Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-26
CYCLES OF DRY SEASONS.

That the dry seasons of this State recur IN
almost unvarying cycles of about seven years,
which fact is Just now receiving attention,
although none the less interesting, is not
new discovery at this time. Soon after the
compilation by Sergeant Barwick, of the
table showing the rainfall by seasons, ETC., at
Sacramento, for a then period of thirty'two
years, which table first appeared in the REC
ORD. UNION. an editorial upon the subjec.
was published in this journal, in which &C.
Cured the following:
1.-The statistics of rainfall have been kept
for thirty-two consecutive rain seasons, and
the periodicity Of maximum and minimum
rainfall has been ascertained with degree of
reasonable probability, not to say certainty.
The statistics show the recurrence OF dry
seasons with such regularity of interval
as to almost establish an unvarying
period lefty. For example, the first years Of
maximum rainfall exhibited on the rain tables
for thirty-two seasons, recently published by
the RECORD. UNION. was the season OF 1891;
the secoLd, in 1861; the third, 1861 the
fourth, 1901 the fifth, 1867. Here are
five dry seasons, occurring at intervals of six
and seven years. From the date Of the last
there have elapsed but four seasons. The
analogy Of the past recurrence would TX the
season of 1881 as the next dry season, or
two seasons beyond that approaching. But
there is still greater regularity observable
in the aggregate amount Of rainfall IN the
seasons divided into groups by the minimum
years. As This is new observation of the
statistics, 1t will be fully presented.
q" The first minimum season was that Of
1901. Now, from the season Of 1872 TO
no first
closing with a minimum sssson-thst OF
1861. The aggregate rainfall Of the period
was us IL inches. The second group is from
1873 TO 1861, inclusive, and the aggregate
rainfall is 12S o. inches. The third Is for
1865 to 1901, inclusive, aggregsting 1876. 81
inches Of rain. The fourth ia from 1872 to
1857, aggregsting 1l3 II inches. Taus the
average rainfall during the periods ending in
minimum SEASONS Is ascertained to be l24.04
inches. The current series, which is to end
with g minimum season, has accomplished
but four seasons. The aggregate rain
fall il these is but % IS inches,
of the former cycles. Herein analogy
gives q second strong inference in favor OF
heavy season for the approaching winter
But still shird is to be fouLd in the fact
that in four Of the five cycles noted above,
the maximum years exceeded thirty inches
Of rain 10 q single season. Thus in the frat
group the maximum was $3.50: the second
50. 80; the third, 5279, etc. The current
series has so far no maximum beyond % 81
inches. The observations Of the past pre-
sent these prominent facts, which, by the
extension Of analOsies, indicate heavy rain
fall for the approaching season, and in favor
Of the probable recurrence Of smother dry
season not earlier than that OF 1SS45."
Upon tais subject Sergeant Barwicl, in a
Just Of hand says:
WHAT l say and refer to in the following
article about the dry seasons in the past 80
years, and judging from their returning at
stated intervals Of six and seven years, must
not be taken as a prediction on my part, for
such is not the case. | simply refer to tie
Incidents Of dry seasons occurring
at six-year Intervals, followed by two dry
seasons OF ssven-year intervals, then return
in again 60 the sX-ysar interval. This being
the ssyeu,Yslr interval following a six-year
one, thought it proper enough to bring it to
the notice Of tbs general reaoirg public not
that | was the hcst one TO notice such reg
Ulagity Ia the return cf each dry season ia
Jhe last 80 years, for several persons spoke to |
me about 1t some days sgo. The knowledge
Of this being the seventh season from the
last dry one, which usually pro }uces another
one, may do good to a great many. There
may be seven or eight inches of rain yet this
season if so it would bring the total rainfall
up to ten or eleven inches. | will name the
dry seasons, and the reader will readily see
tbs regularity Of the interval between each.
THE first dry season occurred on the second
season after the forty.niners arrived here,
that season being 1850 81, when the very
small amount of bat II inches was meas.
ured. Precisely six seasons from the above |
date, which wSs 1867, there was 3 compar-
atively dry season, there being 10 46 inches. |
The next dry season did not occur for seven |
years, being the one Of 1868 l-7S7 inches. |
The season Of 1922 was not remarkable for |
its excess OF moisture, for there was but II. So |
inches; st any rate it cannot be Classed az a |
cry season. The next dry one reOeated itself /
ia seven yesIs, and occurred in lS70-l-S.H ]
inches. Now the next dry one returns TO the (
six year Interval, and occurs in 1S76-7-S.96 /
inches. According to the records above we f.
ind that after s. dry season has occurred in six .
years il was followed By two Of seven years /
each. and as the last one was a 5ix-year inter- /
val ljudging from the periodicity of dry sea-
sons during toe last thirty.ti ysars) the .
present Seventh season is the one TO be a /
dry one. How lar one can Judge from SUCH /
a thing as a past record remains to be seen ; /
but everything points to the truth OF the laws
of nature repeating themselves again his sea- ,
son ss they have done il the past, by giving
d dry one. Let us hops f,r the better, but it
is hsst to bee prepared f9c tae worst.
It viii be seen BY the annexed letter from
General john BidWell that the seaEoD Of
1913 was DRY one, which strenstnens the
above theory:
CHICO, January u, 1,s4.
James A. Barwick, Signal Service Sacramento,
CaL-Sir, Having been IN California something
more than forty-twO years, I can state u my own
knowledge, 10 Wit:
In the illl Of Isll the country was without bread
because Of the preceding dry winter. What little
wheat there was had TO lie saved for seed.
lSil2-The winter one Of numerous and
great inundaiions Uuy equal 10 lsi9.50
lsi23-Ihis season was quite open; had a mod
crate rainfall.
I,i34-Tnis winter, with the exception Of one
good rain in November OF early in December, and
light rain in March, was almost ra!uess. No cr0ps
were raised in the Sacrament valley, and nothing
to speak If elsewhere Frem0nts first arrival iu
California YVES in March, lsif
1Sis-5-C Considerable rain this winter, as ] well
remember having cimped out during the whole OF
il on a campaign (the which resulted in the eN-
puision Of Governor Mcbotorenl)
l>f5G-Nery wet foods aud foundations
ls3t7-Cop.ous raits, good wheat harvest.
lsiIs-Soue early rams; open winter; good
rams IN March
ls3,g-Very snowy: considerable rain
ls}H50-Nery |et ,hut this mes within the his
t'rc period, which u is unnecessary for me 70 re
peatI
fully yours, JOHN BlbWELL.
WASTED To BE \ GAMBLER.-Some time
since q young man from the country, not
over bright, made the acquaintance Of the
proprietor Of faro game 10 Sacramento, and
confdsd TO him that he wanted to be gam
bler-it seemed to be just TIE kind Of bust,
ness for which he was suited. The manipu.
lator of prize pasteboards sized him up, aud
responded that it was easy to learn if the
necessary attention was psid to instructions
The would.be apprentice promised to comply
with sll requirements, and was told
that the first thing in order was 70 make
good appzsrancs To effect this, nice sui.
Of blue with brass buttons would be about
right. The verdant reappsared few dsys
later dressed like military dude. He was
then told that in order 20 cultivate the requi-
site delicacy of touch, 20 So IN be able 60 dis
tincuish the slightest spot on a card be must
ssnduaper his fingers and get the rough
skin off. When he next came be wore a