Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-21


| atmospheric distur Dances which give to us sun
shine and shade heat and cold, balmy breeze
| and cyclonic storm. And yet we need not De
| surprised at those changes that arc in progress
| upon the earth's surface. They have come be-
fore. Other changes are taking place. but with
| this difference: they are slow IN their progress
| and not apparent to ordinary observation.
Hence there is SO little heard of them, yet IN
| their aggregate of completion they are as won
| derful in their magnitude they are slow IN
! their process which carries them forward to
that condition when we can realize their hnality
and judge of its effect well as measure their
| potential causes.
| CHANGES IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS.
Arctic explorers Of today and yesterday tell
US that the fora and fauna of Greenland in
ages gone by show conclusively that this north
erly country where all the rigors of the arctic
climate are experienced once enjoyed seasons
as mild as our own. And we know also of
many places in the north temperate zone.
where. during what is termed the glacial
period, fields Of ice filed the valleys, leaving
a moraine to mark their passage to the sea and
to record unerringly through the cons OF time
their source, their action and their final lodg-
ment in the bosom Of the ocean.
Therefore We need not wonder, nor be in
credulous in regard to climatic changes. Our
only surprise is at the earth's loss of conserva-
tive action, at its change Of base from slow
order of form to rapid concentration Of
energy. But some will say, pshaw; it don't
amount to anything. II the earth was recelv-
ing more heat from the sun than usual it would
he hotter now. We have had hotter summers
than this, and yet there were no material
changes III our climatic conditions. Very true
We have had hotter summers, but our summer
Is only beginning, and then We must take into
account the fact of natures efforts to re-
store her equilibrium. This restora-
ton of equilibrium has been accomplished
to a certain extent by the arrival of
iaal, in, he nrth nil ut
years. they are met by the transatlantic steam
ers not only singly but in groups and wide
extended areas or fields. The melting Of these
immense fields of ice in the Labrador and
other North Atlantic currents which eventually
find their way to the Gulf of Mexico tends to
modify in great measure the temperature OF
the atmosphere. But will this ice running
continue? Large as the arctic store house Is 1t
is not inexhaustible. Should it continue to
come, even III a slightly increased ratio, the
Arctic ocean would soon be totally denuded OF
its frozen crystals. Should few more such
winters as last winter occur the storm line of
the southern Canadian border would no longer
mark the northeastern track of storms.
THE NoRTHwARD MOVEMENT.
There would be a slow recession toward the
arctic circle; more northward movement of
storms, and the more northward the movement
the greater the violence and the more sweep
ing the destruction. There is no theorizing
about these latter statements. They are scien-
titic facts the complement Of established
cognitOns, and there is no doubt but
that this 'northward movement would
eventually result in completely block
ing with icebergs the entire arctic currents
that cross the routes of transatlantic steamers.
The meteorological conditions of the North
American continent would be in a state of
violent transition, the effect of which would be
more or less disastrous to agriculture and COM
merce. These are not alarmists views. They
are based on the contingency OF recurring warm
winters. Should such winters come We have a
slight inkling of what We NAV expect.
But it may be asked, are there no remedies
to neutralize the effect of those atmospheric
or climatic changes? Can man control the ele-
ments on scale of magnitude equal to the oc
caslon! Our answer Is an affirmative one, and
it is summed up in one word, ''irrigate," not on
the scale in operation today, but on one COM
mensurate with the magnitude OF the interests
involved Having large reservoirs Origi-
nally contemplated by, if l mistake not, the
gentlemen at the head of the geological survey.
In this connection will reiterate q former
statement made by me, viz, that irrigation, no
matter on what scale 1t is operated on, does
not drive storms northward, but has the con-
trary effect.
THE EFFECT OF IRRIGATION.
Let US see, irrigation is followed by
largely increased plant growth. II that plant
growth is largely OF trees SO much the better,
it will give humidity to the atmosphere as
generous as il will be welcome to those large
tracts of arid land heretofore parched and
sterile. The water that would have run quickly
in its narrow channel to the large rivers to
swell their flow will be stationary to Il certain
extent. From this surface there will be large
amount OF evaporation, as well as from the
contiguous lands that will be irrigated at the
proper season of the year.
4 he toWsry lap
Of some irrieuous valley spreads her stoEe"M Milton.
And bounteOus nature nils the threshil2 hoor.
The anti-clearing condition or low" will
form Ill the west above the reservoir and the
irrigated valleys. and barrier will be formed
that will mitigate the force of the blizzard and
modify in no small degree the droughts of
Kansas and other neighboring states.
THE HISTORY OF EGYPT.
For a confirmation of this theory We have
only to read the history of Egypt from the
reign of Mehemet Ali up to the present time.
With his reign there was begun a systematic
Improvement of agriculture through the me-
dlum of irrigation and tree planting and in
this land, where previously for some hundreds
OF years the soil had only yielded "a scanty
| food for small population" now grows wheat
ana corn, as well as cotton In abundance, the
latter article being threatened of late to
be shipped to America with the idea of
being able TO undersell the southern
| product III the market. Where there were only
five or six days fail Of rain there are now FORTY
to forty-fve. proving conclusvely that irriga-
ton "A scale commensurate with the necessi-
ties of the case mOdifes meteorological condi-
| lions causes those lows which send down not
| the violent tornado" but the genial shower
! that bears its fruition in abundance of wheat
maize and cotton, so that Judah and his breth-
rem may be able to fill their sack when necessity
forces them to come from the Orient.
THos. McCABE.
Written for The EVENING STAR.
Par