The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-19
MOISTURE VS.. HOT WINDS.
To the Editor of the Eagle.

notice some errors of the popular mind
as to the construction and laws of our
atmosphere; and to briefly call up some
of the appliances, which, if employed,
will aid production on these plains.
In practical articles intended to awaken
thought on this important subject, all
can see that any extended scientific dis
cussion of our atmosphere would be out
of place. But these are few facts in
reference to the composition of the air,
that should be called up.
Because the air apparently occupies all
the intervening space in the solar sys-
tenn, it by no means follows that the
body of the air is unit of such a char
acter that vapor entering the lower
strata at the earth diffuses itself through
out the entire body.
If there is not an interplanetary med
ium of either, then the most remote
stratas of air are almost infinitely thined
out and the temperature Is so low that
all vapor is excluded. 1t is certain that
as we ascend from the earth the air, by
reason of a lower temperature, requires
less and still less vapor to saturate 1t.
Hence, as a practical fact, all OF our
except the strata resting on
the earth, is already saturated.
The sun is the remote and
the earth the approximate cause
of most of the atmospheric disturbances
which relate to the reception of vapor
and the saturation of the air. As has
b cen before stated when the temperature
is 20 degrees IF" l S0-100 grains of
vapor will saturate cubic foot of air,
while if the te mperature be incseased TO
100 degrees it will require 10 79-1O0
grains of vapor to saturate. Hence it
must be evident that the only air, near
our globe, which can ever be deficient in
vapor is that strata which rests i'm
on the earth's surface" And
if this be true, then it is evident that the
only body of air we can sensibly intlu-
ence or supply with more vapor is the thin
belt of air which Immediately envelopes
the globe That this belt analogous TO
the skin of an animal, is a comparative
thin streta of air of peculiar mould, can
be shown.
Reasoning from the stratified condi-
ton of our globe we would look with a
degree of confidence, akin to that of
"high probability" that the same law of
extended to our atmOs-
phere. But not to dwell on the stratifi-
cation of the air, suffice it say that the
clouds that hang along the horizon, their
appearance from the mountain top with
the storm cloud below, their move
ments in space, when one cloud
passes under another, causing
the moisture of the upper strata to turn
to hail; these instances with the strait
fled condition of the fog which hangs
along the valley, all show qualification
of the air.
Nor have we any reason to con-
clude that the strata next our earth Is
one of but a very few hundred feet in
this class. This fact can be determined
in several ways. 1t is apparent from the
fact that it thins out as we ascend to-
wards the mountains. where we can
sleep with a double blanket, while the
people of the valleys to the coast roll in
the might sweat
1t is this lower strata of the air
with which We have to do. And it
must be evident from every known law
of our physical world that this strata
resting on the earth doubtless is the
most material in its character 10 any
portion of our atmosphere, and therefore
not only gravitating TO the earth, but
pressed down by the weight of the s.
perincumbent strata above.
These and other facts which
can be stated compel US to &C
IA hnf nwfrN aI
amount of air, the vapor of which needs
to be Increased, on this plain belt for
a few days, in midsummer Is ''Compar-
atively small"
1t should not be forgotten that this
belt of air resting on the earth, contains
at almost all times, large amount of
vapOr, and that the increase sought for
is but such per cent as Will so Saturate
the air that it will not absorb the mois-
ture of the plant life to supply the de-
fiCiency.
Can this amount be supplied by "aI-
tificial means Should the Gulf of
Mexico and the Gulf of California be
suddenly connected by large body of
water of about fifty miles in width, and
no mountain ranges intercept the flow
of humidity northward it is perfectly safe
to conclude that this interior plain
would become at once exceedingly pro-
ductive. Perhaps body of water of
lie than one-half that extent would
transform the aridity Of the plains into
a fruitful land.
That the amount of moisture needed
to defeat that condition of the air called
hot winds is not as great as is generally
believed Is quite apparent. Still we would
not underrate the difficulties to accom-
plish an object OF such vast magnitude
to the people and the country.
To overcome a deficiency in nature.
in not providing water sufficient for
proper amount Of vapOr at all times. W II
require the combined effort Of the states
and territories on the plains, the friendly
and efficient legislation Of the states and
territories Immediately interested, To-
gether with some legislation of congress
and an appropriation Of "A few millions
Of dollars Of the public money. Also
the friendly cooperation of portion Of
Old Mexico.
APPLIANCE.
What shall be the means used to con-
a work so important The an
swer Is, Moisture in any form that viii
assist the end in view.
II we will compare the dry. nude SUP
face of the plains with the moist and
wet lands OF Indiana and Illinois in their
early settlement. the contrast
will appear most striking. One
covered with either dense
growth Of timber or prairies half the
time covered with surface water. while
the plains present IN the eve a surface
for ages, then lifted to the light
and heat of the sun, the water having
drained east and south. uDdulating TIE
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