Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-07-24
W. w. Barrett, the Irrigation Man,
Writes About Hot Winds and
How to Prevent Them.
He Would Fill Up all the Dry
Lakes, Coulees and Low Places
With Water.
Which We Think Rather q Large
Task For Him to Undertake
Single Handed.

North Dakota is one of the most pro-
life, healthy and prosperous of the great
ns-Mississippi states, but it shares in
common with certain climatic conditions
which at times are of an unfavorable ma
ture. All these states seek to improve
these conditions, and it becomes clear to
the best Investigators that great compre-
hensive and practical systems, 10 har-
mony with natures mode of action, must
be devised for the accomplishment of
the desired purpose. And mindful of
duty, the writer joins with others in this
good work involving the best interests of
our great west.
This season the people of our COM
monwealth have good reason for rejoic-
ing because Of an abundance of precipi-
tation, but for the last three consecutive
years the inhabitants of many parts of
our and other western states have ex-
perienced much of'an unpleasant nature,
owing to their crop failures. This has
been mainly due to drcuths resulting
from the absence of moisture and the
prevalence of hot winds. The question
of the causes Of and how to prevent these
winds, which have been the scourge of
the land, has of late received much at
tention. And it cannot be unwise for us
of North Dakota to continue the study
in order to arrive at a clear understand
ing of the matter, which may lead to
more favorable results. Upon investiga-
ton, it becomes apparent that the atmos-
phere like the ocean has it's general cur
rents, but on account of the greater mo-
bility their actions are not so regular as
the great water tides. Allowing for slight
detours, it is found that our hot winds,
or American simoons, come from the
southwest. For days these moistureless
winds have at times swept Q the
west blighting all manner of plant life
along their scorching way. Texas, Kan
cas-, Colorado, Nebraska, the Dakotas
and other states, have felt the destruc-
tive effects. By this means whole for
tunes have been blotted out even in one
short hour. Owing to drouths, the
writer lost his crops for three successive
years. By good judges it has been esti-
mated that at least $50,0O0,0W worth of
grain, each season of drouth, have been
lost to the farmers Of North Dakota
alone. These misfortunes awoke in the
people a determination to take such
steps as seemed best calculated to ulti-
mate in better crop conditions. Thus,
through legislative enactment, was born
the irrigation, meteorological and fores-
try system whereby our state is now
numbered with those that have made the
greatest advancement in these important
sciences.
Already many valuable facts have
come to light and many lessons have
been taught. One discovery is in regard
to the cause Of hot winds.
These winds, it is found,
have their origin in the arid districts
west of the Missouri river. Here, the
sun beaming upon the dry, parched des-
erts or sandy plains and hills, devoid to
a great extent of water and vegetation,
there is generated in the porous soil a
high degree of heat which, acting upon
the layers Of air neal the earth, sur
charges the same with excessive heat
properties permitted by the low absolute
humidity. At such points, through ex-
t%ensive areas, the temperature frequent
ly exceeds 1902 Fahrenheit. These heat
ed masses of air are transferred into hot
pernicious winds by such laws and con-
ditions as are made operative in the wave
currents towards the east or northeast.
This is the view taken by Gen. A.. W.
Greedy, ex-chief signal service officer, and
also of the best climatolagists of our
country. Having discovered the proba-
BILE cause of the hot winds, the question
arises, How can the same be ameliorated
or prevented? All surface water is un-
ceasingly giving forth vspory atoms, the
uniform tendency of which is to cool the
surrounding air, and it has become an
acknowledged fact that when the hot
winds drift across the sheets of water,
they, the winds, are softened down with
the cooling humidity and in this manner
the heated properties are destroyed.
In 1889 all the surface water of North
Dakota disappeared, except in the larger
rivers and lakes, and there was appar-
emily no moisture to tone down or cool
the atmosphere; hence the hot winds
which caused the extensive drouths.
This year We have had much precipita-
ton, and large amounts Of surface water
is found throughout the state and the
west; and therefore, since the heavy
rains, NJ hot winds have appeared. Then
what are the deductions?. If we would
avoid the destructive and dangerous
winds of the western country, surface
puotor oh,,,11 ho proui6o1 IN noa1fu1