The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1918-03-28
phere, where the air is rare. These
/. layers of air are made good conduc-

! phere, where the air is rare. These
layers OF air are made good conduc-
tors of electricity by the passage
through them of the electronic cur
rents; high tension electric charge
is set up in the atmosphere, cover
ing almost the entire earth. but in
toward the poles. This vast electric
charge in the atmosphere will cause
or induce an equal and opposite cleo
trio charge on the earth's surface,
which, Of course, likewise increases
toward the poles. In other words,
lively charged in the northern hem
isphere by the electronic currents
passing through them-the earth's
surface will assume an equal posi-
tive electric charge. When these
opposite, charges, reach, a certain
luminous discharges over the tenn
perate and polar regions, which we
have witnessed as the northern
arch, appearing like the polling Of a
mighty elevated fence or the fold
ed drapery of gorgeous curtain;
the steamers and the auroral crown,
reaching to and joining in the STAR
ny heavens.
| The spectacular flashing, chang
ing, shifting, fading and returning
of the greenish-red illumination Of
the steamers and the waves of light
! OF carrying intensity traversing the
auroral arch in the north are pro-
electric discharges through the up
! per layers Of the atmosphere, where
the air is rare and where the pres
ence of the rare gases krypton, and
especially Neon, give the magic col
or play it's characteristic mellow au-
roral tint, Though the scientists
duce artticially. in perfect likeness
such a wonderful staging of light
effects, even on a small scale, never
theless, very beautiful limitations
can be shown in the laboratory by
passing high tension electric current
through tubes containing. gases at
said by scientists, who feel the pulse
of the electric world constantly, that
tubes containing highly rarified Neon
may become as common for illumi-
mating purposes to the descendants
of this generation as candles to our
ancestors
The reader may probably already
have surmised from the description
here given, that there must also be
southern lights" quite similar to
and possibly in most cases co:ncident
with the northern lights. This sur
mise is correct, the northern light
has indeed it's exact counterpart in
ern Hemisphere, where it is called
aurora australis. and we may read
reports to this effect. that, on March
Z, 1918, an unusually brilliant dis
play of it was observed in the south
ern ATTITUDES, just as on June II,
visible all over the north temperate
zone, it was reported from New Zea-
land, that an exceptionally fine dis
play of the aurora auStraliS was Wis
ible all over New Zealand which
stretches from latitude south 40 to
AZ meridian.
In conclusion, it may be Of inter
occurrence of northern light is
generally a great annoyance and a
scourge to the telegraph companies
and the daily newspapers.
This will be understood when 1T
| is remembered that auroras (north-
ern and southern lights, magnetic
disturbances or storms and electric
eous phenomena.
The interference of electric earth
currents with the working OF tele-
graph and cable lines sometimes
causes a complete tieup in the tele-
graph business. Usually only. wires
| running east anu west dIo dHcCtSu,
but, when the magnetic disturb
ances are considerable, as in the
present instance, wires running
north and south may be troubled al
! SO by these currents.
The interference of earth cur
rents with the working of telegraph
and cable lines is largely overcome
by making metallic circuit and
thereby cutting out the earth.
This, of course, reduces the capac-
ity of the service. l suppose, on
e enee' With his work, the practical
man wants such witchcraft display
of nature stopped; but, hold on,
the scientist does not want it stop
ped, because to him it is a stepping
stone leading upward toward un-
travelling the grand mechanism OF
mature