The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-01-17

names have come before the public, Miss
| Gilbert says to the editor of g morning
paper: eff you will send the two ex-
convicts, whose cause you have 80 kindly
advocated, TO me, l will put them on the
road to earn an honest livelihood" Hele
is an admirabe 6 example for other. phi
Ian hropists to follow.
! is THE CLIMATE CHANGING2,
| - - -
= Question for our seteniisss 20 consIars
ana Report Upon.
Brooklyn Eagle
The recent succession of mild winters
have given rise to the inquiry, is the
North America climate undergoing a
chsnge7 The old resident is apt to be
emphatic in the assertion that it is, and
that the change has produced milder
winters. Whether this is true or not is
an open question. The old resident is
likely to hnd his recollection more vivid
as to the seasons of extreme temperature
The mild seasons may pass out of mis-
memory altogether. Certain facts are
not TO be disputed. One is that winters
vary in the degree Of the intensity OF
their cold; that is to say, one winter will
exceed another in intensity. Another
is that for two or three years past the
average temperature for the cold season
has been higher than those which imme>
diately preceded them. But whether
there is permanent change, which is the
result of the operation of natural forces
is question which is we'll worth dis
| cussiOn and investigation. The climate
OF country largely depends upon its
cOnGgurstion. 1t mas clearly been DEM
onsIrated by Humboldt that the physical
| formation ofthe surface of the country
| contributes to make the temperature
| And it is for this reason that we hnd
such discre pancy in the climates of the
| same latitude. For instance, we occupy
the same latitude with Spain, yet the
difference is as marked as between Florida
and New York. Scotland, Ireland and
| Labrador are in the same latitude, but
their climates differ materially. The
| physical formation hiss 20 do with this
and, as well, the Cult stream. Labrador
is to certain extent a plain, rarely
broken with lakes or large bodies of
water. The surfaces of Scotland ~
Irais sp3 orc !ius-s; s,aA =, - ss'
and valleys, IN the latter OF which he
many lakes. Thus we can understand
why the climate of Labrador Is stern snd
and cold. But there Is a difference be-
tween Scotland and Ireland and here We
find the influence exerted by the Gulf
stream. This curious phenomenon of the
Atlantic Ocean which does not touch the
shores of Labrador, skirts one corner of
Scotland and sweeps along a large por-
ton OF the shores of Ireland. Therefore
there is found a climate somewhat more
genial in Ireland than in Scotland.
Aside, then, from the influence of the
warmth The Gulf stream brings to the
climate, the elevation OF mountains with
their slopes to the seas or to the lower
points OF the valleys, and the lakes lying
therein, have to do with the conditions
and degrees of the climate.
But in North America this condition
of topography was the same fifty year
ago. # there is q change in our climate
it is due to causes which have not beer
touched upon as yet. Dr. Marsh, in hi,
book "Man and Nature" holds that the
forests have much to do with the climate
There is no doubt their influence is felt
to greater or less extent, certainly as tt
the condition Of the soil, and DR.. Marsl
points out that there were portions o
Asia at one time as fertile as any land W,
have in this country, which are now ariC
and waste, owing to the reckless prodi
galty with which the natives destroyed
their forests. Certainly the forests in
crease the humidity of the climate whiel
is not a matter OF dispute, and the farme
!. practically effects the climate of his faru
o when he plants trees about his house. l
, may not be any more appreeiable thai
! the fact that the centre of the earth
n
!. | from the ground, but the climate
n affected nevertheless. This question {
d forests though, is more in respect of il
moisture than in its cold. And thoug
. forests of this part of The country hav
3 been'diminished, it is doubtful whethe
i, the change can be accounted for upo
this ground. If this theory were to t
adopted, we should be at loss to accouI
for the change in the climate in thos
portions of the country where the fores
exist almost in their primeval state, an
IS also for the change from comparstiV
IS geniality to comparative severity in tt
Ie countries of Europe.
y Some of our shrewd observers are
ii clined to the belief that the Gulf strea
e. is moving northward. In conf rmatiC
es of this belief is the testimony of nsvig,
d tors, who aver that they do not me
T. floating ieebergs in ATTITUDES as far soul
is as they did, and of polar explorers wi
as obstruction as far south as they did
ID few years ago, together with the ia
er that the LAST expedition reached Il
a. latitSde of eightu-ssss-=en degrees mort
OF rnuch further than any expedition I.
rs before reached. IF this theory ns t
+ northward moving Of the Gulf strea
rs could be adopted, we might find reas'
L for the apparent change. For tie efft
er would be clearly felt upon the ice-feI
er of the north, and the winds OF the nor
be would be much tempered to us. 1t seel
to TO be 8 settled belief that the Gre