The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-29
CYCLONE BUSTER.
Clark Hendricks Wants to Sell
One to City.

Protection from tornadoes is offered TO
the city of Topeka free of charge, by
Clark Hendricks. of Riverside. CAL Mr..
Hendricks has addressed communl-
cation to the city council, which will be
presented at the next meeting.
In the words of the immortal Daniel
Webster, let us reach forth for it. and
it is ours
Listen. men. women and children of
Topeka, to the words of Mr.. Hendricks,
as they fell hot and burning from his
pen onto piece of cheap note paper
received today by City Clerk Squires:
City Council, Topeka, Kans. Dr. Srs.
Il have taken steps to secure patents
for a cyclone breaker on this plan viz.
balloon with a charge of high explo-
sive attached, and in it a small concern
like steam gOVenner. so that when it
receives a whirling motion, the arms
will swing out and trip the firing spring
this will insure its being exploded at
the right time and place-Gn the whirl
ing colom)-there is a draft or suction
directly toward these whirlWinds from
all directions which would carry the
balloon to the spot. Please place this
before your city council and if your
people would like to protect your city
they may do so without royalty
if they will have the machines made
and let me know where can get them
and at what cost. On request I will
furnish more explicit descriptions and
CLARK HENDRICKS.
1922 East 18th Street,
Riverside. Cal"
Thanks, thanks Mr.. Hendricks. You
have saved our lives. If there is any
it is a cyclone breaker. We must act
at once. or some other mean old NUM-
ciDality may beat us to it
Here is the Legislature coming on, and
absolutely nothing done yet to protect the
city from the vortex. Suppose We failed
at this critical time to act Suppose we
ris1ed our lives again as we have done
in the past. There might come a day
during the approaching session when
Bale Waggener. rising his themes
broad wing might start the eddies in the
atmosphere and set them swirling
around in the cyclone of his eloquence.
Then we would need the cyclone breaker.
Hardly would the suction begin to work.
and the walls of the state house begin
to cave in before 10, here would come the
/ terrible balloon to the rescue. 1t would
plunge into the midst of the horrible, aw-
full ripping. snorting. devastating black.
colon" and then-ah, picture it, gentle
reader, the small concern like a steam
govenner would commence to tremble into
life, the arms would swing out like the
protecting wings of guardian angels, the
firing spring would get tripped up. and
with one loud, long and blissful boom
the cargo of high explosive would do its
deadly work.
There is only one question which the
city council should investigate carefully
before going into this thing. That is,
does it destroy the balloon? If we have
to use up a balloon every time we bust
a cyclone, it would not only be very ex-
pensive, but dangerous. for the flying
pieces of that small concern like a steam
govenner'' might work havoc among the
crowds Kansas avenue. But no doubt
Mr.. Hendricks can fix up something to
avoid this difficulty. Mr.. Hendricks can
easily modify his invention by attaching
a basket TO the balloon to catch the
pieces.
If the city council decides to go in for
this thing good and strong. it should Gre
ate the job of City Balloon Tender. 1t
would be almost essential that some ener-
getic, watchful man be on duty day and
night to watch out for approaching 'cy-
clones, and cut loose the balloon at the
proper time. There is of course no doubt
that If the balloon was only free to do as
it pleased it would hunt Ground and root
out the cyclones in their LARS. but it would
hardly be the proper thing for loose ball
loon to be wandering around town, jump
ing out of dark alleys at women and chill
dreE and carrying at the. time heavy jag
of high explosives. The balloon, like a
fierce bulldog, is all right in its place, but
it should be closely confined until the
preme moment for action arrives. This
would necesSitate the services of an Off
ciaI balloon tender for the city
All good citizens should attend the coun-
ell meeting on the first Monday in jan
uary and see to it that the city dads do
their duty