The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-20

or course we do not mean by this question
to intimate that. we are literally under the
body of water called the Gulf stream, or are
likely to be at present; but we are, neverthe-
less, under an unusual quantity of the steam
or evaporation of that remarkable " river in
the ocean," which is falling upon US continually
in warm showers. The oldest inhabitan"
does not remember q similar natural pheno-
menon, and the weather prophets, astronomers
and philosophers do not enlighten us as to the
cause. In default Of o proper explanation
from those whose business it should be to regu-
late such matters, we propose TO take the
weather into our own hands.
We have no idea that it is the reconstruction
question, the wickedness Of our politicians, or
the demand for an extra quantity of water in
consequence of the prohibitory liquor laws, or
anything Of the kind, that has brought this
phenomenon over US. There are natarnl
causes for this, undoubtedly, though the
weather philosophers have failed to discover
them. What are they! 1t is said that the Gulf
stream is running nearer our coast than for
merly. That probably is the fact for all who
stream know that the condition Of the atmos-
phere for some days past has been like what
they felt and saw there. But that would be
only the fact, and not the original cause. The
question, then, is, what has brought US
nearer the Gulf stream or the Gulf stream
nearer US? II runs near our Southern coast
up to Cape Hatteras, where the continent pro-
jects FIR into the sea, and where the edge of
this stream approaches within fifty miles, and
thence 1t winds and spreads across the
Atlantic till 1t breaks on the shores of
Europe. How much nearer is 1t to our coast this
year than last, and what is the rate Of its pro-
rress westward toward the land within num-
Der Of yearss These are interesting questions
for philosophers to investigate. Although We
may perceive the change more this year than
in any former year, 1t must not be supposed
that II is sudden. 1t has been, undoubtedly,
gradual and regular. 1t is possible, however,
that atmospheric changes, caused by meteoric
or celestial phenomena, may have swelled I'M
usually the Gulf stream this season.
But there seems to be no doubt that the pre-
cession Of the equinoxes, which are slowly
but continually shifting the equinocta points,
is changing the temperature and climatic
!! characteristics Of different portions Of the
globe. There are known TO be several mo-
tons Of the earth. First, there IL the diurnal
motion, in which the globe turns on Its axis
every twenty-four hours, which causes day and
night second, there is its revolution round
the sun, which II performs yearly third, there
IL the motion Of the whole solar system in
space, in which the earth goes with the rect Of
the planets. Then there Is motion In which,
through long period, the poles OF the earth
are changed, the equatorial regions becoming
in time the polar regions, and cice versa
There il no reason to doubt that we are gradu-
ally approaching the equator. Take giver
| belt Of latitude in the northern hemisphere OF
the globe, and II can be shown from history
that IL has become warmer as time ad
vances The vine and the olive flourish IL
Europe where, in Cesar's time, they would no
grow. The same change h taking place II
America aud all other countries Of the northern