i 879 -] Tornadoes of Kansas and Missouri . 613 
As the pressure of steam increased, this flame grew in fury 
and intense heat, roaring through the entire length of the 
boiler with a sound like the coming of a thunderstorm. 
The needle of the steam gauge climbed rapidly up the dial, 
and in twenty minutes the safety valve blew off at 120 lbs. 
pressure. It was a remarkable sight. Here was a boat 
puffing through the water with no sign of smoke from her 
chimneys, no speck of soot in flues or firebox, no fireman, 
no opening of furnace doors, no dirt, no coal going in, and 
no clinkers or ashes to be seen anywhere. A turn of the 
hand regulated the terrible flame that seemed trying to 
overpower the limits of the furnace, and another turn of the 
hand brought the fire down to a quiet little flame, a foot or 
two long. During the forenoon occupied by the test about 
20 gallons of crude oil were consumed; and Mr. Campbell’s 
estimate was, that with oil at one dollar per barrel this fuel 
was equivalent to coal at six cents in heat-producing value, 
other things being equal. 
But other things are not equal by any means, and every- 
thing is in favour of oil as against coal. The labour and 
expense of “ firing up ” is dispensed with, and the engineer 
can regulate the flame as he does the steam in his engines. 
The danger from sparks and flying cinders is entirely done 
away with. The space occupied by oil, as compared to an 
equal value of coal, is very much less, and this much is 
gained for cargo. Further, the wear and tear upon boilers, 
grate bars, &c., is infinitely less, and, it seems scarcely 
necessary to add, the comfort of passengers is greatly en- 
hanced by the absolute freedom from dirt of all kinds.— 
Scientific American . 
V. THE MAY TORNADOES OF KANSAS 
AND MISSOURI, 
By Prof. John D. Parker, Kansas City. 
§ N May 30, 1879, occurred two of the most destructive 
tornadoes that were ever known to visit the Lower 
Missouri Valley. This statement is verified, whether 
we consider the violence of the tornadoes, the extent of 
territory passed over, the amount of property destroyed, the 
