Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-04
ELECTRICITY IN MOUNTAINS
South American Governments lnvss-
tigasins Strange Light In Andes.


tisasins Strange Light In Andes.
The Chilean government, acting
with those of Bolivia and Peru, has
appointed commission Of scientists to
investigate strange light which is
flashing from the Andes in Chile. The
light Is visible within a radius Of 500
miles from the main ridges Of the
range and Is believed to be electrical
In origin. The three governments are
anxious to see whether the enormous
energy which is manifested can be
harnessed and be made a source OF
power to irrigate the deserts on the
Pacific slopes Of the Andes and tame
the wilderness west Of the Cordilleras,
says q Valparaiso correspondent
A suggestion has been made that
the light may not be electrical at all:
that 1t may be emanations from gi-
gantic beds OF radioactive substances
perhaps radium ITSELF which become
visible under certain atmospheric con-
ditions. II this latter theory Is cor
rect the Chilean Cordilleras hold a
hoard which viii change the destinies
Of the world. ls,,t nm
DR.. Pedro Santinez, one of the COM
mission selected, writing Of the extra
ordinary phenomenon, says:
The light Is ordinarily of glisten-
ing appearance and has the shape of a
bold curve. II appears to have fixed
points Of issue and changes only In
the frequency Of Its discharge and In
It's extent. The most vivid flashes
come from a very definite point, and
the radiation sometimes reaches far
above the zenith and away to sea. The
extraordinary phenomenon can be
seen with greatest ease when the sky
Is clear.
"The flashing begins late in the
spring and lasts until early winter.
Toward the south the light ceases al
central Chile, in Peru and Bolivia the
flashes are intermittent throughout
the winter.
1--WE owe all Of our present knowl-
edge Of the light to a distinguished
naturalist who recently, during Jour-
ney through valley of the main Cor
dillera, observed the phenomenon with
exactness. One evening about o'clock
while studying an unusual and fire.
quent discharge, he was able to ascer-
tain that its point Of issue was an
elevation Of the Cordilleras along
which he was roaming. Moving. con.
shaped like a segment Of one or two
degrees In height and somewhere SIM
ilar to the zodiacal light In brightness.
During the present season the light
has glistened as usual, but with much
greater strength, and especially above
the discharge, into which the giisten-
ing had disappeared after O. moderate
interval. The naturalist believes that
this flashing Of the Andes Is due 70
profuse electric discharges in certain
districts of their Chilean section, and
particularly among the greater peaks.
The predominating popular view 10
that this light 10 a reflection Of the
molten laws In volcanic craters. Such
a view Is erroneous. however. It Is not
that the number Of the
points at which these discharges oc-
cur changes; and 1t IL possible, too,
that during the great earthquake OF
August, 1906. discharges occurred
along the whole crest, for, II we may
accept authoritative statement, the
sky everywhere in central Chile then
flashed with a quivering fire. such as
was never seen either previously I or
thereafter. ~ +.NH y1isEnifegi
"observation leads to the conclusion
that this seeming radiance OF the
Andes Ia the result Of q copious issue
of electricity. How these discharges,
which are noiseless and produce no
sparks, may be designated at this
day, is not quite clear. -
1T is probable that In the Andes Is
a source of power such as the world
has never known, and which, II 1t can
be harnessed, Il will be found capable
Of providing energy for the whole
world gg Has lts,i