The National tribune., 1890-05-01
GENERAL.
THE WEATHER.
The Destructive Power of TornadOca.
by LIEUT.. j. p. FINLEY, U. S. SIGNAL SERVICE

Correspondence invited. suggestions desired
aud information chcerfully furnished. Every Of
fort employed to make this Bureau OF practical
to the READERS OF TIE NATIONAL TRfuuNE. All
communications should bo addrezscd-- Weather
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE oace. Washington. ID. O.
There are people who ridicule the idea Of m
irresistible and overwhelming force in the tor
nado cloud. They view with an incredulous
smile the statements in tho press and in pub
lie discussions of the awful visitations in tho
wake of this denth.dealing monster OF tho air.
They point 10 the peculiar tendencies OF alarm
lists, who are supposed 10 magnify dangers and
ncedlCssly excite nervous people. They invite
your attention to what they pleased TO call
the chronic exHggeration of the press, which al
ways has 20 bc toned down and apologiZed for.
in gentle sort of way, after the occurrence OF
tho storm. This class of critics have invaria-
bly, snutFod tho tornado from afar. Their
knowledge rests largely upon tho extent and
power of their Imagination. They are natur-
ally disposed TO the building OF ideal conditions
of existence, where uninterrupted security aud
pleasure shall prevail. Their practical inior-
nation about tornadoes, as we'll az personal ex.
perieucc, IS limited 70 the productions OF the
camera and creations from tho employment of
printers ink. There Is another class OF people
who do not deny or ridicule the reported yio-
lcnce Of the tornado, but who on the contrary
believe their location to be out of the path of
TO swoop down upon them and upset their be-
lief There are others who believe that their
buildings can resist the force Of any windstorm
and therefore rest in faneied security against
the violence Of the tornado's vortex All of
these assumed positions are defective and uu-
reasonable, because extreme and indefensible
| refer of course 20 persons living within the
tornado regions of the United States, which are
now known TO be extensive aud pretty we'll de.
fined.
IL is very difficult for those who have not
experienced n tornado, or visited tho path of
one OF these storms before the debris has been
disturbed, to realize the appalling force of the
wind. The stories told by eye witnesses seem
10 the nninitiated the most cxtravngant de-
scripiions. aud almost wholly without founda-
ton. To those people who have had expert
ence IN these storms the truth is known and
appreciated. Such people are we'll aware of
the danger in the event Of tornado, and are
not loath TO consider any means available for
the protection Of life and property In the
article of the previous week, reference Is made
30 the most desirable and practical means of
saiety--the tornado cave aud insurance.
In some cases buildings. trees and other ma
teral located apparently in the midst Of tho
tOrnadO's path, escape with little or no injury
Safety in such cases is the source of marked at
tention on the part OF the public Conclusions
are Immediately reached that the building was
saved by supernatural intervention or that it
possesses some peculiarity OF construction that
In a mysterious way, resists the force OF the
wind. Then examinations are made of tho
brick, the mortar the stone, thickness of the
walls, kind of cement used, exterior form, inte-
ri0r construction. kind OF roof number of win
dows, basement heating, ventilation, etc. and
in every one of these particulars. the curious
aud credulous people find "A cause for the pro.
lection Of the structure. Then will follow tho
swift and ill.dgested conclusion that all build
ings will be able 10 resist the violence of a lorna
do, # Akron cement, honest mortar sun bak cd
bricks, Vermont granite, Michigan pine Vir-
ginia spruce, Pittsbnrg steel, Harrisons conn-
try paint. etc, are used under tho direction of
John Paul Jones, contractor.
Ia their eagerness TO discover prevention
against future misfortune of this character
these ill-guided people completely ignored the
fact that at various other points ia tho lorna
dos path, large, strong buildings, In which
were employed precisely the same materials