The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-19

Representations Based ON tho Theory of
Ttco of IsadcTsburg,

Tico Of IsadcTsburg.
Speculation in regard TO the winte. Ia
now the ruling topic OF conyotaaton since
the election has gone by and the country
seems to survive and business preserves the
cven tenor OF 1t way as before, says the
Husbandman. But weather prophets are
as much at variance with ench other as
were the political prophets and IL ia just
possible they nny be as badly fooled. The
preponderance OF the prophecies for the
past six months has been that tho present
winter would be an unusually severe one nll
along the line md especially 40 in Mon
tam. But MP to date there has nothing
transpired OF an elementary nature to war
rant such belief. September started in az
II the winter meant to be quite boisteto ous,
but October turned of very mild and Mo-
vomber's storm proved much lighter and
came nearly two weeks later than usual
and the softennQ ~ since and the condi-
ton of the atmosphere at this writing
seems to Indicate that VIC may have quite
spell Of mild weather before winter sets in
in earnest. IL has been stormy and threat
ening ut TIMES. and there has boon IN nb-
sencs of settled ateady wenther. but a fa-
vorable Indication is that the wind has pre-
vailed from the south, and there has been u
great deal Of il. Now. should this wind
continue. 1t betokens o mild but stormy
winter, and We arc inclined to the opinion
that this will prevail. The late DIR. Bark
ley. who was known throughout Montana
ns the lice of Radersberg, used to maintain
that the first three days Of December ruled
the direction of the wind for the next three
months. and that the 9th of January gov
erned ths weather for tho next forty DAYS.
Now, according TO the Barkley theory the
southern winds will prevail, which means
comparatively mild weather. Many old
time residents Of Montana place great
oies. and we have noticed that they
at least Some times come true.
There are others who point to the winter
Smelling Sroze to death, very noted event
in the history of Meagher county rs it
marked the first storm of one of Montana's
verest winters and say we may look for n
repetition of that memorable season, the
winter Of 1871 and IT, That winter the
weather was mild as summer mp to Nov.
oath, Thanksgiving day. whom in the after
noon severe storm came on from the
northwest and the thermometer foil rapidly
and winter prevailed with vengence from
that date until in February before a
chinook set in. Now this was contrary to
the rule for light winters generally follow
open falls and some of our prophets are
looking for the change to come this season.
But il is we'll established fact that if
southwest winds prevail the weather will
AOG Do VoEy boNcIO sD dE dd COtu WShtu5F
goes. II may and probably will be stormy
and unsettled and possibly there may be
| considerable snow and quite severe
on range stock, but we do not look for forty
degrees below zero weather by any means.
Bat whether it turns off mild or cold, and
whether it is showing. or the ranges and
pastut es are bare. we are happy to state
that her people are in bette. condition to
bring their live stock through without loss
than they have ever been. In the first
place, the past summer was good grass
season and the ranges and pastures are very
good indeed; tho hay crop was also very
fine. and never in the history of the country
has it had better hay harvest. The sea-
son was long and free from rain, and our
| farmers and stock growers improved it well
and have on hand the greatest supply OF
feed they have ever had. This being the
case. the country feels quite safe. Yet,
while able to stnnd hard winter, all re-
ioice at very mild one, since the feed in
stacks will keep from one year to another,
and if not used this winter will be jns,
about as good next or 1.-THE winter following.