The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-01-28
The Weather..


Tho cold snap We have recently ex-
perienced, though not severe, was snili-
Client 10 freeze GU. the theory advanced
by some scientists during the mild
weather TINT the climate Of this country
was undergoing change. These theo-
rists have many followers, aud IL is re.
markabie how many men OF intelligence
hold the same belief.
1t is always the case that scientists
opinions about climatic revolutions
change with the weather. At every
warm spell they rush into print with
their theories that the earth is sailing Mt
terrific ratio toward the sun and only
the hand OF Providence will prevent us
from colliding with that monster. Then
n cold snap comes and they tell us the
earth Is cooling Mt too rapid rate aud
TINT our habitation is likely to be frozen
up like the moon.
The truth Ia tho weather works in very
narrow limits, says contemporary, who
seems to have been u close observer.
While We arc visited by extremes 81
both heat and cold, a change OF ten de.
grees in either direction above the maxi.
mum or minimum points would make
| life almost unbearable, If it averaged
ten degrees colder in winter or ten dc.
grees hotter in summer, civilization
would be impossible. II would give us
conli,ions so nearly approaching that Of
the Eaquimaux on one hand, aud the
equatorial tribes Oh the other, that oul
present high civilization could not be
maintained. Relativc to the weather
past and present, the Philadelphia Pres!
cites few facts which will apply the
country over. 1tsays:
Just century ago, In January, 100. this cit,
had month oil inter weather exactly like tina
now. For the month 1t averaged ii0. which Il
Just the average for this month thus far, and Us
large city yer! Slightly iaites the temperature
| II Is likely That Jhiillry, l1O with the sIlIlt
reading Of the thermometer; WIS shade warmel
| than now. 4 century hSo-in that Old fashtonct
weather to which e0plc nrc always appealing
] IN this month "boys were often seen swimming
IN the Delaware and schuylkill," there was
thunder and lightning, ms Within the past tel
days. and 1t was not until Febrpnry that col,
weather began.
This is Lot the only warm January OF the frs
| half Of the pust hundred years. In 1891 there
was no Ice In either river and but one dash %
SHOW In January. III $50. 1.-THE weather was IL.
mild rs April" tho mercury ran up to 67a on
several days, md the last week OF january
trees md Ahrubbcry were IN bloom" III ISL
| the FIRST three weeks Of this month had IL nuuI
Der OF days rcuching Gt' III the shade. In ISL
'thc sun shone every day" and such snow as Il
cnmc melted while Il fell. III ISIS "early shrub
berry and trees were beginning to put forth thc!i
| buds" in this month, and the delaware wns ~
free from Ice IN In June, and not Il flake OF snow
was seen with 10' Ms tha maximum ten perature
but the January which throws even this III the
| shade was In 1883. when rain fell on but eight
| days. eighteen were elrae and five cloudy, With
days from CO. to &c from neon to ) p. M, while
title sap rose IN small trees and the shrubbery Sc
ms 10 produce buds, and soulc shrttbbcry tn gar,
dens OF Il sonthcrn exposure put forth leaves"
In ISL. 1877 and 1915, January was nearly as
| warm. The wArmest JanllnryS sin01 then hnvr
| been 1861. 1874. 1876 and 1880.
We submit that these warm iAcis shake The
force of declarations that winters arc warmer
| than they were. They have not changed.