St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-18
DOES IT CAUSE STORMS?

The reports of the disastrous storm at
West Superior, on the great lake, con-
meet it with electrical influences. 1t is
the accepted theory that tornadoes and
cyclones are inspired by or charged
with this strange force. Perhaps this
outburst on Lake Superior will stimu-
late the theory beng advanced that the
presence of iron On the surface has a
promOtive influence, a sort of protect
i've tariff fostering of these electrical
storms. A writer in the New York
Commercial Bulletin says:
Some scientists ascrbe the frequency of
cyclones to the network Of rails for rail
roads, barbed wire fences, telegraph and
telephone wires; the theory being hat cy
clones took place, no doubt years ago as fire.
Queutly as they do now; but at present, be-
cause OF the metal network Oh the suNace of
The earth. the disturbances are brought down
by attraction. and wreck houses instead Of
spending their strength in the air and doing
10 harm TO human beings or insurance COM
panies.
The coal measures furnish evidence
that there were storms that iattened
the forests in the periods antecedent TO
| man. 1t is not understood that the data
is had to show that such storms are
more frequent in regions that have most
iron exposed. The mining regions are
| extensive about the lake, and great
quantities of ore are brought to the sur
face. 1t would be a question whether
the vast bodies of ore in the earth would
net be influential as well as the scat
tered iron in use on the surface. There
would be growing trouble for the world
if it could be established that the III
| crease of iron in the uses of civilization
induced these resistlesS storms. 1t is
much easier theory, and perhaps as
well supported by data and guesses,
that the multiplication of iron material
tends to divide the electrical forces and
render them less harmful.
THE WOMEN SHOULD COME.
The immigrants from Italy are not so
exclusively males as those from the
Flowery Kingdom, but the figures of
the past twelve months show but 1880
women out of lilo arrivals. There
are five men to one woman. This is
very different from the proportions in
the more nOrtherly migratiOns that have
contributed greatly to the growth of the
country. 1t is not a desirable condition
for this country, and is making some
trouble in Italy. 1t does not appear,
| either, that these unmarried men are in
the habit of sending back for the women
as they pick up the means. In cOnse-
! Quence, sadness and tribulation come
into the Italian towns where the young
men go out. About the only men left
in some localities are those too old
or decrepit to get away to Amer
lea or to be taken in the army. 1t
makes living more difficult for mothers,
wives and sisters when the proper sup
porters are gone, and general dizziness
pervades communities where the men
are missing. This is not so demoraliz-
ing and deplorable, of course, as it
would be to have no female element,
| but it is becoming in Italy matter of
| public concern. The local authorities
in parts of the county are trying to de-
wise means to check the migrating
movement. One of the projects is to
establish colonies in regions such as
Sicily and Sardinia, where there is
available land. Not much effect is like
Iy to be had on the movement in this
way, but it would be well to encourage
! abe emigrants 10 take the women with
them.