Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-10-16
THE EQUINOX.

The reports of violent storms with
which our telegraph columns are
crowded, show that autmnal equinox,
though late in asserting itself, has never
theless been unusually severe Oh both
sides ofthe Atlantic, and strewn its path
with death and destruction. On Septem-
Der 23d OF each year-varying few hours
the sun passes to the southwark of the
equatorial line, or rather, the motion of
the earth in its annual orbit brings the
southern half directly in contact with
the suns full power. The great changes
effected by such sudden heat on the at
mospheric surrounding of the earth is
made manifest in violent storms of wind
and rain and are known as equinoctial
storms in consequence. These storms
never fail to appear, but differ much in
degree OF power. In the month of March,
on the 2lst or near it, the sun again
crosses the equatorial line, and produces
the same effects on the northern hemi
sphere, which are called the Vernal or
Spring equinoctial gales. These storms
are felt with the greatest effect between
the latitudes of 25 degrees either side of
the line, north or south, and an exami
nation of the history of all great calami-
ties at sea during these periods of the |
suns transit will show that in their linn
Its the heaviest gales have blown. The
great facilities with which news can now
be gathered from the southern districts
OF the country, would make this storm
appear to be of extraordinary severity.
when if such a news service existed fiftv
years ago, this storm would not appear
IN contrast to others to be unusual
without doubt, the coast line of the
Mexican isthmus and of the peninsula
OF fucatan, have been ravaged far more
seriously than the coast of Texas, but
there are no means of knowing it. The
peculiar climatic conditions resulting in ,
the Gulf of Mexico, by reason of the
great diversity of temperatures in the !
6ult Stream and surrounding waters.
causes heavier storms there than in the ]
same latitude on the other side of the
Atlantic or the Pacific oceans. The pecu- 6
liar coast formation OF all the land living .
along the Gulf OF Mexico-being low and
sandy-makes the inroads of tidal waves .
almost sure destruction, and the people :,
of Sabine knew this. But for the natural
barriers that front Galveston and Pensa-
cola, IN the shape of long sand KEYS. Il
hose cities would long since have been p
swept away, just as Sabine has been. and v
ust as other settlements on the coast p
inc like Sabine have been for two hun 81
Ired years back. The dreaded euunioc- ts
ial should d'warn the people of Texas that fr
and keys on the coast line are not fit ol
'laces to build permanently on, though ii
is necessary to use them on account of tr
be natural lack of shipping water for the h,
OF the country. As shipping 81
tations they could be abandoned in the fr
quinoctial season, and occupied again hi
tter its passage. The Sabine disaster is a
eculiarly hard one, as it wipes out the
.sult Of years of investment and labor ot
n the development of the southeastern hi
art OF the State, and will be serious tn
heck on others who would follow in the, I"
ack OF the pioneers of that land. th