The sun., 1890-01-12

lhE SOGuSE On
narrow course. distributing their effects over
long and narrow track. The blizzard passed
ranidly over such track until itTeached New
York where 1t was checked by byacountercurrent q
The sun-spot theory cannot be followed to
any practical conclusion. because 1t Is based
upon data largely speculative. and no tangible
connection can be made with the Information
ct hand between cause and effect.
There are many advocates OF the idea that
weather Is mild or severe according to the data
In fixed cycle OF years. There is the seventy
year theory and the thirty year theory Some
think that winters change from extreme
severity to soft mildness and back again once
every seventy years. Others believe the circle
Is thirty years long. Unfortunately there ore
no reliable statistics reaching back far enough
to prove either Of these theories
The Gulf Stream theory is an interesting
one. and 1t has some strong adherents. Every
body knows that II the Gulf Stream didn't
warm up the British Isles. our English and
Irish and Scotch cousins would have TO emil
CRATE promptly to Uncle Sans and other
shores, for without this benefcent influence
the climate of Crest Britain would be about
that Of Labrador. But everybody does not
know what becomes OF the Gull Stream after 1t
has supplied London with fog. The current
splits. as II were. upon the British lsles ana
half Of 1t continues on north and northeast,
while the rest curves around southeast and
then south. down by tho coast OF Spain and
northwestern Africa. turns west and comes
back again. joining with the equatorial cur
rent sweeping along the northeastern coast OF
South America. and reanters the Gulf OF
Mexico The westerly current back to
America from the other side is widely
distributed and comparatively slow. When 1t
reent0rs the Gulf Of Mexico the current swings
around the almost circular basin. gathering
goes, and then pours out and north again
through he narrow passage between Fiorlda
It sweeps mort heast in n resistlsss march. Its
course Is distinctly marked through the sur
the Color in % many ny csses. but the ihermometer
Is always q sure guide. The temperature OF
the e S ten to TSdK
Some modern investigators deny that the
Cult stream really has any influence on the
Tations made by Nj. j. Thouet and Mr. Findlay
tond to show. In the opinion Of those gentle
itS Of Newfoundland In depth and volume is
no longer great enough to exert any consider
SSus.S Ses of hS mia emStS o ESrope
must be sought elsewhere.
The southeastern coast OF Florida Is directly
tie from the coast, Cape Hatteras being the
nearest point approaching it. The course ss
foundland Banks. Eastern Long Island and
Sp Cod e bs ts Il to
ing. carried off In great slices to Canada.
Either the Gulf Stream or some other strong
acres from the outer shore OF the queer arm
which mbraces MaSsachqsetts Bay, There is
year. and constant alterations In the charts
are necessary. Seatarlng men say the sand
aP oy
almost as rapidly as Cape Cod II losing.
Farmers and othor residents OF eastern Long
Island are quite unanimous In ascriDing the
Gull Gull Stream. Their %Hlelon Is pstural one.
over them much OF the time Tor many weeks.
and dandelions are in bloom where ere, ordipariiy
true true 'sb that Tho % Gaif Stream had in any way
shifted, eastern Long Island would be first to
feel the effects. and they would there be most
While there is evidence that the Gulf Stream
does not follow fixed course II Is pretty well
porary. and that whom the PRESSURE Is removed
II flies back into piaco lust like rubber 6apd
stRsam Is not fRs oessn bottom
stratum or cradle Of colder water. This is
shifable under the influence OF long-continued
reports report about The behavior Of the Gull stream
are received from sea captains by the hydro
poris by The Navy Department The most in
terestinG report Of this in nature ever re elyed
that at noon' Nov. 40, he was In latitude $50 81
n, Longitude 74e 20 W. A. this time the course
was sci n. true. the idea being to let the Gulf
siream, at ION A b.. the Thermometer rising
Up 10 5A. "; Of the 2Uh the, temperature
ranged from 74o to 7B' and no cold bands were
oXperionced. Between and A. NJ: the tenn
perntpre fell TO So, and at noon the ship was IN
Of about longitude 7f' O9, as the Captain ,ex-
pected. Relative TO this obseryation, Cant Nc
Knight states as follows: "Dhe position was
correct. As also the compass error; this was
aiterward proved by the I9ywe made Barnegat.
1heso arc the facts. and have no hesitation In
saying that durinZ my time in the streEm all
sastery current had ceased, although north
Sa1sed by the strong ]. & T. wind j. thidk
another good proof Of this is that we did not
Cross any Of tho cold bands which exist in tho
stream, but simply struck tho warm band and
carried 1t right through" On his next trip
SOUTH leaving New York Dec. 3, the stream set
N. 40 f.. 10 miles In II hours
similar reports are often received regarding
q variation In tho ushal set and velocity Of the
Gulf Stream. hut. IN the opinion OF the officers
oil the hydroRrAphlc service. such variations
can gsAerelly be exclaimed By strong pgeval-
ing eAstOrly windN II is probably only the
suris1s current that is Affected and this only
All thS ofloSrs Of the signal Ssryica reject