Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1912-12-20
Father lose AIgue 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-
tiously, without being in any way her
aided by the press, certain priest
paid a 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 la
Dor. invent an instrument which IS
called the barocyclonometer, by which
It is possible 70 guard against the most
dreaded Of far easterns calamltles-
the typhoon?
This instrument is now in use on
upwards Of 1000 ships that sail the
waters of the far east, While the
American government proposes TO nj
It's ships with a modified form OF the
instrument in order that captains may
be warned of the approach OF hurri-
canes or storms, and thus make II pos
gible for them to slip out OF harm
way. And 1t was In order to have
this modified barocyclonometer maze
under his personal supervision tnat
Father Algue recently came TO Lon
don
The instrument Is really a comoina-
ton Of the ordinary barometer ana
cyclone detecting apparatus, the lat-
ter being Father Algue's own inVen-
ton. The barometer used alone VIII
tell of the approach of the storm, Dut
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 its use has undouDted-
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
lied a 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
80 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, and
also with points far away from the
Philippines-Hong Kong for instance.
The approach Of typhoon is at
once teIegraphed to Father Algue at
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 it 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 1t is mentioned however, that |
the average number of typhoons In the |
Philippines is 81 year, and 1t is not |
unusual for the TALL Of rain in two
days to equal the total rainfall CT |
other countries for year, while the |
wind has been known to uproot |
churches, some idea Of the value of
the work which is being done by this
priest, who has practically devoted his
life to typhoon lighting, may be gath
cred.
Apart from ne barocyclonometer,
Father AIgue has invented several 9TH
or weather instruments Of great value
to mariners, but he cares little for
publicity or fame. and 1t is interest
ing to nots that one of his treatises
on typhoon fighting was translated
into German and circulated In Eu-
rope, yet his name did not appear on