The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-02-05

says the country Gentleman Some
months since we received work on this
subject, by Mr.. John H. Tice of st.
Louis, which has escaped the earlier
notice we intended it should have re-
celved. 1t forms book of upwards of
two hundred pages, and constitutes but
a part of the more general and compre-
hensive consideration of the subject. to
which the author, as the preface informs
us, has devoted much time and atten-
ton for several years past. Owing to
the difficulty of finding publisher for
the entire work, Mr.. Tice has himself
issued the portion which he thinks most
likely to be of popular interest-to-wi
that relating to meteorological cycles
and the light they shed upon the prog
nOstication of future meteorological
events.
Mr.. Tees theory is, in brief, that the
meteorological phenomena of the earth
are Immediately affected, if not abso-
lutely determined, by the planetary
equinoxes-especially those of Jupiter,
Saturn, Venus and Mars. Having col
lated accounts of the most remarkable
meteorological phenomena recorded in
history, so far as practicable after pro-
longed research, the author endeavors
to connect them with these equinOxes,
and certainly, as it seems to us, with a
considerable degree of success-show-
ing, to say the least, a sufficient proba-
BILE foundation for his theory, to entitle
it to the careful and candid considera-
ton of other Investigators in the same
field. His review of the past includes
the most noted cyclones, earthquakes,
auroras, and violent changes in the bar
omoter, which he finds on record, with
the results as far as known-also the
relative positions of the planets and sun
ut their respective dates and it is on
these facts that he rests for the verifica-
ton of his theory. As regards the
future, in the preface, under date of the
9th of August last, he says that in
newspaper article he had published GER
lain weather forecasts, with particulars as
to the planetary equinoxes to which they
were ascribed, and giving "the kind Of
weather that might be expected.
One of these periods was month off,
the other five, and the last eight months.
Two of these periods have passed, and
with astonishing precision the forecasts,
extraordinary as they were, have been
more than verified"
The interest in meteorological sub
jects, stimulated as it has been within
few years by the success of the Signal
Service branch of the U. S. War Depart
ment, in throwing light upon some of
the most knotty problems connected
with the occurrence of storms and their
progress from place to place, has now
reached point at which we may fairly
hope for more rapid progress hereafter,
and to that end we think there Is con-
stantly more willingness shown to listen
to the views of those who have given
time and thought to the subject, than
was formerly the case. We have GER
tainly read the larger part of this book
of Mr.. Tees with much interest. In
the light of previous experience it is
unsafe to discard or refuse hearing to
theories presented by earnest investiga-
tors, simply because of their novelty or
apparent fanciful character. We trust,
therefore, that Mr.. Tees work may at
least result in the farther study of the
important science to which it relates
and if it shall eventually be found that
the connection which he has endeavored
to trace between the phenomena of the
earth and it's sister planets really exists,
new interest will be impaired to the
study of astronomy, and farther evidence
afforded that the same hand which guides
the consultations in their course, also
brings seedtime and harvest to the farm
er, and sheds the gentle rains of Spring
or protecting SHOWS Of Winter alike up
on the evil and the good.