Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-02-15
Editorial CorrcspOn&leu

the Equator. These facts give rise to
some interesting speculations, and tend
to receive the theory promulgated some
years 'go by prominent French phi
losopher, viz: That the earth's axis
is not permanently inclined twenty
three and one-hslf degrees, but that, in
the vast sweep which it CHE earth
makes With the sun and the other plan.
cts connected with the solar system,
around some unknown, but central orb
which is the turning point OF The uni
verse, it is gradually, but certainly, ap-
preaching horizontal, with reference
to the sun. so that the rays Of that
body will ultimately fall perpendicular
ly upon all the equatorial surface Of the
earth which may be within the range
Of illumination. Tho pid modifica-
ton Of the temperature in this latitude
during the last decade would seem to
strengthen this theory Of planetary
alteration; and VIC fnd that the eli
matte changes are not peculiar to this
latitude nor to this hemisphere. The
query at this point, however, forces
itself upon us, Why this vastly more
rapid change within the last few years !?
To this I must reply that it is fact
we'll understood that the. planetary
bodies-with rare cxccptions-do not
move in circles, but in elipses, aud that
when moving 10 that arc of the elipse
which approaches most nearly to a
plane surface or a straight line, the
body has a much greater velocity, be-
cause, since attraction is the motive
power, its influence increases CORES
pouding1y with diminution Of the
centrifugal forces, and the more extend
eli the circle in which a body moves the
more readily will It yield to the inaa-
ence Of an ivtcrmediate power with
which it may come into close proximi.
:y. If this be true it is quite proba.
bic that the earth Is now in that por.
ton Of its grand circuit which ap
proaches nearest to the great forces o.
universal energy, which subjects it t
an influence SO peculiarly its own as t,
temporarily charge its position viii
reference to the sun and since iron
this body We derive light and heat,
is not strange that change in our rel
alive position should affect the charac
ter Of our climate and give US tn
diseases formerly prevailing alone il
more tropical regions. This theory vii
also account for the low stage Of waite
which has for several years prcvaile
in the upper Mississippi, since tina
stream has but few important tributa
ries above the Iowa line, which do no
traverse an extended portion Of countr,
any depression of the North Pole woul
} diminish aud retard in the same rati
, the flow Of waters toward tho mai
, continental artery.
: This would afford greater opportun
ties for cooperation ane irrigation, and i
times Of sudden rise the waters, instea
! ofbeing rapidly drawn off, would reccd
! aud overflow large portions Of countr
] and thus remain until gravitation an
t atmospheric conditions combined shout
J.. reduce the streams to their ordinar
t size. This feature has been observe
. as actually ch,ractcrizing the conditio
: Of our internal waters during the la
y few years. In time Of foods it is
}, fact that thu streams rise higher au
c flow of less rapidly than in form'
r years. In some localities this has bee
+ Of significant value in aid of navig
It ton ; enabling boats Of the same capa
ity to ascend nearer to the source
,. navigable water courses than ev
s before. An additional proof Of the IA
l. that the topography Of this country
l. undergoing rapid and important moo
e fication is forced from the unpleasa
d circumstance that fever and aguc h
,, made its appearance within the last t,
d years in localities which have had
e settlement of more than two decad
without previous visitation Of til
D, usual feature Of frontier life in low
l. attitudes. Many Of the promiDe
i characteristics Of other temperatures a
j. becoming common here, and they ser
ID to induce the belief that such are ca,
I'd by solar conditions of which we
re present have but little definite kno,
Re edge, but which are nevertheless su
r GENTLY apparent to excite curios
g and Of 80 great Importance as to just
a careful and intelligent observation.
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