The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-08-04
1855 to 1873.
1886 to 1853,


Average rainfall for spring, 1885 to
1866, 12.14 inches; 1855 to 1875, 10.114
inches.
Average rainfall for summer, 1895 to
1856, 1870 inches; 1855 to 1875, 10.7S0
inches.
Average rainfall for Autumn, 1885 to
1855, 900 inches; 1856 to. 1875, S.409
inches.
Average rainfall for winter, 1885 to
1865, Ills inches; 1866 to 1876, 7.7S5
INCHES.
1855 to 1875, greatest rainfall during
any one month, September, 1866, 1856
inches.
1856 to 1875, least rainfall during any
one month, September, 1871, 80 inches.
1860 to 1875, greatest depth OF snow
during any one month, January. 1868,
235 inches.
1855 to 1875, greatest rainfall during
any one year, 1868. As. ITO inches.
1866 to 1875, least rainfall during any
one year, 1856, 22s9l inches.
Greatest depth of snow during any one
year, 1868, 1871 inches.
Least depth OF snow during any one
year, 1865, IL inches. r. =
During the past month there fell 9,49
inches OF rain, the greatest amount 1
have ever recorded for July. During
the storm Of Sunday afternoon last there
fell In thirteen minutes ~83 inches, or at
the rate OF 1888 inches per hour, making
the greatest rate on record for this place,
with one. exception, that Of June 49, 1870.
The interesting Question, ssIs the YEAR
ly amount Of rain diminishingf would
seem to have been settled in the afirma-
tive by comparing the records of the past
twenty years with those of DR.. Joseph
Ray for the previous twenty years.
There are several considerations, how
ever, which modify somewhat the re-
suits OF these observations. DR.. Rays
rain-gauge was located nearly hum
dred feet lower, and was more sheltered
by surrounding houses than that which I
use. During the greater part of the pe-
riod covered by DR.. Rays observations
he used different kind of gauge, one per-
haps not so accurate as the Smithsonian
gauge now used by myself. My observa-
tions are made at d point about hall
mile east Of DR.. Rays place of observa-
tion, which fact would, perhaps, influ-
ence the results more than either or both
of The preceding causes, as it is we'll
known fact that some of our most violent
storms are OF limited extent, and so
sharply defined that small difference
in location somatimes makes a very con-
siderable difference in the results. But
0uC diAO w ulCC IOl dll IuSSS Cdu5GS
of difference it is hardly possible to ac-
count for the whole amount OF difference,
over ten inches, so that we are forced to
the conclusion that for this point of OBJ
servation, at least, there has been very
decided diminution in the average rain
fall during the past twenty years, CON-
pared with the previous twenty years.
Prof. Chas. A. Schott, the collator of
the meteorological'r records OF the Smith
sonian Institution, has come to.the con-
clusion that there are secular changes
in the rainfall extending in time over
several decades, besides smaller un-
dulations, covering period Of but few
years.
The rain records are so limited In point
of time, and SO Incomplete at auy one
place, that it is impossible as yet 10 de.
fine precisely the limits of these secular
changes.
In 1886 there was period of great
drought. and ir 1856 a recurrence OF very
dry weather. May we not look for sim
liar period Of drought in 1876?