Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-08

| tralia Remembering that the earth ro-
tates on its axis. the position of Halley's
| comet and comet A. 1910 and Of the solar
force DETECTED by them can be projected
| to the earth, as astronomers would phrase
it. If the earth stood still the effect would
be confined to one region. but its revolu-
ton makes this region traverse the globe
in a belt. or zone.
1.-THE effect of DETECTED force is also
evident in mine explosions and in earth
quakes. Earthquakes have occurred, and
others which will follow soon are due
to adjust its coherency to the appl1ca-
ton Of additional solar force DETECTED
by the comets. Since solar force is the
it is readily conceivable that rays o.
, solar force can and do penetrate the
earth. as rays penetrate opaque
bodies. thereby causing the explosion
lures in buildings. The explosions IN
| the collieries in Kentucky and Colorado
were due to this cause. The mys..
terious explosions of dynamite and OF
chemical works of late are also an ef-
feet of the same cause.
Floods In France.
"A number Of conditions abetted the
primal cause of the floods in France. Inc
region had been frozen hard when the
storms came along the zone described
The ground was not absorbent, and the
rains poured into the streams almost
direct But the primal causes or the
foods in France were the rains. ana tnese
rains were due to the effect on the eartn
atmosphere Of solar force detected by
the comets. Since for every area OF low
barometer and storm there is an oppos-
ing area of high barometer and clear, we
should find such contrasting areas. Ihat
we do is set forth in announcements
from the weather bureau of that time.
I'm the limits Of popular explanation
it is impossible to set forth in detail the
various factors entering into the erect
Of disturbance or radiation Of solar force
by comets. These factors embrace prac-
| tically every physical condition and are
apparent In many ways. 1t Is not in the
regular province of the astronomer to
forecast comets, but we shall see the
greatest flood in the Mississippi valley
since that of 1882. a great comet year,
and before Halley's comet has passed out
into space again, we are certain to be
subjected to severe earthquakes. and to
great variations Of weather in short
periods. such as those Of the last fort
night in April.
''Since the whole earth is affected, the
exact points of outbreak cannot yet We
determined. A violent upheaval may come
anywhere along the Pacific volcanic ba-
sin. or 1t may find outlet in the Mediter-
ranean region. The Mississippi flood
should come with the first rise, and it
may be followed by a late 1nundation.
Earth trenOrS are also probable In the
middle states, and violent storms will
harass the gulf, gulf states and south
Atlantic states.
Speed Of Comets Tail.
eff Halley's comet as it rounds the sun
approaches in splendor its appearance at
other visits, it should have a lengthy
tail The end Of that tail always
pointing away from the sun, will be
swung around at tremendous speed. Many
eyes will see it and many brains will
then become convinced that matter cam
not be translated through space at the
speed the tail will make. AS an ex-
ample, take a beam from a revolving
light house. Let that beam be visible
20 miles and sweep through a circle in
20 seconds. In 10 seconds the beam would
sweep through half its circle; as the
beam is 20 miles long, the outer end of
the beam would sweep through an arc
Of 60 miles in 10 seconds. One comet Of
the last century had a tail 100000 miles
long.
This comet passed halfway around the
sun In two hours, sweeping its tail with
1t. Figuring only from the suns half
surface to get our arc OF the end Of the
tail. we find roughly that the end of this
tail travelled through space at the rate of,
roughly, 2SO,OOO,OOO Of miles in two hours.
No electric repulsion' could force matter
to travel at that speed. Even direct light
1ected light, its direct speed multiplied
by we'll known laws, could travel at that
speed 1t takes the earth six months to
cover that distance. 1t must not be
thought that comets tails always