The Arizona champion., 1884-02-16
THE ANNUAL RAINFALL.
Does Rain Follow the Plow?-A Comparison
 Of Our Own Supply with Other Sections.

Does Rain Follow the Plow?-A Comparison Of Our Own Supply with Other Sections.
 Coupled with the preconceived idea that west of the tooth meridian there existed great desert, came the theory that "rain follows the plow," and that the annual rainfall is yearly in- creasing in proportion to the advance ment in years and area cultivated. For the last quarter of century the farmer has persisted in crossing the eastern line of the Great American Desert, until far beyond its boundary we find abundant crops, furnishing in short, the most practical and compre- hepslble proof of its non-exlStence, except, perhaps, in the vapid theories of some kid gloved experts, or closet philosophers. Let us then content ourselves with the mythical bounda- ries of our great desert, and enquire to what extent does the cultivation of the soil increase the annual rainfall? Is it fact as generally accepted, and can we apply it directly.to our own immediate interests?
 Many plausible and attractive the ories are advanced in support of this popular belief; but seeking for faeks and observations on which they are based, it is difficult to find anything to justify the confident acceptation given them. It IS a matter that applies di- rectly to our own and immediate in terests, as well as to future generations.
 We believe the writer who may cause this popular fallacy to be dis s. carded, by showing that it is as neea LesS as it IS general, will have done some service to the home seeker in the far west.
 A glance at the statistics of the yearly rainfall between the Missouri river and the tooth meridian since 1861, presents to us a mixed and con- fused mingling of increase and de- crease as the years pass on, from which it is very difficult to deduce any com. prehensive theory.
 In the year 1861, we find the an nual rainfall 32 inches; passing to the year 1869, we find fall of AS inches, falling away in 1871 and 1872 to 3I and B inches, respectively, and again as late as 1879, we find but 32 inches, equal only in volume to that of 1861 and much less than that of 1869.
 By dint of great effort in dividing a number of years into periods of six and nine years, we are able to deduce the facts upon which this much abused theory is based, but the gain is so small that we find little to exult over in its solution.
 Let us then discard a theory as use less as the mythical desert itself, and endeavor to believe that the Great Founder and Architect has not been partial in his bounty; that the ad- vancement of science and civilization will, in the future, as in the past, prove that there is no part of our great country that does not contribute its share toward the bountiful resources of the whole.
 According to the records of the Smithsonian Institute, the average fall of rain in our own immediate section of country during period of six years was I2 inches. It will be noted that this volume IS not half that of the section between the Missouri river and the tooth meridian, and would seem to destroy the very theory that we are endeavoring to defend. Clan cing again at the table of statistics, (Wil- ,ber's Northwest), we find something of an average fall of rain for each month throughout the year in that section. The rainfall of the Cobra do plateau, (our own section of coun- try. ) comes after the snows have pass ed away and is confined almost entire ly to the months of June, July and August, stimulating and aiding vege tation to a wonderful growth in a re- markedly short period of time. It will be found that the precipitation of moisture during these three months is equal to that of the most favored To- calities west of the Missouri river du- ring hhe sane beri9d. In this estimate for the Colorado plateau country, no account is taken. of the blanket of snow that for two months or more covers our valleys and foothills, nor of the permanent bodies that remain for nine consecutive months on the higher peaks and are constant source of moisture to our lower levels.
 As matter of fact, we have the necessary amount of moisture for all vegetables and cereals that can mature iu this altitude and climate. There is more comfort in the knowledge that we can SOW and reap beautifully in the present, than in following a theory however popular, that teaches us that we are tilling the desert of today that it may bloom~as garden for our great, great grandchildren. HAL. 
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