New-York tribune., 1884-03-25
TILE RILNFALL THIS YEAR.
PROFESSOR DRAPER's AvERAGEs-rHE CYCLE oT
RAINFALLs.

PROFESSOR DRAPER's AvERAGES-THE CYCLE OB
RAINFAILs.
Present appearances promise an mterVal Oh
agreeable weather which, after the experience OF the
last three months will be exceedingly welcome Casting
rerospectve eye upon the months Of January February
and what has gone by Of March, there is nothing Wis
ble save p pltiless succession of snowstorms wind
storms rainstorms drizzle and fog with hardly an in
terva of bright days. TRIBUNE reporter yesterday
called upon Professor Daniel Draper OF the Observatory
In Central Park, and asked him to what abnormal
figures the rainfall had reached this year.
"Ahl" he said, "the weather has been so eXecrabe
that your ideas of the rainfall have been cOOred The
rainfall for January was in inches 22100 In January,
1888, It was G1-lOO. The average of January from
1886 to 1882 Is only 34100 But 1Sf1 had January
rainfall of 3O1OO; 1850 Of 571O0; 1859 OF 7OlOO
1862 OF 5 60lOO; 1863 Of 45-1OO; 1875 Of 341OO,
and 1882 OF 800. Obviously January was alb
normal Take February for this year, 92100 inches.
In ss3 the February rainfall 21-10O. The aver
age for the last fOrty-seven years Is 334-lOO. In
lS47 the fall was "a in 1853 it WAS 49s1OO;
in 1855. 12-l00 in 1889, 559-lOO in 1866,
10 9-1O0-that big rainfall In reality. In 1867 1t
was 531OO; In 1869, s71OO; in 1876, 81 100, and
1881 03IO0 This shows that the rainfall Of February
year. though above the cannot he con
sdered as Dig The rainfall 90 the twentyhree days OF
March 77I0O inches It is unnecessary TO calculate
further because two hours of heavy rain might make 1t
high among the average, whereas at present ft
month. 1897 it 2o100 inchesi in
1947 it was s4s-l00i III 1s49, 4s7-100; in
1859, 21-1OO; in 1868, 77-100; in 1865, 321O0i
in 1871. 54-1O0; in 1876, 79-iO0 in 1877,
56IOO in 1881 Sll0O; anu yet IN spite OF these the
for March for AZ years Is little above January or
February-Only 50 100 inches, Inc average for the
present three months il 13 9ll00 wne last IL
only 81 100 for the A years 1t is only 10 5OlOO
This shows said that il is above the but IL
Is not abnormal February 1866, abnormal August,
1882, was abnormal; That was 16 s5-lOO ~ -.
These averages however, must not he taken for
more than they worth. The observations taken at
the Paris observatory for 1870 years showed concusyey
there cycle in ranfals which in that region
sixty During half OF that period there
decreasing and during the other half ncreas
ing average Local influences such great factors IN
the matter Of rainfas that may find cycle differ
ent from that of Paris. Ny observations show that
decreasing average began in 1868 and this would II our
cycle was OF sixty years, TO conclusion In 1898
But the OF our cycle has yet 10 be determined
IL may be longer 1t may be shorter. In
consequence OF reasoning from insufficient data many of
the upon the Adirondack question have assumed
that there is steadily decreasing rainfall and have at
tributed il the feliHg OF timber The fact Is that
in the middle OF our decreasing series. Should
long series of observations establish the fact
clusvey that there true and constant decrease Of
rainfall IL would be all the world and would be due
10 decreased power III the sun This would De shown in
diminished evaporation and this III fewer rainclOuds,
giving a smaller rainfall"