Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-01-27
HOW RAILROADS AFFECT CLIMATE.



an~nt c~xs<sustar. Of Eaentrielty netween
the Esrkh ana the Cicuds.
Or. George w. Sloan has theory con-
c6rnfn9 the climatic changes that have
taken place In the United States, espe-
ciaily In Indiana and farther TO the west
ard northwest, that 10 apparently borne
ont b. the facts.
Spreading map OF tho United States
before the reporter he began 70 explain his
vtewa. You will observe here" said tho
doctor, "ths level tract of country lying
between the Mississippi river and the foot
hills az the great chain OF mountains
known as the Rockies That tract In for
NOR years was considered, and was for the
most part, an arid plain. Winds from the
north and south swept over 1t backward
and forward. Il was furnished with rivers
having their sources In the mountains, but
there were no extensive bodies of water.
such ~ 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 that
tho sky moisture might be precipitated II
wns necessary there should be some cleo
tGtIul IJttfEItNN&fs VEtNcx1 tnc upper IuT-
rent and the ground. The plains being
practically dry--that Is. having no great
bodies Of water-there was no evaporation
Of moisture to 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,
Il came within the influence Of the great
lakes that gave and continue to give us
cur rain and snow. Cold windb 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 ar silent electrical conductors,
bringing into this once arid region a good
amount Of rain and nm amount OF vegeta-
tion unknown In former times. Iii well
Known fact that moisture has mitigating
influence upon temperature, and that there
b not now the severe cold that once charac-
terized the immense area OF which ] am
speaking. The changes In temperature
west Of Indiana have brought about
changes in our own state. AS TO the in
duence OF great boiies Of water upon cli-
mate we know that the eastern shore of
Lake Michigan Ii good fruit area--that
the winds from the west and northwest
crossing that lake are tempered BY Its
moisture and reduced In temperature.
1.-THE area east OF the lake Is a peach
country, while farther south in Indiana,
where this influence Is not 80 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 n not unconnected with the cleo
trical conditions have named concerning
the great region here ON the map. Az 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 Ii. There are also cleo
trical disturbances connected with the
movements OF rains, though perhaps these
are less definite than the other causes
have named.
MY idea Is that, while we may occa-
sionally have a cold snap 10 rush down
upon ns, 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-
dtnepoIis journal