Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-22
TAPS STORM CLOUDS
Weather Bureaus Kites Are
Now Busy.
FRAN KILN OUTDONE
KEEPING TAB ON THE UPPER AIR
STRATA.
Lots of New Facts About Magnetic
Storms-Lightning Bolt Predic-
tor From New Orleans.
Copyright 1905, by John Elfreth Watkins. J

At his new high altitude observatory
upon Mt. weather. Va, Chief Moore of the
national weather bureau will snatch the
lightning from the clouds with ingenious
devices and will make a general study of
the electricity of the air, magnetic storms
and kindred phenomena. Two interesting
buildings, to be known as the absolute
and variation observatories, are being
erected for this special work, and Mr.
Louis q. Schultz, an expert electrician and
1agnetician. will be placed in charge he
having recently completed the installation
OF chain of magnetic observatories for
the republic of Argentina
After Benjamin Franklin made his ia
nous experiments with a barbed kite flown
In thunder gust" more than a century
elapsed without scientific repetition and
continuation of the research Some time
ago Mr. Alexander Meade, an astute me-
teorologlSt OF Chief Moores staff, took I'D
the threads where Franklin droppeG them
and proceeded a once to discover things
which would have amazed his reyered
predecessor, Mr.. McAdie at first expert
mented with ordinary hexagonal kites
then with those of the Malay or diamond
shaped pattern and more lately with the
box or Harsrave kites. From ffsh-line of
hemp he progressed to steel piano wire for
holding his aeroplanes captive, and one of
his first notable discoveries was that
showcry or thunderstorm weather was not
the only condition communicating marked
electrical effects to his apparatus. Even
when the sky was cloudleSS sparks snaD-
ped from his kite string. AS the resear ch
progressed he connected the piano wire
leading down from kite to an electro
meter for measuring voltage-a vast i'm
proVement upon the simple pith ball device
used by Franklin. Then he found that as
his kite rose the index of his electrome ter
would mark up Il higher voltage and vice
versa: and in this wise he discovered that
the electric pressure of the air increases
as we mount above earth.
Harvesting Electricity of the Air.
More recently he demonstrated that a.
snowstorm is almost identical with a.
thunderstorm in its tremendous electrical
changes. He has carried his apparatus to
the top of the Washington monument and
TO other high places. such as the tower of
the Smithsonian Institution. During one
notable experiment the building from
which the kite was flown seemed to be
threatened by such an active conductor
leading down from the seething heavens
To cut the wire and let the aeroplane loose
seemed impossible, for to touch the cable
was to receive a severe shock. Just as an
assistant was breaking the connection with
the electrometer a brilliant fare-up was
seen IN that instrument and the assistant
suffered severe blow across both arms.
BY introducing condenser into the cir
cult of his kite wire Mr.. Meade increased
the intensity of these sparks sizzling down
from thunderstorms, snowstorms or even
clear skies. Furthermore by forming a coil
of the kite wire and by placing within this
another coil he could conSummate the long
delayed realization of Franklins plan for
Harvesting the electricity of the air.
Influence Of Auroras and Sun Spots.
Now the mysterious relation of the cleo
tricity of the air to auroral displays, sun
spots and magnetic storms will be studied
in the weather bureaus new mountain sta
ton, upon the crest of the Blue Ridge chain
The aurora is still one of the great conun-
drums of the upper air Tha. this most
beautiful of all electrical displays is most
intense when sun spots are most numerous
and magnetic storms are most severe, seems
10 have been demonstrated to the satsfac-
ton OF science. Certain strange occur
rences back in 1850 offered the most strik-
ing proof which science has had, thus far.
A remarkable sun spot, occupying LOO of
the suns disk, then made its appearance
and at the same time there took place, here
on earth. great magnetic storm with
auroral displays which beggar description.
Not wire of the Western Union Telegraph
system could be used for three hours at a
stretch. The market quotations could not
be sent. The same night there was a brill
liant display of the aurora, or "'northern
lights" and all Geographic service was
again interrupted. Cables to Europe and
wires to Chicago were alike unavoidable
One message, from Bangor to North sgd
ney-700 miles away-did get through, how
ever. under peculiar circumstances. The
regular batteries OF the line were cut out
and the energy of the magnetic storm was
allowed to have Its own way. The current
was just as strong as IL hundred cells
had been at work and the message went
whizzing through. Throughout the east
| switchboards and wires were burned, cleo
| trio lamps were Illuminated and telephone
operators were nigh distracted Over hall
| OF America, across the Atlantic and over
northern Europe 1t seemed as If '1egions Of
ethereal demons were busy" 1t happened
| that at this time explorers representing
| twelve nations were pressing toward the
north pole. The arctic winter had closed
| upon these men and they were startled-a;
/ first even blinded-by the aurorai display
| Gen. Greedy was then In winter quarters
with the Lady Franklin bay party. He say:
| that the aurora Of that notable week a.