South Canterbury Times, MONDAY, MARCH 22, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2187, 22 March 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, MONDAY, MARCH 22, 1880.

We are undoubtedly living in an age of startling discoveries. Edison, the re-nowned-American inventor, has lately been convulsing the gas market with an electric candle, which threatens to surpersede all other forms of illumination. A Glasgow chemist has been producing a kind of spurious diamond, so closely resembling the original article, as almost to defy the detection of skilled experts. A means has boon discovered of enabling the deaf to hear through their teeth, and wo presume we shall shortly hear of the blind acquiring vision from artificial skylights. Probably one of the most important discoveries that has dawned on the present century has just been made known, and it comes, of course, from that laud of wonders —the New World. We say important, because if the theory and assertions of the discoverer should stand the test of practical experiment, its utility is undeniable. We are told that New Jersey has produced a weather prophet—a Mr Andrew Dcvoe —who is as completely immersed in meteorology as Edison is in electricity. Dcvoe nas been in the habit of foretelling the weather thirty-six hours beforehand with an accuracy that has placed the Government announcements and the best barometers completely at a disadvantage. The barometer on which he depends is the naked eye and with this natural instrument he professes, when the atmosphere is clear, to be able to discern the atmospherical changes that arc taking place at a distance of more than 200 miles. On different occasions when his predictions varied from the indications announced by the Government lie lias proved himself right and the Government meteorologists mistaken. His system of foretelling the weather is simple in the extreme. This is how he describes it:— Cirrus clouds always precede a storm of rain or snow, and float about two miles high. They are easily visible 130 miles distant. Near these clouds may be seen small streaks of descending snow, which molts before it reaches the earth, hut the direction in which it flies indicates the direction of the wind, and so shows which way the storm is going. As it takes, according to observation, thirty-six hours for the current of air near the clouds to descend to the earth, the weather may be predicted ahead for that space of time. This is the main principle of my system, and on this basis I can locate a storm centre 200 to 500 miles distant; a flash of lightning, 200 miles; thunder-shower clouds, 150 miles, and thunder, 20 to 30 miles distant.” When Devoe went to the Government office at New York and stated that he conld see the approach of a storm 130 miles away, he was laughed at, but in proof of his assertion he says :

“ I have but to refer you to the wellknown problem in trigonometry where it is shown that the top of a mountain two miles high can be seen 12(i miles out at sea. On the same principle I can see a cloud two miles high on the earth 120 to 120 miles distant, and still scientific men claim that the cloud can be seen only fifty miles. I'Tom science I learned that the winds always travel in an opposite direction from the storms, and that fact aided me considerably.” The question was put: — “Why do you base your system on the cirrus clouds and not on the others as well?” This is his reply : “I hold the warm and cold.air alike descend, and with these currents go the clouds. A nimbus cloud is a rain or shower cloud. As soon as it has exhausted itself, it rises to a height varying from two to five miles, and naturally goes with the current ; and as other clouds travel in the same current, their direction is at once discernible. As it takes the current of air thirti'-six hours to reach the earth, from a cirrus or exhausted nimbus cloud, I can prognosticate the weather for that time. Had I the facilities of the government I could foretell the weather for at least six days. Of course, during a storm I can predict nothing, as the course of other stprms is then invisible.”

Barometers he designates mere play filings and utterly valueless as weather prog-

nosticators. Seeing that it is on barometers that we still depend in this part of the world, and that a faculty of observation such as this American celebrity appears to possess would bo simply invaluable in exposed seaports such as Timarn, it is desirable that the system which he recommends should bo brought under general notice. If the theories which be propounds should stand the test of experience, a new light will be shed upon the science of meteorology that cannot fail to he fraught with, immense advantages to all engaged in maritime en tcrprisc.