The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-06
HOW RAILROADS AFFECT CLIMATE.
Silent Conductors of Electricity Between
the Earth and the Clouds.

Silent Conductors of Electricity Between
the Earth and the Clouds.
DR.. George W. Sloan has theory con
corning the climatic changes that have
taken place in the United States. espe-
cialy in indiana and farther 20 the west
and northwest, that is apparently borne
out by the facts.
Spreading a map of the United States
before the reporter he began TO explain his
views. You Will observe here" said the
doctor, "the level tract of country lying
between the Mississippi river and the foot
hills of the great chain of mountains
known as the Rockies. That tract in for
mer years was considered, and was for the
most part, an arid plain. Winds from tht
north and south swept over it backward
and forward. 1t was furnished with rivers
having their sources III the mountains, but
there were no extensive bodies of water,
such as the great lakes.
Air currents from the Pacific laden
with moisture striking the mountain
peaks OF the Rockies and Sierra Nevadas,
made snow and rain at the season these
winds prevailed. This gave to the Pacific
coast wet and dry seasons. In order tina.
the sky moisture might be precipitated it
was necessary there should be some cleo
trical connections between the upper cur
rent and the ground. The plains being
practically dry-that is, having no great
bodies of water-there was no evaporation
of moisture 20 produce an electric current,
and in the next place the small amount of
moisture in the clouds was carried east
ward and southwark. Coming to the east,
it came within the influence of the great
lakes that gave and continue to give us
our rain and snow. Cold winds from The
arctic region came rushing down through
this plain, bringing cold weather with
them.
"Of late years there have been built
through the mountains and across these
plains four lines of railway, whose bands
of steel act as silent electrical conductors
bringing into this once arid region good
amount of rain and an amount of vegeta
ton unknown in former times. tits well
known fact that moisture has a mitigating
influence upon temperature, and that there
is not now the severe cold that once charac-
terized the immense area of which l am
speaking. The changes in temperature
west Of Indiana have brought about
changes in our own state. AS to the in
fuence of great bodies of water upon eli
mate we know that the eastern shore OF
Lake Michigan is a good fruit area-that
the winds from the west and northwest
crossing that lake are tempered by its
moisture and reduced in temperature.
"The area east of the lake is a peach
country, while farther south in Indiana,
where this influence is not so great, peach
trees do not withstand the winters. This,
at least, has been the case; but for the last
eight or nine winters the temperature has
been milder and peach trees have survived.
The increase of rain in this state in the
winter is not unconnected with the cleo
trical conditions have named concerning
the great region here on the map. AS rail-
roads have multiplied and trees have been
removed our winter rains have been more
frequent, while there has been less snow
and ice. Cultivation of the land, too, has
brought rain with it. There are also cleo
trieal disturbances connected with the
movements of rains, though perhaps these
are less definite than the other causes
have named.
.iMy idea is that, while we may occa-
sionally have a cold snap to rush down
upon us, these will be but temporary, and
we will never again have long continued
cold winters. Our climate is changing,
and these changes come more through the
influence of man than from nature" In
dinapolis Journal.