The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1894-05-24
TORNADO PROTECTION.
A Scientific Device to DESTROY the Fun.
mel shaped Cloud.

A Scientific Device to DESTROY the Fun.
mel shaped Cloud.
The "para-tornadoes," or tornado
destroyer, is the name of a machine
or continuance which may we'll take
inventions OF the age. The power oi
this new weapon against terrific
enemy has not been tested yet First,
because it has been scarce, a month
since the brain of its inventor de-
signed it. and, second, because there
have been no tornadoes available in
his locality to destroy.
1t is the invention of Eugene Tur-
pin, man recently released from
French prison. He says Lieutenant
Findlay, of the United States weather
bureau, confirms Fa;e, or at least
he declares that nearly all tornadoes
are formed in the upper layers OF
atmosphere.
The records of the United States
weather bureau show that the tor
nadoes in America always travel
from the southwest to the northeast
This being esta ablishe1, it is com
paratively easy to face the enemy,
because you know from just what
direction he will come.
The dangerous extent is only an
eighth of the points of the compass,
says the Kansas City journal. that
is, If you protect a town on its south
west boundary for one eighth of its
circumference it will be tornado
proof.
1t is a we'll known fact that water
spout at sea collapses instantly if
heavy gun is fred. This is SO we'll
understood that nearly all ships in
tropical latitudes carry a cannon for
this purpose. A tornado on land.
which is phenomenon of the same
nature. can be dissipated d in the same
way.
His plan in nutshell, then, is to
establish aerial torpedoes, fixed on
high towers. and, like the electric
light towers used in some American
| cities, and so placed that the explo
sion can only take place by auto
matte action of the tornado itself.
The apparatus which l have de-
signed, and patented few days ago.
is so constructed that a wind of tor
nado intensity will by simple me-
chanical means discharge the power
ful explosive with which the maya
zine Is loaded.
IL am acquainted with explosives
and / do not exaggerate when I say
that the apparatus which have in
mind will keep In perfect working
order without attention for about a
century. / should use about 20J
pounds of the most powerful explo
sive In each tower. or pylone. The
explosion would develope an immense
amount OF gas under enormous pres
sure, quite capable of destroying
any tornado in its vicinity. At the
same time the explosion taking place
120 feet or higher in the air would
do no damage to buildings or other
property lower down.
"The number of these towers or
para tornadoes necessary would de-
pend upon the area or Importance oil
the town or buildings to be protected.
To furnish absolute protection il
would be necessary to place them
from fifty to 10) yards apart--the
minimum width of the path of tor
nado-within the dangerous octant.
Take, for instance, town three miles
in diameter. The dangerous octant
would bo about q mile along it:
southwest border. l would place
sixty -tornadoes in four rows
along that section of the clrcumfer
ence- That would represent an ex
pense of about $50. 800.