Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-04-04

WASHINGTON, March 24.-In pursu-
ance to resolution introduced by Sena-
tor Mitchell, there has been printed a
letter from Gen. Greely, of the signal
service, upon the rainfall of the Pacific
slope and western States and Territories.
Accompanying Gen. Greely's letter is a
paper by Lieut.. Glassford, of the signal
service, discussing the causes of the wet
and dry seasons, the abundance and de-
ficiency in different portions, the sum-
mer rainv season in Arizona, etc, for
titled with charts and tables exhaustive
of the subject.
These tables cover observations from
661 stations of an average length Of
seven years and three months, and the
charts show separately the maximum,
minimum and mean rainfall for every
month in the year.
The terms of the resolution made it
Gen. Greely's duty to Express his
views upon the importance and value
of these charts and tables and also in
ferentially to express his opinion on
the question of recurring droughts in
Texas and in relation to the vexed,ques-
ton of increasing or decreasing rainfall
in the arid or sub-humid regions of the
United States.
Pursuant to this instruction, Gen
eral Greely discusses the matter at great
length. He says:
zone great result which must rebound
to the benefit of the transit Mississippi
and trans Missouri country by the pub
lication of these official data will be the
dispelling of erroneous and injurious
impressions which have long prevailed
regarding this extensive region. In the
early century this territory was viewed
as hardly suited for civilized man, its
enormous plains and vast mountains
being represented as arid and desert
regions, unsuited for cultivation, and
in many places, even unfit for pastur-
age. Adventure, exploration, and cir
cumstance have pushed the frontier
westward until the myths of the great
American desert to the north and of
the rainless 'staked plains to the south
have practically disappeared. 1t is none
the less true, however, that the latest
and most reliable American text book
of the meteOrOlogy of this country
speaks of the ares between the Sierra
Nevadas and the Rock mountains, in
SluNllIS ~ ANcW MtNIcU
and California; as a region which is
almost entirely destitute of rain,' and
that: further on the east side of the
Rocky mountains the country is
barren desert, almost without rain.
"Another great value of the charts is
the bringing to general attention and
consideration very extensive areas of
country in what has been known as
the arid region, where late and careful
observations have shown the rainfall
to be far greater than has been usually
attributed, and thus transfer these
areas to the sub-humid districts"
The chief signal officer puts it for
ward as his own opinion that when
Idaho, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and
Arizona shall have been covered with
in,gauges as completely as New York
or New England, the final outcome of
observation will indicate that the actual
average of rainfall for this arid region
is now understated by the census charts
from 20 to 40, and by these from 10 to
15per cent. Gen. Greedy notes that
observations at sixteen stations indicate
an increase in the rainfall, while eight
show decrease. These stations are
located in Texas, Nevada, New Mexico,
indian Territory, California. Arizona
and Kansas. In conclusion he says:
"The chief signal officer does not hes
itate to express the opinion that the
trans Mississippi and trans-Missouri
rainfall is slightly increasing as whole,
though in certain locg lities it may be
slightly decreasing from causes set forth
above, and it seems most proper for
him to put forth his strong conviction,
even if it be not a certainty, when, as
in this case, it will tend to reassure the
agricultural population in the lately
drought-strickeh districts of the west.
There appears to he no possible reason
to believe that the scanty rainfall of
the past year or two will not be follow
ed by increasing precipitation in the
next few years, which will maintain
the annual rainfall of these sections at
the average, or even increase it. 1t is
believed that the interests of the entire
country will be subserved by the publi-
cation offs large edition of the rainfall
charts and tables accompanying this