The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-30
ELECrRICr sNs BoTHhRED
The Esects OF ~ Auror.i D's urbsnee Of
Cables aad I,and Lines.


The remarkable aurorsl disturbance on July
10 produced curious phenomena on the tele-
grnph circuits and instruments OF submarine
cables and @rial land lines that NAV AFFORD
data for scentistiho men In determining the
actual nature and laws OF tho m ysterious auro-
raj phenomenon itself In q broad sense tele-
graph circuits are affected BY auroral displays
In tho Same manner as by violent thunder
storms. but the precise effects from
the two causes are very different. In
terruptions to telegraphic communication
on lines In far northern latitudes are
OF frequent occurrence. The lines in
Canada. for instance. which run north OF LAX
Superior. from Montreal to Winnipeg. are at
certain seasons OF the year interrupted al
most nightly by slight auroral disturbances.
But the disturbance on July IL was the most
remarkable in its effects on telegraph cir
cults OF any noted for great many years. II
not tho greatest OF all such displays. A
prominent electrician In this city took careful
note and tests ofthe effects OF this disturbance.
md he calculated that the force Of the cleo
trical current from the auroral disturbance
was equal to 500 wits.
It Is interesting to nots. too. that the tele-
graph Instruments showed the auroral dis
turbance to be very much greater during the
day. from about 1 l in the morning to In tho nf-
ternooh. our time. when there was no spectacu-
lar display Of celestial scenic effects. than it
was at night when the wonderful phenome non
was so apparent The electrical disturbances
wore noted at precisely tho same time In this
city. In Chicago. and In Nova Scotia and New
foundland. In Chicago It wa. noted that.
while the sky. was cloudless and tho sun was
shining brightly tremendous currents Of cleo
tricity charged tho air. CON pletely nterrupting
all telegraIhic communication. The currents
came H. waves at irregular intervals.
Bnt tue most interesting effects were noted II,
cables and with these. on account Of their
peculiar c9nStrnction. various phonomsn4 OF
With the latter the effect was simply tn nut u
curront or ground on the. circuit. which
communiratlon. On the caile instrurne nts
the length. intensity. and direction Of tho
Tses Of eIC.rcty were recorded
the cables that, run into this city from Nova
Scotia. and on the long cables at Nova Scotia
that the auroral effects were displayed most
oe: into Se and ths
sumption that the au oral force was exerted
Tho siph.,n recorder, the Instrument used
sensitive Kind Of a galyenometer in l practical
use. The aurorai distur, an"e INTERRUPTED
co tmunlcatlOn entlre'y. during the disturb
ance. especially between the hours Of and ,
midday. the sphou or needle was DETECTED
intermittently very strongly from the Zero or
middle position. and, it swayed first to tho
right. and then to the left The movement Of
the needle was very slow, It would suddenly
erly current. and would bo pulled very far. in
nssd tryohh ne t limit OF any cable cMrsnt
It would remain at the, extreme point OF
DETECTION from , to 10 or Is seconds
and then return slowly to zero Sometimes i'm
medintely. sometimes a few sscon lS or min
ntes later. the needle would be ul!eds owly in
the other direction hy southerly current.
would defect to- a remarka' 10 distance re-
main there few seconds. and then return
the electrical currents set w by the aurora
duration. and alternated in direction Of force
waves OF the ocean eblins and flowing.
The effect Of severe thunderstorm on
"a cable instrument. felt o ten when the
storm E far Of sea. is a quick; instantaneous
instant The cables were affected in the even.
were aglow with the magnificent streamers
and han!ers"f light. hut the Interruption was
very slight "a compared with that experienced
during tho day.