The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-01-13
THE WEATHER PROBLEM.
As Solved by MansilPs Almanac Com.
pliment From Worthy, Re-
liable Source.

The Chicago Inter Ocean makes the
following complimentary review OF Man
stills almanac for 1885 which will be read
with interest here where the author is so
well aud fsvorably known.
For seven years-and seven is the
sacred the perfect number-carefu
weather observers have noted with deep
interest the generally cool summer months
and the failure of the crops to 60 beyond
average production. There has been one
exception TO this, and that was in 1884.
The winter season is the time when there
is naturally much interest in the weather
problem for the coming year among farm
ers because OF their own direct returns,
and among all classes of consumers be-
cause OF their probable outlays. The
almanac makers are now issuing their
ANIMALS, and these tell their own stories
in such an "as-we Numbered Yesterday"
style as might turn their rivals green with
envy
There Is. however, kind of weather
prediction which is neither that of the
order of Dean Swift's famous 'Issac
Bickerstaff," nor does it take particularly
after the sensational manners of those
who are weather prophets "for revenue
only" The Signal Service Bureau has
done much to elevate this study among
the people. and its reports issued daily
are of high value. Among the publica>
tons that have enjoyed neither the fame.
nor fortune. nor fate of Virgins or q
Tice, is Richard Mansills Alamac for the
year 1886. 1t contains no flaming pic
lures of demons armed with awful augurs
peellng and scuttling many frail human
bark, and it has no cure cards, mol
Socratic lore, nor illuminated insides; il
is simply an ingenious and plain talk of
the probabilities for the next twelve
months. based on a pretty fair under
standing of what the weather has beer
for half dozen or ten years past.
According to this observer, whose Stat.
ion is ut Rock Island. H., the year 1856
| appears to be about the last of the COO
summer seasons which have come reg
ularly, except 1884, since 1878 ThC
weather is following the course of the
times in this regard. The corner hai
| been turned, so to speak, and weathe
and business will be on the mend. Com
ing closer than the summer and enterin!
deeper into detail Mr. Mansil expects .
mild winter, followed by an early spring
which may continue into perhaps May
The months of June and July. howcver
arc likely to be cool and sow>gIowing
and this, il is predicted. will obtain no
only in the United States, but also il
Northern Europe. The advice given by
this observer is that the corn belt shoult
be removed some distance further south
as the season in Southern districts is ex
pected to be early. while in the North tn
corn-ripening months may be backward
August may send on crops somewhat, Blu
too much is not to be hoped from it OF
account of the lateness as well as the COO
and probably stormy weather which ma
come in September and October. i
summing up the prospective nature O
the crop producing season of 1886, Mr.
Mansill remarks that altogether it is no
expected to be a good one for India
corn iu the States or for wheat in North
ern Europe, but we feel pleased to So
that it is about the last one of this kin
of seasons that is likely to occur for quit
number at years.
The month of January is announced {
be very likely mild, and this example wi
be followed by February, while general
the same may be expected of Marcel
April will not go past the usual, but Ma
and the succeeding two months will b
as 1t has already been said of them.
is held that large comets appearing abot
their perihelion during suitable seaso
benefit crops rather than damage them, {
the injury to the crops occurs often,
after the comets lave passed their per
helion than before, as was the case
Great Britain in the year 1874, 1881, ar
1885.
Another observation or prediction
), that with the beginning OF more favo
d able crops growing seasons there will |
= Inaugurated coinciding set of chole
epidemic periods. These, it is amour
ced, will continue with greater or le
severity until 1890, which is likely to
the maximum season for the cholera PEI
iod. 1t is anticipated that there will
another, and probably more severe che
era period about 1897 or 1898. which W
continue four or five years. This warm
summer weather may also be expected
furnish violent and unusual electr
storms and earth commissions. Mail
!, on receipt Of 25 cents by R. Champion
Co., Publishers, Rock Island, III.