The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-25

= TALKING the hurricane has
~ taken on a new impetus. The
United States Weather Bureau
II established at Fort Myers. on the
west coast Of Florida, a special station
for the prompt detection of this type
Ct cyclonic storm so that our shipping
and other interests in the neighbor-
hood may be better safeguarded
henceforth.
AS all Of us know, West Indian hur-
ricanes have taken their toll Of life
and property in the years gone, and
upon numerous occasions our South
ern shores have been swept disas-
trously by these violent winds. Not
only have these tempests sent the an
cry waters piling inland high above
the reach of normal flood tides, but
their swirling currents have torn hab-
ttations into shreds and have uprooted
and thrown fiat great stretches of
sturdy stands of timber. Shipping of
all sorts has suffered more or less
sravely, and the craft that could
weather the centre of such a blow had,
indeed, to be more than ordinarily well
built and powerful enough to drive on
ward despite the dreadful blast.
More Shipping to Protect.
Hereafter we shall have a steadily
increasing tide Of shipping to protect
on its way through West Indian
waters to and from the Panama Canal
and South American ports; We have
hA ~
Of the Gulf of Mexico which must be
amply warned Of the coming of hur-
ricane; and. finally. our acquisition OF
the Virgin Islands adds to our respon-
sibilities In the matter OF forecasting
the movements OF these meteorological
perturbations.
The Virgin islands are close to this
point Of origin Of a great many of the
recorded hurricanes OF the past and
near the mean path of the centres OF
the majority OF these tropical storms
So recently as October 9, 1915 the
islands were swept by an exceptionally
destructive hurricane. during which
the wind velocity reached an estimated
speed OF 125 miles an hour and
wrought damage amounting to fully
$1.50O.000.
The hurricane broke with little
warning. and almost before storm shut.
tiers could be adjusted the precursor
of the gale arrived in the form Of
heavy gusts OF wind and severe down
pours OF rain. Ships were driven
ashore. verdure was blown from the
hillsides, leaving the ground brown
and barren and revealing cliffs ant
boulders that formerly were entirely
hidden by grass and trees. In som'
instances houses were blown bodily
from their foundations and smashed
to pieces against other buildings OIL
trees. In Charlotte Amalie scarcely &
house escaped without more or les,
damage. In short, the entire grouI
OF islands suffered grievously.
AS has been said by an official o.
the United States Weather Bureau
"The increase in the size and speed o.
vessels has removed many of the hard
clips of ocean travel. while the steady
Improvement OF wireless communica
tion is eliminating additional terrori
OF the sea. But with all OF our mod
ern improvements in the mode o
travel, and with out increased knowl
FuEt VI VIC laws VI VII
always remain sufficient menace 4
hfe and property in a storm at sea t.
make the hurricane an object to b.
dreaded and to be avoided IL possible
The term hurricane is restricted t.
cyclones which have their origin ant
field OF action within we'll define,
limits, embracing the West Indies ant
neighboring waters Of the North At
lantic."
These storms do not cover so grea
an area as the cyclones that drive a
times across some of our States, an,
which have diameter OF more thai
1000 miles. While the trokca
storms are generally not moro tina,
800 to 400 miles in cross-se ction, sti
they affect the atmosphere to create