Centers Providing Means for Controlling and Utilizing Volcanic, Aqueous, and Meteorological Forces.
Year: 1897

page_text: Centers Providing Means for Controlling and Utilizing Volcanic,
Aqueous, and Meteorological Forces.
I, Miss CLARA LOUISA WELLS, residing at Toulon, (le Var) France, to be addressed
aux soins du Vice Consul Anglais, Toulon, (le Var) France, of no calling or profession,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention consists of Centers, where means will be used to limit and utilize
Volcanic, Aqueous and Meteorological Forces. These Centers may consist of
laboratories, of more or less extent and perfection, furnished with machinery,
apparatus and utensils, appropriate to the work to be performed, (hereafter described)
as, well as with conveniences of access, lodging and living, for those employed, when
this is necessary on account of the distance from inhabited sites.
First, for the Volcanic Forces; Defences, ditches and canals will be made, kept in
such order that the erupting lava, scoriæ and the like, issuing forth, shall be guided
down to appropriate places, where, hardened, they may be transported, by sea, river,
or railroad, to places desiring their use. At the same time, adjacent sites, cultivated,
or inhabited, will be protected. Such works, to be accomplished at the Centers, to
be established near each active volcano, will be made, by preference, in time of
inactivity, according to the evidences of past movements; and where the activity :is
too great to be guided, the basis of such volcanoes, extending into the sea, may be
prolonged, so as to diminish the exciting influx of the sea, principal cause of the
most terrible volcanic phenomena.
Second, for the Volcanic Forces; The volcanic heat will be drawn into appropriate
receptacles, furnished with tubes, specially constructed, and covered with substances
adapted to retain the heat, transportable to industrial Establishments of whatever
kind, to public and private buildings, and the 'like, and even to great distances, by
means of subterranean tubes.
Third, for the Volcanic Forces; In these same Centres, there will be placed
Accumulators, adapted to the reception of different Gases and Minerals, to be obtained
from the volcanic emanations and eruptions, by pumps, tubes and means adequate to
their transportation to the sites desiring them.
Fourth, for the Volcanic Forces; The Centres near Volcanoes, will be 'furnished
with convenient means of access, such as railroads, tramways and aerial locomotion,
and with hotels and restaurants, as well as various Industrial and Curative
Katablishments.

page_text: Fifth, for the Volcanic Forces; Similar Centres may be placed near volcanoes now
inactive, or partially so, or to sites subject to earthquakes, furnished with similar
ineans for utilizing the gases and heat of these localities; and efforts will be
made, by means of sinking tubes, making tunnels and planting powerful pumps, to
draw forth the gases and emanations that produce the movements, and thus, to
diminish the probability of earthquakes, after a strict examination of the phenomena
of previous occasions, according to the site; and also, obliging the owners of weak
constructions to remedy such defects.
For Water-forces; Centres will be made near the issues of Hot and Cold Springs,
with a similar scope, to effect which, tubes will be sunk to the greatest depth possible,
following the line of the springs, in order to facilitate the issue of the water, increase
its quantity, and utilize the gases and mineral substances derived from it, as also the
water itself, by transporting it as hot as possible, to the Industrial Establishments of
the Water-centres, or to other sites.
First, for Meteorological Forces; In order to defend important sites, inhabited, or
cultivated, from Cyclones, or very Strong Winds, wide and high Walls will be erected,
which may be covered with vegetation, as vines and fruit-trees, which will grow well
under such protection.
Second, for Meteorological Forces; To accomplish the same object, in sites where
walls are not sufficient, Elevations of Earth may be massed together, forming Artificial
Mountains, grouping them together against the predominating winds, according to
the direction of the worst winds of the locality, while following the rules of the
picturesque and artistic in their relative positions.
Third, for Meteorological Forces; In order to aid seamen and navigators against
cyclones and tempests, Centres will be established upon Islands, enlarged, fortified at
the bases, and protected, by similar elevations and mountains, on the sides most
exposed to the winds, and furnished with the necessary conveniences for comfort and
aid. When such islands do not exist in the regular lines of navigation, upon some
rock-projection, or where the water is shallow, there shall be placed solid foundations
for the erection of a similar Centre, to be furnished with light-houses and all the
means of saving and preserving life, with wind protections as above described. The
frequency of such Artificial Islands will depend upon the projections adapted to their
erection; at little depth of water, to be found in the usual routes taken by steamers
and ships.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
novelty for these Centres, above described =
1. The Erection of Defences, ditches and canals for the protection of threatened
sites, and for the utilization of volcanic materials.
2. The absorption of volcanic heat, and its employment.
3. The same for volcanic gases and mineral substances.
4. The furnishing such Centres with convenient means of access, and of living.
5. The erection of similar Centres near inactive volcanoes, or partially so, in order
to prevent earthquakes and to use the gases and mineral substances.
6. By the same means, to obtain the increase of water, from Hot and Cold Springs,
and use, similarly, their gases and mineral contents.
7. The erection of walls for the protection of important sites from strong winds,
and the grouping together of earth-masses or Artificial Mountains, artistically
composed, when walls are not sufficient to attain the desired result.
8. The erection or such Contro-wind Stations on Islands, Natural or Artificial for
the safety of sailing-vessels and steamers.