Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1912-12-20
Father lose Algue Well Known in
Philippine Islands.
Director of Weather Bureau at Manila
Who Has Made Extraordinary In
acknowledgement Is De-
voted to Humanity.

London.-Quietly and unostenta-
tlously, without being in any way her
aided by the press, certain priest
paid visit to London recently who
deserves to be ranked among the
worlds greatest benefactors. His
name. Father Joe Algue, is scarcely
known, perhaps in this country, but
every man and woman in the far east
knows Father Algue, director of the
Philippine weather bureau at Manila,
for did he not, after many years Ia
Dor, invent an instrument which Is
called the barocyclonometer, by Whlch
1t is possible to guard against the most
dreaded of far eastern calamltles-
the typhoon?
This instrument is now in use on
upwards of 1000 ships that sail the
waters of the far east, Whlle tne
American government proposes 10 NJ
its ships with a modified form OF the
instrument in order that captains may
be warned of the approach of hurrl-
canes or storms, and thus make 1t pos
sible for them to slip out OF harm
way. And it was In order to nave
this modified barocyclonometer mace
under his personal supervision tnat
Father Algue recently came to Lon
don.
The instrument is really comblna-
ton of the ordinary barometer ana
cyclone detecting apparatus, the lat-
ter being Father Algue's own lnven-
ton. The barometer used alone VIII
tell of the approach of the storm, put
will give no hint as to the direction In
which the center or vortex OF the
storm is moving. 1t is this additional
information which the cyclonometer
supplies and it's use has undoubted-
ly led to the saving of millions OF
lives in eastern waters.
Not only, however, has Father AL
que invented the barocyclonometer
but in connection with the Philippine
weather bureau, he has also organ
ICED system of cyclone danger sig
nails, which 1t is no exaggeration to
say save thousands of lives every
year. Father Algue has a corps OF
so native assistants who are scattered
through the Philippine archipelago
Some are observers, others telegraph
operators others messengers, while
at Manila Father Algue is In direct
communication with a score of other
weather stations in the islands, ant
also with points far away from the
Philippin es-Hong Kong for instance
The approach of a typhoon Is a.
once telegraphed to Father Algue al
Manila, and he then sends the news
to all quarters by means of his asso
ciates and messengers. At times he
has been able to give notice of the
approach Of a typhoon three days be
fore 1t appears, and almost always
manages to give news of 1t one day
before.
We, In this country, have little Idea
of the enormous loss of life and dam
age caused by an eastern typhoon
When it is mentioned. however, tina
the average number of typhoons In the
Philippines is 81 year, and it is no
unusual for the fall Of rain in tive
days to equal the total rainfall c
other countries for year, while tn,
wind has been known to uproo
churches, some idea of the value o
the work which is being done by thil
priest, who has practically devoted hi
life to typhoon fighting. may be gath
cred
Apart from ne barocyclonometer
Father Algue has invented several 9th
err weather instruments of great valu,
to mariners, but he cares little TO
publicity or fame, and it Is interest
ing to not3 that one of his treatise,
on typhoon fighting was translate,
into German and circulated in En
rcpe, yet his name did not appear CT