The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-18
No CYCLONE CENTER
Figures Which Repel a SIAN
der on Oklahoma.
FOR JUST PLAIN WIND
It Ranks Below St. Louis and
About With Chicago.

Guthrie, O. T., May H.-(Special)-In
the latest number Of McMasters Magazine
there is a complete refutation of the be-
lief common in some places that Oklahoma
is more susceptible to twisting winds than
other sections. The article in the maya
zine, is as follows:
Oklahoma has succeeded Kansas in the
unwarranted reputation Of being the tor
nado center of the United States. Sta
tistics are not consulted in making up
popular briefs, but they show that the real
cyclone center Of the United States Is
embraced in a circle OF three hundred
miles in diameter, with the mouth OF the
Missouri as its center.
The weather bureau of the United States
complied carefully the statistics Of ali
storms, and their statitical record for the
eight year, 1907, inclusive, published In
the World Almanac for 1899, shows that
during that period tornadOes occurred in
thirty states and territories. The exempt
areas were on the North Atlantic and Pa
cific coasts and in the Rocky mountain
area. SO far as can be deducted from the
altitude exceeding 1000 feet and have been
most destructive in the valleys of the
Mississippi and its tributaries above the
mouth of the Ohio and at an altitude
usually less than 800 feet.
In the period named, 1897, the number
of years in which cyclones occurred in the
states mentioned, with total loss in each
year, are given. The area of the states
is also mentioned in round numbers and
it's extent from east to west is stated, as
they are both important factors. The
area is especially so, and as all cyclones
travel from southwest to northeast, the
east and west dimensions are essential ele-
ments in estimating the probabilities Of
danger. to sections.
The attitude of Oklahoma in Beaver
county is 5000 feet; of the line of the
Rock Island railroad, above 1400, and of
the line Of the Santa Fe railroad above
1000 feet.
In the weather bureau statistics, Okla
hona and the Indian Territory are joined
and ali figures herein given are necessar-
lily those of the two territories as one area.
In the eight yers, Iowa had eight tor
nadoe years, with a total loss of property
of 100000 The state has 5000 square
miles and is 300 miles from east to west.
Illinois has the same area a Iowa, is
205 miles east to west and had six tor
nado years with a loss of 81, 900, co.,
Missouri has $4,000 square miles, is 300
mileseast to west, and had six tornado
years with a los of $1,000, 000
Kansas has $4,000 square miles, is 400
IN
year. with a loss of $1,000 900.
Minnesota has 5000 square miles, IS $50
miles east to west, had seven tornado
years, with loss of 100000,
Nebraska has 1900 square miles, is AS
miles east to west, had seven tornado
years. with loss of 100000.
Oklahoma and Indian Territory have
10000 square miles, are 475 miles east to
west have had five tornado years, with |
a loss Of $173, 900.
Oklahoma, alone, has go 600 square miles, |
is S65 miles east to west, and has had |
three tornado years. This statement is |
not official and no losses are given.
OF the twenty-nine states in which tor |
nadoes occurred in this eight-year period |
Iowa stands alone as having eight tor
nado years; Kansas, Minnesota and Ne |
braska had each seven tornado years; Il |
linois, Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas, |
Texas and Indiana had each six tornado |
years. Five states and the Indian and |
Oklahoma Territories, as one, had each
five tornado years, and fourteen states |
had less than five tornado years. Penn |
sylvania had the same number of tornado |
years as the two territories, and its area |
is 5000 to the territorial area Of 1000 |
square miles.
BY tornado year" as used in this
article, is meant each year in which a
tornado occurred, this being an equitable
method Of comparison between localities,
and the only method officially furnished
People frequently speak Of Oklahoma as
a windy country" and. in the sense that
all prairie countries are subject to con-
tinued breezes it is windy. But to de-
nominate it wind" by comparison with
other localities. requires the accurate
showing made by official records TO prove
Or disprove the statement. Each office of
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