Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-07
WHAT TO EXPECT.
Three Storm Waves of June
Followed by Cool Weather.
FROSTS EXTENDING SOUTH.
FaIIacy ofthe Hot Air Theory of storms of
Lieut.. John r. Finley of the
United States Weather
Bureau.
Special TO the Gazette.

SpeClai 10 tuS CrdLtilt
ST JOSEPH Mo, June 6.-In my last
letter | gave forecasts of Il dangerous storm
period covering the time from June : TO y,
inclusive, stating that this period would
contain three principal storm waves, one OF
which. 18th to 18th, particularly described.
The second of these dangerous storm waves
will be due TO leave the Pacific coast about
the 18th. cross the Rocky-Allegheny valley
from 14th to 10th and reach the Atlantic
coast about the 18th. | cannot say which
of these three storm waves viii be of great
est force, but | am inclined to believe that
it viii be this one, ana that It's most de
structive energy will be expended not far
from the center Of the Rocky-Allegheny
valley and not far from June -. Following
this storm wave the weather will ne I'M
usually cool, and in Northern attitudes
frosts will occur much further south than
is ordinarily the case for thus season OF the
wear The middle part of June Will have
few hot days, but will average quite cool,
with no extended hot term. Rainfall will
be unevenly distributed, with too much IN
some localities and not enough III others
This concentration of rainfall in particular
spots as the storm waves pass across tho
continent will lead many who do not look
beyond what they can see to imagine thac
no storm wave Is passing and that my lore
casts have not been verified. Those who
read and observe, however, will realize that
well timed as the railroad trains. My next
letter will describe the third great storm
wave of the June period of destructive
storms.
FINLEY on ToRNADoEs.
Lieut. John p Finley of the United
States weather bureau has had the most eN-
tensive experience in the investigation of
tornadoes of any man living, and therefore
is the best informed as to the history OF de-
structive storms of all those who have
given attention to this subject. He also
stands high as u scientific scholar, aud re
ceiving good salary from the United States
government for many years, has enabled
him to devote his whole time to the subject
of destructive storms. He is the champion,
the sleader the oracle of those who hold
that wind alone is the force OF all storms,
and that allayindS are caused by heated air
rising, thereby causing suction, lhe result
being an inflow of atmosphere to fill the
vacuum caused by the rising column of
heated air This is the old theory of storm
forces, and no man in Europe or America is
better able TO uphold that theory than IS
Lieut. Finley. He has published book on
tOrnadoeS and other destructive storms, IN
which he gives a record OF 5000 storms,
covering period of more than 200 years.
Besides being a valuable record, the special
purpose of his book as stated by himself,
is to prove that the force of the storms IS
wind alone and not electricity. On page ii!
of his book he says: In 1879. 1850 and
1881 the question of the electrical origin OF
wind storms came before the courts q
certain states. principally Wisconsin, Mis-
souri, and Kansas in the interest OF lnsur-
ance claimants. Certain parties who wera
policy holders had their property, which
was insured against lightning, destroyed oy
wind storms and brought suit for the
recovery against the insurance companies
on the ground that both in the popular
81, in, r1I1sy
scientific meaning lightning or electricity
was the cause Of all violent wind storms.
This theory the policy holders tried 10
maintain BY every possible means, and III
course of the struggle was summoned to
appear before the courts as scientific eX-
pert on the question of the origin and de-
Velopment of tornadoes. L made special
preparation for the engagement, and took
occasion to embody the results of my labors
in the form i'll which they here appear
All this proves that Lieut.. Finley has put
forth in his book his best efforts TO sustain
the old theory that hot air causes the forca
of all storms, and propose TO show up the
fallacy and inconsistencies OF his argu-
ments. / deny the correctness OF ms theory
and affirm that electricity Is the moving
force OF all storms, and now that we are IN
the midst of period of great tornadoes and
other destructive storms. Il discussion or
this issue will be of more than ordinary In
JefeSL- MI. lulc.N tOFttttiy SusS
practical knowledge of the various kinds OF
storms known to the United States should
be one of the subjects of instruction in our
public schools. Very true. But 1t should
not be forgotten that many things learned
in our schools have to be unlearned through
public discussions through the press. The
accumulated results of discussions through
the public press are the truest educator, for
there everything is taken before the bar Of
reason. and only that which can withstand
the most scathing criticisms is permitted to
implant itself in the public mind. This il
not the case in our schools. Our teachers
see it to be their duty TO follow the dictates
of their text books without questioning
their correctness.
There is no question of greater importance
before the human race than that of ths
cause of motion in our atmosphere. To dis
cover the real cause means that we may
soon be able to know long in advance ths
coming changes in the weather, and this
would benefit mankind to greater extent
than any other possible revelation, while to
continue our researches on the old theory
advocated by Lieut.. Finley means another
century of failures for meteorology-
". T. FOSTER.