The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-01-29
An Increasing Rainfall.

lesser Wil@er says: The efficient cause,
greater by far than all other causes COM
bincd, of ills extra moisture precipita-
ton from year TO year, is the steady ad-
vance Of cultivation or crop-raising-
making its westward march in a direct
ratio to the annual increased rainfall.
1t is not necessary for the forest or
grove to appear as the condition Of rain.
At best the forest affords only surface
of leaves, and it can make no difference
whether this surface be five feet or fifty
feet above the earth, providing it be
cool, condensing surface. 1t has been
ordained that all growing crops are green
like the leaves of forests and groves, and
their extended area would cause moisture
to condense and gather into clouds, and
by electric agencies, not yet understood,
finally to fall in rain in proportion to
the cultivated area Thus an army of
farmers advancing westward twenty
miles in one year, and extending from
Texas to Manitoba, all engaged in turn
ing over the surface of hard, dry prairie,
covered with sparse buffalo grass, and
sowing and planting the various grains,
would make q great change of rainfall
all along the line. In the same manner,
the western march of farmers for an
other strip Of twenty miles, would be
inevitably followed by increased rains
In other words tho pillow is the cause of
rainfall, because it gives perfect con-
densing surface, where IN imperfect one
before existed. The more blowing, SOW
ing and planting, the greater area of
living green during March, April, May,
June, July and half of August, or the
period of growing and ripening. The
rainfall is greatest during the months
when most needed, caused by mutual
action and reaction of condensing surface
and the clouds on the principle already
explained. Later in the year, during
Autumn, the fields being stubble and
bare, cannot induce condensation, and
hence our usual dry season or period.
There is doubt in regard to the general
truth of the theory thus imperfectly out
lined, and now for the first time pre-
scented to the public, viz that the pillow,
or rather the farmer by his labor, is the
procuring cause of increasing and
maintaining the rainfall. 1t is thus in
the power of civilized man, in search of
his daily food, toconvert desert or tree
less plain into a fruitful farm or bloom
ing garden-and when he eats or earns
his bread Sin the sweat of his
face" he conforms to the eter-
nal Law that connects industry
with prosperity and happi less 1t was
foretold ages ago that "the wilderness
and waste places would be made glad,
and the desert would blossom as the
rose." But we have been looking for
some miracle to bring about this benef-
cient Transformation. And now, when
we find that man, by his industry and
skill as farmer, is thus appointed the
sole agent for constructing and adjoining
this paradise of prophetic vision, we adj
mire the divine economy none the less.
The grand doctrine herein set forth of
man in his capacity as farmer, being
the procurer of rain, though it will be
novel to all and doubtful to many, was
recognized by Moses in his sublime de-
scription of earth and man in these
words "But there went up a mist
from the earth and watered the whole
face of the ground, for the Lord God
had not caused to rain upon the earth,
for there was not man to till the
ground" Wehave seen that the sources
of water are both secured and increased
by natural means for present and future
uses. In Furnas and adjacent counties
in Nebraska there was an average scare
ity for some portions of 1879, although
abundant for 1877 and 1878. But
the periods of five years each in
the future as in the past, will
prove the law Of increased rain
fall westward from the Missouri
to the Rocky Mountains, until
the plains of Colorado are converted
into farms equal in productive ability to
those in Eastern Nebraska. 1t is prob
able that many in their eagerness for
homes in the west will 60 too far, and
begin farming in regions yet deficient in
moisture. 1t is evident that many
farmers in this valley have experienced
natures delay, and some regret that she
does rot hasten to their relief. But ra-
ture is memorable, and man must sui