Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-22
A VERY WET YEAR.
Predictions for the Balance Of the
Year Based on Good Science.
EVERYDAY METHODS OF KNOWING.
Why the Signal Service is approximately
Correct in Its Reports.
MORE RAIN Is In STORE FOR Us ALL

There be many people who make wise
representations about what the weather is
going to be tomorrow or next week or next
month, and predict for the future great
storms of wind, rain and even of fire Tor GER
tain districts of the world. They thereby
often cause nervousness, irritability, appre-
hension and sometimes insanity and suicide
among credulous, nervous people, for there
are many people, more or less superstitious,
who believe that these so-called prophets
have the gift OF prophecy and can read the
signs and portents in the heavens, of COM
ing disaster, as we'll as could the prophets
of old.
A prophecy by an unscientifc mind is
about as probable and plausible as that
''The sun do move" The prediction or
probabilities" from the Signal
Service Department in Washington or
other regularly organized and equipped
Weather Bureau is generally approx
i'm ately correct, for it is made on scientific
principles and with knowledge of the con-
dition of the weather and the direction of
the wind and possible storm centers over
large part of the country at given time.
With that knowledge given the operator,
having ordinary intelligence and previous
experience of the habits OF storms, can give
a very shrewd guess at the weather for diff
ferent areas for "a hours ahead, unless some
unlocked for current of air from the ocean
should make a sudden appearance and
knock all of his predictions in the head, for
ocean storms are the worst storms and are
totally unpredictable.
SOME EVERYDAY METHODS.
Mans ingenuity, foresight or even great
intelligence are swamped before the instinct
of the dumb animals and birds. Although
the sky may be clear and all nature serene,
dumb creation can feel the approach of
storm, while mankind can know nothing of
it unless by telegraph. The pig will carry
straws in his mouth to the pen; the cattle in
the field will gather together toward the
barn; ducks and geese will flap their wings
and utter loud cries; the peacock will utter
his peculiar scream, while many birds will
fly very Highland animals and birds all
show considerable nervousness.
The coffee cup makes very good barom-
eter. If the bubbles stay persistently in
the center, good day surely follows.
While if they as persistently scatter and
finally strike the side OF the cup, rain may be
looked for; and if they from the first stick to
the side of the cup, rain will almost surely
follow.
These peculiarities have been watched for
ages and confirmed by accumulated expert
ence. But man cannot tell without scien-
tifc knowledge as much as the animals
about the changes of the weather. Only by
long experience and daily telegraphic re-
port can he foretell anything about the
weather for tomorrow.
But the great astronomer and scientist,
Herschel got up weather table for fore
telling the weather throughout all the luna
tions of each year forever, as result of
many years actual observation based on
the attraction of the sun and moon in their
various positions regarding the earth, and
showing what kind of weather would most
probably follow on the moon entering her
different phases at different hours of the day
and night.
HERE ARE PREDICTIONS.
Taking that as guide, and finding the
hours of the moons changes for the entire
year, the predictions are decidedly unfav-
orable. The indications are for rain,
changeable, wet and stormy, cold rains and
wind and rain almost throughout the year.
Commencing January 25, the predictions to
this time have been remarkably accurate.
From now to July cold rains are predicted.
July to 49, far.
July 10 to q. changeable.
July q to August 4. fair.
August to August 10, changeable.
August 10 to August 18 fair.
August IL to September 16. changeable and
rainy.
September 16 to September "a fair.
September "a to October 18, rainy.
October IL to October "a, fair.
October "a to end of the year. rainy, cold
rains, windy and showery, changeable and
stormy are predicted.
Sc there are but six phases of the moon
credited with fair weather; about 40 days
out Of 1913 days, rainy and uncertain. This
is certainly gloomy outlook, but there are
many of those days marked changeable,
which may turn out partially. if not alto
gether, good. These probabilities are
based on purely scientific astronomical facts
backed by experience of many years. and
by the fact that the moon certainly has a
influence on our terrestrial at
mosphere.
They won't tell on what particular day
rain will fall, but they will give an indica-
tion of the possibilities for certain seasons.
They will bear watching. BUMBALo.
PITTSBURG, June %, 1889.