Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-10-10

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and variability of the elements of heat
and humidity, for short periods, the
idea has become prevalent among the
people that the climate is undergoing
a radical change. And this has been
a current delusion in all ages and in
nearly all countries. More than CEN
fury ago this notion was entertained
by some of the more intelligent public
men Of the United States, including
Thomas Jefferson, who, in 1856, stated
his belief that since the clearing away
Of the forest q very sensible change
had taken place in the climate; the
heat as well as the cold had become
less vehement than before, as was tes-
titled by persons Of no very advanced
age.
1t was this prevalent opinion that
caused Humboldt to investigate the
matter. In his "Views of Nature" his
conclusion is given as follows: 1.-THE
statement so frequently advanced,
though unsupported by observation,
that since the first European settle
ments in New England, Pennsylvania
and Virginia, the destruction of many
forests on both sides Of the Allegha-
MES has rendered the climate more
equable, making the winters milder
and the summers colder, are now gem
orally discredited. There is no evil
dence of any appreciable change af-
forded by the American series"
In these days, it will be noted, the
current theory was that clearing away
forests had made the climate more
equable, but in latter years the oppo-
site view has obtained But. in fact,
neither view is correct: that is. there
has been no appreciable change in the
climate.
DR.. Noah Webster reviewed this sub
ject most exclusively, both for Europe
and America, and concluded that the
hypothesis of change or moderation
Of the climate was unsupported. Arago
published a memoir in 1884 to show
that since the time Of Moses the tenn
perature of Palestine had not changed,
proving thereby that the solar radia-
ton is constant quantity.
In this country our ablest scientists
have agreed with Elias LOOMS in his
conclusion that the mean temperature
and precipitation do not vary from
century to century, and that the
earth's climate has not changed ma
terialIy in 1000 years.
But despite the deductions Of scien-
lists from the most reliable records,
every notable fluctuation in the ele-
ments, causing a temporary departure
from normal weather conditions, is re-
garded by large numbers of people as
proof most positive that radical
change in the climate is in progress.
And the change is often attributed to
some very trivial causes.
Nearly fifty years ago the writer re-
sided in eastern New York, among the
foothills of the Catskill mountains.
For two successive summers, in the
latter part Of the 4O's, that region was
badly scorched by severe drouths, dur
ing which forest fires ragged along the
heavily-timbered ridges and steep sides
of the lesser mountains. The people
began to inquire concerning the cause
Of this remarkable Change Of cli-
mate" and their learned men gravely
affirmed that it was occasioned by the
construction Of telegraph lines along
the Hudson river at the east and the
Mohawk valley on the north Of the
burned district" The wires, they
said, formed conductors for atmospher-
ic electricity, and drew away all the
thunder storms into the valleys, leaV-
ing the interior mountain districts dry.
And that wisely formulated theory OF
the most learned men of that section
obtained general acceptance among
the people, and they began to talk
about taking legal steps to have the
drouth-producing wires removed. In
due time, however, the chorus of
croakers was drowned out by the re-
turn Of normal conditions with super
abundant rainfall.
It is one of the fads of pseudo-scien-
lists to ascrlbe great potency to cleo
trio currents in the production Of rain
fall, and they grayely assume that tel
egraph and telephone wires, railroad
tracks, and even the innocent wire
fences, exert powerful DETECTING infu-
ence upon our summer thunder storms
and refreshing showers. These the
cries will not Withstand scientific in
vestigatlon.
OF a piece with the unsclentifc no
lions above referred to is the theory
that the climate Of the west has been
changed and is being practically ruined
by drainage and cultivation Of the
lands which in early days were classed
as swamp lands. These drained and
reclaimed lands do not exceed per
cent Of the entire area Of country In
which, it is claimed, such tremendous
influence has been exerted upon the
climate. The alleged cause is alto
gether too small and Insignificant to
produce such widespread effect. 1t
is wholly unphilosophical and unsup-
ported by facts.