The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-07-11
Our Rain Fall.
To the Editcr Of The Champion:


The communication Of C. W. ]. (why
don't men, when they have anything to tell
the public, let it know who they are) on
the subject Of our rain falls, has just
reached me. My first impulse was to take
no notice Of the article, for two reasons:
First, because the time a. my disposal will
not permit me to discuss; and second, be-
cause have fully elaborated it, in an
almost exhaustive magazine article, -On
climatic changes in the prairie region of
the United States, the effect Of disbosca-
ton on climate, and the relation between
forest growth and atmospheric phenom-
ena, now in press, and which will appear
In the July and August numbers Of the
Scientific Rerier. But when C. W. j.
accuses me Of propounding startling
theory, his article becomes personal in an
offensive degree, and 1 must resort to my
pen as means Of defense.
/ shall not occupy much Of your space.
simply reiterate that the statement made
by me, in the first letter which provoked
this discussion, is the correct solution Of
the problem OF cur rain falls. / also re-
peat that the mountain theory to which c.
W. ]. and Hon. d. Z. Anthony so per-
tinaciously cling, is an old and exploded
one, not recognized in the slightest degree
by any meteorolosist in the United States
or Europe.
Nnxx- far fr,v, fhA sr,,If fba,,rx. I..;p.v
startling and new one. and originating
with me, as suggested by c. W. j., let
me assure him he pays me compliment l
wish my humble self could claim In
writing the article to which / have preyi-
Ously referred-a subject to which bad
given much thought and experiment for
over ten years. determined 10 understand
thoroughly, II possible, the cause Of the
anomalous and wonderful phenomena OF
distribution in the aqueous precipitation of
the great Plains. To that end, consulted
personally the late Professor Joseph
Henry, of the Smithsonian Institute, who
was, it will be conceded by G. W. j., (be-
cause the scientific world so concedes) the
father OF meteorological science in the
United States, and one Of the leading
Of his age. 1t was my for
tune to have known Professor Henry per-
sonally, and to have received many letters
from him on scientific subjects In answer
to my inquiries, and also in long to be re-
interviews. The subject Of our
rain falls was always a prominent one. IL
c. W. j. will take the trouble, as have,
through long hours i'm the Congressional
Library, and in the Smithsonian Institute,
he will find the source OF orr rain falls as
have stated-not as IN emanation from
my brain, of which he accuses me,-but the
Of the meteorologists of the
Blodgett. Schott, Able and
all the galaxy Of meteorologists, whose
lives were devoted TO the study. IfC. w.
and Col. Anthony propose 10 set them
others here and in Europe, why have no
more to say; it will be only another argu-
ment OF the works IL Columbus.
will here repeat what asserted origi-
nally, SO that some Of your readers, who
perhaps did not see the provocation Of this
discussion will understand: That the
Great Plains, and in fact the whole Missis-
sippi Valley are dependent for their rain
fall, not on the Pacific Ocean or the Rocky
but on the Gulf Of Mexico.
That were it not for the high range OF noun
tains In Central America and Mexico the |
greater part Of the Mississippi States and |
the Plains would be an area waste. These |
are 50 high as to present an ef- |
lcctuai barrier to the passage Of the north |
east trade winds which blow In summer |
over the Gulf Of Mexico; they are on this |
account turned northward, and spread |
over the Mississippi Valley. |
These winds being characterized by great |
heat, and loaded with moisture from the |
warm waters Of the Gulf Of Mexico, tend |
10 disturb the statlical equilibrium Of the |
When they have blown from |
The SOUTH for some time, vast aecumula- |
ions Of heat and moisture take place, the |
equilibrium is destroyed, a storm arises In
sweeping eastward from
about latitude thirty-five, where II joins /
he great southwest currcnt) over the
States, and in many cases crossing the At
antic. and descending with violence on
Western Europe. The southerly winds
which precede our storms. give place to
he dry northwest winds, which rapidly
lear the sky. and bring brilliant bracing
in their train. In short, the south
winds from the Gulf 81 Mexico spread the
over the Mississippi Valley, and
he north winds discngage this moisture
rom them by getting below them. by their
greater density. and thrrs.ing them into
he higher regions OF the atmosphere.
This manner Of distribution on the Plains
3 different from that 81 Europe. out Of
which fact grew the odd mountain theory
Is persisted In by G. W. J.