426 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



that caused this storm, at the time not being on a very high Hne, may seem to 

 oppose this idea, but then it must be remembered that this " Low " came from 

 the south. On the 24th day of August it was reported at St. Thomas. It was 

 therefore at the time seeking a high line, and from present knowledge only under 

 such conditions would it have produced a hurricane in the latitude it did. 



A " Low "travelling across the country on the latitude of Charleston 1 do 

 not think would produce such a storm — it would produce cold, and such a storm 

 requires a vast amount of accumulative force developed by heat which can only 

 be generated, at least in latitudes embracing the United States, by a high " Low " 

 or a " Low " traveling for some distance in a northerly direction. 



For years people have been, and are still studying the effects of the tornado 

 in its paths of destruction. Many changes are produced, indeed it would be 

 difficult to have a sameness in details, yet with all the general effect is the same 

 every time. There is no light to be obtained by studying the endless variety of 

 detail — it is studying the effects and not the cause — the cart and not the horse. What 

 we want to study is the cause — the power that creates and not the mere effect 

 that follows. " Low " is the concentration of heat. The tornado is the concen- 

 tration of that heat to a narrow limit. 



A tornado track is never very wide — extended width would prevent its pow- 

 er. Sometimes it is said to be a mile wide, but generally not more than a quarter 

 of a mile or less. For some reason, unknown to us at present, the concentration 

 of the heat is so peculiar as to only effect a narrow track — nature become unbal- 

 anced. The tornado is the effort on the part of nature to restore that balance — 

 it is done in the twinkling of an eye. All sorts of plans have been' devised 

 whereby to give warning of its occurrence. One might as well during a thunder- 

 storm undertake to give warning of where the lightning will strike. In years to 

 come with more perfect instruments it may be done, but at present it is simply 

 impossible. This is the view of the tornado I would present. Let time prove it 

 or disprove it, it matters not so long as the truth is at least obtained and under- 

 stood. 



In these articles it has been frequently said that "Low" is the agent or 

 factor of the phenomenon, "the storm." Because of this general statement it 

 must not be understood that the phenomenon rain is only the product of the 

 factor "Low"; for meteorology as well as other departments of science has its 

 exceptions, but the exceptions are too often overlooked. Bear in mind that the 

 clouds are all the while being formed everywhere where there is heat and moist- 

 ure, and that "Low" is simply the agent that gathers them and carries them 

 from point to point to water the Earth. But there are times when the clouds 

 precipitate in the very centre of " High." 



This prove that the clounds are being formed everywhere, in "High" as 

 well as in "Low." There are times it is generally "High." Under these con- 

 ditions "Low" is afar off— the clouds the while get heavier and heavier, and 

 when they get sufficiently heavy they precipitate, not waiting for "Low" to- 

 come and take them to other localities. 



