The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-07-30
Great Storms Predicted FOR Next
Winter

Among the weather prophets of this
age and country are several whose fore>
casts have been so generally correct that
instead of being ridicuied as guessers Or
charlatans. as was once the case, they
receive respectful attention. One OF
these weather seers, Professor Foster,
has recently given to the Washington
Post his prCgnostica atoms for eleven
months, beginning with July. The pro
fessor disavows any mystery or any Sc
cret means Of knowing more Of what
changes are to be than others possess,
but plainly says that his prognostica
tons are based on real physical causes.
From his studies of these he is led to
warn his countrymen to be prepared for
an unusually severe winter and for great
storms. These disturbances will be due
to the equinox of Jupiter next January
when he anticipates as terrible weather
as this country experienced in 1929
During that period occurred the histor-
zeal hurricane that visited the lower
Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico, and
numerous other storms of great severity
that extended over many States. He says
the equinoAes OF Jupiter and Saturn al
ways cause great disturbances in our So
lar system, and also that electricity is
the force that causes all storms, and the
sun and all the planets throw and elec-
trio force into space over their equators,
as does the electric dynamo, and conse
quentiy when any planet passes its equi
noctical the electrical tension of the sun
and that planet are disturbed, and sim
ultaneously the electric force of every
planet III the solar system is unbalanced,
which effects the electric currents of the
earth
Whether this theory is true or not the
accuracy of most of Professor Foster
weather prophecies for several years,
! justities the belief that this latest one
will be at least measurably fulfilled. This
storm period will begin in October and
November, if his calculations are correct,
and will extend well into next year
Accepting the fulfil.ment of this proph-
ecy as possible, there are certain things
it would be wise to>do. The first is to
secure as much of the cotton and other
late crops before the possible storm sea-
son shall begin. Another is to provide
shelter for domestic animals and to lay
in unusually large stores of forage.
There are many parts of the South. es-
pecially in the Piedmont and mountain
| Il Of 1uhara tbaSn prOyiciapc for tbo
welfare of stock are never Adequately
made. Southern manufacturers might
advantageously accumulate the mate
rails used in their industries, SO as to
have supply on hand sufficient to out
last any temporary transportation block
AIDES that may occur because of the Sc
verify of the weather, while dealers in
fuel, provisions and other essentials OF
everyday life, ought to take like pre-
cautions for the benefit of their custo>
mers.
A protracted, severe winter invariably
increases the army of friendly invaders
of the South. There are many signs that
should the weather of next winter be
merely of average coldness yet the vol
ume of Northern travel to the South will
| be the greatest on record. But should
the prediction of Professor Foster prove
true. all the desirable places of enters
! tainment in the South will be over-
crowded. Hotel and boarding house
keepers should be ready for this possible
emergency.
While none of these forecasts may come
to pass, there is yet enough of probabili-
/ ty about them to warrant engaging in
! the work of preparation. All who passed
| through the experiences of the graf biz
card that for nearly week held every
city east of the Alleghanies, from PEN
nsylyania to Massachusetts snow bound
that threatened New York with starva>
ton; that nearly exhausted the city's
| fuel supply; that caused the loss of
thousands of domestic animals that de-
stroyed many human lives; that blocked
the wheels of traffic, and that caused
losses aggregating many millions OF dol>
lars, will regard these suggestions as at
least worthy of serious consideration
This unusual storm period may not come
at all, buff it should come !-IM031t-
| facturers' Record