Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-09-22
THE HOT soarH WINDS.

The cause of the hot north wind is dis.
eussed by the 0rland Times, and from ex-
periepce of the past two days is just now
pertinent subject for consideration. The
Times editor says he has made the matter
a study since his residence in the valley,
and while the views expressed are his own,
he feels confidence that his theory is cor
rect, and that the frequent damages aris-
ing from these winds can be prevented
The theory and remedy are as follows:
Every person of intelligence knows this
fact, that hot air does Lot come from
above but is always the heated evapor.
| alton arising from the earth. Before the
hot north wind comes we generally have
spell OF hot weather which heats the
ground very much. Our valley is bounded
on two sides by ranges of mountains,
which prevent cross currents of air, and
there is no obstruction to the north wind.
In the vast plains east there are cross cur
rents, which, meeting and mixing with the
cold wave, turn into heavy rains.
The cause of the heated north wind is
this A cold wave comes from the north
when 1t reaches cur valley it moves over
it, not very high, pressing down the heated
vapor from the earth into limited space.
The hot air wants to escape, but there is
only one way that it can rush, and that is
down the valley toward the wide part and
the river opening toward the bay. The
nature of the cold wave above is such that
the heated air cannot mix with or pen
citrate it. Let science then come In and
provide a current or commDtion that will
mix the heated air from the valley with the
cold strata above, and the result will be q
general rain over the valley instead of a
whitening blast. To effect that object let
there be stationed in line across the head
of the valley four or five large military
bombs, with an electric wire on poles con-
Meeting them all with one battery. About
the time the north wind begins to blow let
there be simultaneous discharge of we'll
bound balls of powder in the air 1--WE be-
lievs that dynamite forces down, if so,
powder is the best). The conclusion will
extend long way all round, leave an
opening for the hot air TO escape, and mix.
ing with the cold above will cause con-
densation Of vapor, and heavy fall OF rain
will be the result This will cool the
earth, and more than likely change the
upper strata of air.
The proof of the upper cold wave is the
fact that, when this valley gets the hot
blast, there is frost in valleys of from 5, 200
to 1000 feet altitude. The great fires in
Chicago and Wisconsin occurred when
there were great and alarming droughts
around, and the fires caused heavy rains.
We maintain that judicious explosions
into the air, not below. would cause rain
to fall But the party firing must under
stand the currents of air above, for it is
not every time he could cause the rain to
fall. There must be particular stratum
above at the time of the explosions.
At the same time of the explosions at
the head of the Sacramento valley there
should be explosions at the north end of
the San Joaquin valley. As there is no
outlet south for the heated air, it increases
in force, turning and twisting, and
finally bursting through the cold air above,
and generally ends with rain. L is the
rush Of the hot air up that raises the sand.
The farmers in Napa valley each year,
when they expect frost, light smoldering
fires, which fill the valley with smoke.
That cannot rise and clear away until the
sun changes the atmosphere above it.