after /
bidding him good-day, he fell to writing a |
tariff article with an energy and enthusiasm
which sun spots could not dim nor storms
override. WILLIS KENYON.