The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1872-09-18

WooD-CUTTING AND TIE RAIN-FALL.-The con-
uection between cutting down forests and di-
liuution Of the rainfall is undergoing discussion
more or less learned in the papers at this time
Mr.. Draper. director of the Central Park Meteo-
rUIogical Observatory. has boldly attacked pop
uIar theory. Mr.. Draper asserts that the cIear-
ing Of land does not diminish the volume of rain
Il and claims that such is the teaching Of Obser-
Vatious aud investigations made By himself and
By other weather students in New York, Boston,
Philadelphia Charleston, Great Britain, and parts
OF the continent. He finds that no change in the
climate of the Atlantic States has occurred within
a century, and that sarfaca changes through agri-
culture, drainage, SC, produce no apprsciable
meteorological effect Nr. Diapers Ects are en-
titled to ! degree Of respect which We should not
sccord TO opinions OF impressions, auIit does not
become any one, not equally armed with records
and Statistics to sueer at his position The dis
pgte can be settled only by tables. Mere impress
sion in the matter Of the weather should not 20
for much. Recollectioas Of the weather are par
ticalarly at fnli 4 man viii assert positively
that some month Of last year was much cooler
than corresponding months ofIs72. Tun the
tables on him-s1eh tables as We print-aud be
viii be forced to admit his mistake. 1t is com
mon thing to hear old people tell Of the much
colder EInters OF long ago, and We have heard
venerable amateur philosophers construct from
their remembrances Of those bitter Arctic times
the theory OF receding glacial epoch Bat the
Thermometer sustains no such supposition. The
winters Of the present deeasle are as cold, in
the sane laiitudes, as any winters Of which the
temperature vas recorded. With regard to eli
matte changes-oue Of the most Important Of
which would be q diminqtion Of rain-fal-Mr.
Draper has the best possible test in the case Of
the Atlantic States For these States have been
long occupied and undergone more surface
changes than any other States or daring the
sane length Of timel any other portion of the
world. If these States exhibit no appreciable
modification in the weather, it might be argued
a f5Fti0rf that other States would be equally
exempt, sh1teTer havoc the Foodchoppers may
make among them. Those Who dispute Mr.
Diapers conclusions refer 10 lands on the En-
pirates, Gauges AMI the shores Of the Msditerra-
nean which history informs as we're fertile th0a.
sands OF years ago, bat nov sterile, and they
attribute the change to the destruction Of the
forests there They forget that at the time those
lands we're most productive the forests we're near
" al cleared Of to make room for the crops; and
also, which Is equally TO the point, that the |
lands we're once inhabited by vigorous and IL /
d1strious races Of men. Il Is to the disappear
ance OF the races not to the telling Of the trees
that ne shOals ascrbe most Of the change for 1
tie worse in the crop yield Of those countries l
Dligent cultivation Is as essential Is rain to pros
porous farming. Some degree of the reported 1
change in climate may be explicabie on the gla- |
eial theory, the gradual accumulation Of ice al /
the North Pole ea1siHg q change Of tempera- /
t1re and Of all climatic conditions, which EO1Id
be easily appreciahle at intervals Of thousands |
Of years, although within the brief compass Of 1
century or 50 they would quite escape notice
There Is 10 Question that the telling Of forests
does tend to the-dryiHg up Of moist lands and I
the extinction Of springs facts oan be cited to /
prove that; but when il comes to the PROPOSE /
ton that sueh changes make material difference
il the quantity Of rain falling on given area, |
the facts. according 70 the Central PORK a1-
thority. are the other Eay.-K T. Journal Of |
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