522 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW NOVEMBER, 1904
zontally by the wind. In the four experiments a t St. Louis
in the month of September all descended within fifty miles
of St. Louis. I n ten ascents during November and Decem-
ber the balloon traveled much farther, reaching 200 miles from
St. Louis. I n general it would seem that even in midsummer,
a t altitudes above four miles, there are perpetual freezing tem-
peratures, and an upper air current blowing steadily from the
west. The Blue Hill Observatory is again to be congratulated
on the energy it shows in the matter of upper air observa-
tions, ancl it is to be hoped that Mr. Rotch will be able to con-
tinue the balloon work a t St. Louis. hhny such stations will
be needed in order to perfect our knowledge of the atmosphere
over the United States-C. 8.
TRAILS OF METEORS.
A newspaper clipping froin Portland, Oreg., says :
Residents of the Knob Hill district going home last night (Dwenlber
21, 1904), shortly after 6 oclock were startled by the appearance nut i )f
the cloudy air of a meteor nith a trail of fire behind it, flying c .1 1 ,~ i)ver the city, apparently not O \P ~ 151) feet above thenl. It wab glowing 16v1
and threw out sparks behind like the tail of a ci~~iiet.
The quotation relates to a plienomenon that woiilcl give u s
much information about the upper atmosphere if only the ob-
servers woulcl give us a more exact account of what they saw.
The smokelike trail left behind by a meteor is undoubtedly
higher up in the air than any altitude attained by balloons,
and the changes that i t undergoes must be snpposecl to depeiid,
at least in part, on the atmospheric conclitions in its neighlwr-
hood. What the meteorologist wants is a sketch, as exact as
possible, of the location of the trail among the stars. Seyeral
successive sketches, stating the moments of time, and the ap-
parent angular altitude, ani1 the bearing or azimuth, woulcl give
11s the basis for some calculation as to atmoqheric influences.
When several observers happen to see the same meteor from
different points of view, their separate sketches of the trail
would give u s still more interehting results. A large collec-
tion of data of this kind has been made by RIr. IT. P. Trow-
bridge of Columbia University, New Tork, N. Y., and elery
additional sketch woulcl be liiglily valued by liim.--C. -4.
FLOOD ON THE SOUTH CANADIAN RIVER, IN OKLA- HOMA AND INDIAN TERRITORY, OCTOBER 1-4,1804.
The Canadian River rises in eastern New Mexico and flows
across the panhandle of Texas into Oklahoma and Indian
Territory, where i t joins the Arkansas. I n the preceding
number of the MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW, page 466, we pub-
lished an account of the floods in New Mexico due to heavy
rains in that Territory from September 26-30. The resulting
flood during the first clays of October on the Grand River,
below the point where it enters Oklahoma, is described in
detail by h h . C. hl. Strong, Section Director, in the October
and November reports of the Oklahonia ancl Indian Territory
section of the Climate and Crop Service of the Weather Bureau.
That the flood originated in the niountains of New RIexico
is shown 1)y the fact that only in that State were there any
heavy rains on the Canadian River basin between September
25 a i d October 4.
The flow1 I )f the South canadian Iliverof October 1 to4, 1904, will stand
iiieniorable a+ the m o 4 ilestructil e one in the history of this setation since
its srttlt.uient. To thororighly nuderstancl itsdebtructive effectsoue must
ha\ e a k n o ~ ledge of tlie topographical features of that stream.
Finaliup its source in tlia iiiouutain rauges of New Mesici), it thence
iileauders wutlienstwaiil atross the high uplanilb of the Texas panhandle
to the fertile 1ilains o f C)hlahoma, ani1 on tlirougli the Indian Territory
to its wnnec+ion with the Arkansab River
Thrnughuut i t s couise its Ijed lies inclt el1 in a wide valley, whose bot-
tom levpls art? I j u t sliylrtly a h )\ e the surface o f the stream. Its waters
are usually hhallow, nf sinal1 width, and to a large extent are under-
groimil throughout tile year, tlir ubual width of the surface stream
varying froni GO to 200 yards.
Previoob to the flooil the river valley was cnvered with fertile farms
from its entrance into Oklahi iiua to i t s mouth in the Indian Territory,
rich with fields of cotton, coni, and wheat.
Conceive in your mind thiz beautiful and fertile valley, rich in the
finest products of the earth, and tlieii turn to the results following the
Bond.
The feeble stream. winilinp its way in a shallow bed, became a vabt
flow1 that rolle(1 IL will o f water eighteen to twenty feet deep. in places
spreading from hill to hill, with width varying from nile to two miles,
sweeping everything from its path ani1 (.overing the valley with sand
from one-half to fclrir feet in depth, completely ol)literating everything
in the form of vegetation.
The force of the water waq sn treiiieuilous that nnthing could stand in
it+ course: crous. bridges-110th irou and wooden-trees, aud houses werH
ah. Strong states:
DARKNESS AT MEMPHIS.
From a newspaper clipping we learn that on December 2,
about 10 a. m., a dark pall covered MemphiR for about fifteen
minutes. The sunlight was wholly cut off by a dense cloud
ancl the clarkness of night prevailed. Of course artificial light
was used and business temporarily paralyzed, but the light
returned as suddenly as it went. We are told that in some
quarters a panic prevailed, and that some were shouting and
praying, imagining that the end of the world had come. A
similar darkness frequently attends a heavy local cloud, and is a
common attendant upon prairie and forest, fires and upon 701-
canic eruptions; everyone is familiar wit,h the account,s of the
great clarkness attending the fogs that prevail in London
during the winter season, ancl with less intensity in New York,
Philadelphia, Chicago, and other large cities where soft coal
is used.
Every intelligent person understands that such darkness
gives no occasion for superstitious fears. However, we inust
recognize the fact that there are some in every class, ignorant
or educated, American or foreign, rich or poor, who are liable
to loose self control when anything very unespecte(1 OCCU~S.
A panic is almost as easily precipitated among men, wonien,
and children as i t is among her& of animals. For the
Weather Bureau men it should be a proud record that they haTe
stayed many panics by words of assiirance and a cool bearing.
We ought never to forget that every natural phenomenon has
a natural cause, and requires to be considered and treated
calmly. So matter what the iriipentling disaster, the first
requisite is to preserve onetJ self-possession and help others
to do the same.-C. A.
swept away liGe strai<s and swallowed up in the sands. The roar of the
watrrs was heard for iiiiles on eithrr side. like that of the sea.
Tha
fertile valley is to-(lay practically tlestrriyecl, and its heretofore valuable
farms are worthle-5. afi the sand with whi(.li they are coiered can never
lle removed. Many of the fariners arc left deztitiite. uothiiig o f m y value
reinaiiiiug after tlie flooil.
The flood originated in the mountains of New Mexico, and in successive
wa\es swept the full course o f the river, iudit*ating that terrific cloud-
bursts were the cause of the phe~io~iieno~i.
During the progress of the flnnd over this section the weather wa6
geuerally rlear and pleasaut. alleviating to some extent the suffariug
that was cnusetl t a b the pe(11)le rnacle homeless 119 its ilebtroctive effects.
The nearest estiiiiate that van Ire iuaile nf the damage cauaeil is as
follows: Loss to personal property, i.iops, and bridges, BG00,OOO; loss to
farins by overflow, b3,C)OO.OUU.
At Stone. Okla., where before the flood there was merely a
clry bed of sand about half a mile wide, the river attained a
depth of twelve feet and width of two miles. At Bridgeport,
Okla., the river rose slowly all clay on the l s t , and by the
morning of the 2d was six feet above the norinal. It con-
tinued to rise slowly on the 2c1, ancl a t 5 a. m. on tlie 3d a
wave eight feet high struck tlie railway, w d h g out three-
fourths mile of embankment on the Choctaw Railroad and one
and one-half miles on the Rock Island Railroad. Thirty yuar-
ters of 160 acres each were covered with san(1 to a depth of
from two to four feet, and some are completely washed away.
The following table is based on reports from postmasters and
others a t the places mentioned.
The distances given in the seconcl column are obtained by
measurements on a postroute map, following the windings of
the river as closely as practicable. According to the contour
inap of the U. S. Geological Survey, the elevations on the
The scene along the f u l l course 11f the liver beggars desvription.
NOVEMBER, 1904. MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. 523
river are approximately as follows: 2000 feet, about 24 miles
above Grand; 1500 feet, midway between Taloga and Thomas,
1000 feet, four miles above Union; 500 feet, 35 miles below
Garner.-F. 0. ,S.
Depth and width of the Cicnadinn River during thJood of October 1-4, 190.4.
lStations are arranaed in order from above toward the mooth.1
~~~
Stations.
Distance
fro! prewding place.
*Vi/?& Graod, Otla.. ...................................... ............................. 33 Stone Okla Taloe)a.Okla.. ........................... I
41
Tho&&. (Jkla.. ........................... 29
Bridge ort Okla .......................... 6
Coiou. OkIa.. .............................
Ethel, (Itla. ............................... Y
Tha)mpm,n, Ukla.. ....................... 10
Niles. 8 k l i .. .............................
Mustaue. Okla. .......................... Noble 6kla.. ............................ Purceh. 1nil.T. .......................... I.eriogtou,Otla.. .................... Pecan , 0 k l a . ............................. Ruckbead, Otla.. ....................... .! Lakeview. Okla. ....................... Coruer. ohla.. ............................ Tyrola, Iod. T.. ....................... Francis, Ilid. T.. .......................... (!alvin 1uaI.T.. ........................... &rue;, Ind. T ............................
Greatesl
del vt h.
Ftd.
15
12
12
IS 18
18
3U
*
+ 19$
Average width at
high& qtage.
Miles
-
y + to 2
1 1
I t
1s
1
1; to, 2
1
1
1% 2$
I t
lL
i t 1
*E-foot rise. t-l&-fiBot rise. 15; fvet higher thnu ever kuoau before.
Width before
fl0lJd.
t iuile.
30 fret
Dry.
50 yirds.
60 yards.
135 ysrda.
EA) feet.
60 yards. 500 fret. 401) i o SO0 feet.
f mile.
L Inilr.
4 Iriilr.
60 yards.
40 yartlr.
100 yarols.
t llllle.
+ Ilrile.
A PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL CONTEST OF WEATHER
FORECASTERS.
We think that all sensible men will agree with the sentiments
expressed in the following letter.-6. A.
mL4sHINGTUN. D. c.. Jiouucrru 7 . 1905. ., Mr. FERNAND JACWBS,
Presiileitt, SociBtP d Asbrommie, Brica8cl8, B P ~~~I L I J I .
D E ~R SIR: I hape t.he honor to acknowledge t.he receipt of yc)ur letter
of the 14th of December, informing me that t.he Belgian Society t i f As-
tronomy lias decided to organize an international contest of weat,lier
forecasters, to be held a t Liege, Selkeniber, 1906, during t.lie session of
a congress of inekeorologi , and you further invite nie to bec.~onle one
of the judges in that. contest. If your action i n the matter had not. ex-
tended beyond this invitation, I should have simply declined it. But you
have sent me a printed circular, stating in detail f ,l i ~ terms under which
tlie competition is to be carried out, tinil mentioning t,he individual nanie~
of those composing your jury, aitiong which you have included niy own
name without my authority. I desire to protest against t.liis action in
the most emphatic nianner possible, and shall winmimicate my 1)rcitest
to a11 of t.liose dist~in~uished gentlemen whoni you have matle my cvl-
leagues. It is not iinpossible that. jon have :tlso printed t,lieir names
without their personal perniissiou, and that many of t,herii will agree
with me in my opinion (:if your action and of t.he inexpediency of any such
public competition for prizes in forecnst,ing.
It is probably not unknown to you that in L4merica, as in Etirope, there
are numerous persons who derive profit from the sale uf almanacs and
newspaper forecasts, to the great disgrace vf meteorology. This class (nf
men, even though they fail to win the ofYered prize, will draivgreat.profit
from such a public competition and official scientific recognition; I pro-
test againbt allowing them any chance of receiving buch favorable public
recognition at the hands of scientific men.
Meteorological science, and especially the a r t of forecasting, can not
be furthered by such public tests and competitious as those you would
encourage, and you niubt not expect tile to serve as a member of your
jury. U p to the present time tlie official forecasts published by Euro-
pean and American nationk have been based on tlie daily weather maps,
and made in accordance with all tlie knowledge that is embodied in what
we call the science of meteorology. This knowledge is public property;
the methods of forecasting hare frelluently been explained. Forecast
dudenth are accepted in every governmeiit office and encouraged to
become thoroughly acquainted with the methods used therein. A com- petitive examination between such students seeking au appointment to
office or a proniotioii would be eminently proper, but tlirre is apparently
no occasion to institute sar.h a ccmpPtition a t Liege.
Tlir phraseology of the forecasts diners in diffent countrieb in accord-
ance with thr. need- of the people. and wuie attempt niuch niore detailed
f1)rrcasts than ikhers. I n no case, so far as I know, do the forecasts
estrnd itiore than two day+. in advance, except for the hensonal forecasts
i n Iullia. All such work i5 a, legitimate application of science, and the
whole rneteorogicd world is cooperating in efforts to improve it. It is
not advisable to set tliese scientific me11 and government officials iiito
iiulilic competition or rivalry with one another. W l ~o would think of
doing this i n the iuittter of aztronomical ephemeridez or predictions of
the Iilace5 of the sun, nioon, or planets ?
The last article of your projeL provigles that amateurs may compete
ftir the prizc fur 1i)ng-rauge forrcrcsts o f the cletailsof the weather during
tlie inonth nf Septeiliber, lW5. But there i:, no iational or scientiflc
\%nr111, but will he tabeit adxautage o f by the popular chnllatans aud im-
pn:,tei5 of E u i o p and Ar1ierit.a.
Tour proposed coiiipetitinn i+.dirrt*tly cuntrary to the espressecl opinion
nf some t>f the best European iueteorologisth, and I may especially refer
)oii to the accompanying letter of Piuf. .J. N. Pernter, reprinted from the
~IONTHLY WEITHER REVIEW for May, 1904. You may be interested
also in reading the en~ln+.erl 11age5 from the advance proof of my Annual
Eept)rt. i n \\ hich I hare refriled to long-range forecazth.
Rrqvttiug that I ~i t i i not cncortragc~)t)ur pul~lic competition. but with
tlie l i e d \\ ishl)h foi thv prosperity of the Brlgiau d:,troinical Society,
I an1,
Very re%pci.tfully,
(Slglled J WILLIS 1 4 . M~JORE,
Chi+ f U. S . Tfecrther Bureciu.
CORRIGENDA.
RIONTHLY IvE.4THER REVIEW for August, 1904, 11. 373, COlUmII
2, line 10,  involve  read  evolve.
RI~NTHLY WEATHER REVIEW for October, 1904, p. 458, column
2, Table 1, number of clays with thunderstorms in May, 1895,
for  6  I read r  5 ; 1). 459, column 1, Table 4, average duration
of thunderstorms in November, lS90, for . ..... read  0 ;
p. 465, column 1, line 11, for  Helmholz  read  Helmholtz,
liue 16, for .Nenclioff  read  Neulioff, line 18, for Eck-
holm  read  Ekholm.
THE WEATHER OF THE MONTH.
By Mr. {VU. B. STOCKMIN, Chief, Division of BIeteorological Records.
PRESSURE. southern Plateau regions. The greatest negative departures
atluosl)~eric pressure is grallhicallg ranged from - .10 t,o - .15 inch, and occurred over New Eng-
shown on Chart VI11 and the average values and departures lancl, ~11~1 the extreme eastern portion of New York.
from normal are shown in Tables I and VI. The mean pressure decreased from that of October, 1904, in
highest over the Plateau regions, New Euglancl, Miclclle dtlantic States, northern portion of the
with the crest over western ~v ~~~i ~~. lowest over South Atlantic States, Ohio Valley ancl Tennessee, except the
eastern New Engliznil. western portion, the Lake region, and the north Pacific dis-
baronleter Was above the norrllal in the west Gulf trict.
States, the Mississippi and Missouri valleys, slope ancl Plateau The inasiiuiim increase ranged from + .10 to + .16 inch,
regions, the south Pacific region, except the estrenie south- ancl occurred over the middle and southern slope and Plateau
western portion, and the micldle Pacific region, except tlie es- regions, the wuthern portion of the northern slope region,
treme northwestern portion. I n all other districts it was be- aud southwestern North Dakota. The maximum decrease low the normal. ranged from -.lo to -.17 inch, ancl o c c u r r e d over New
The greatest positive departures from the normal ranged England, and the northeastern portion of the Micldle Atlantic
from + .10 to + .18 inch, and occurred in the middle and States.
~h~ distribntion of
~h~ lIarometer
It
~h~ I n all the remaining districts i t increased.