Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-11-09

mdutnNt VI III
Owing TO the seeming Inconsistency |
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 |
radical change. And this has been
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 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-
tified by persons of no very advanced
age.
II was this prevalent opinion that
caused Humboldt to investigate the
matter. In his Views OF Nature" his
conclusion is given as follows; 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
1 and the summers colder. are now gen.
\ orally discredited. There is no evil
dence OF any appreciable change af-
| forded by the American series"
In these days, Il 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.
Or. Noah Webster reviewed this sub
ject most exclusively, both for Europe
and America, and concluded that the
hypothesis OF a change or moderation
OF the climate was unsupported. Arago
published memoir in 1884 10 show
that since the time OF Moses the tenn
perature OF Palestine had not changed
proving thereby that the solar radia-
ton is a constant quantity.
In this country our ablest scientists
have agreed with Elias Loomis in his
conclusion that the mean temperature
and precipitation do not vary from
century 10 century, and that th'
, earth's climate has not changed ma
terIaIly in 1000 years.
nut despite the deductions OF scien
lists from the most reliable records
every notable fiuctuation In the ele
mcnts. causing a temporary departure
from normal weather conditions. is re
rarded by large numbers Of people a
nroof most positive that radica
7, change in the climate is In progress
And the change is often attributed I
| some very trivial causes.
Nearly fifty years ago the writer re
, sided in eastern New York, among tn
, foothills OF the Catskill mountains
, For two successive summers, In tn
: latter part OF the i0's, that region wa
. badly scorched by severe drouths, dui
: ing which forest fires ragged along tn
heayily-timbered ridges and steep side
!, ~ tho lesser mountains. The peopl
. began TO inquire concerning the caus
! NJ thia remarkable change OF cl
: mate" and their learned men gravel
n affirmed that 1t was occasioned by u
construction Of telegraph lines alon
n tho Hudson river at the east and u
A Mohawk valley on the north OF Il
! ..hurnad district" The wires, the
said. formed conductors for atmosphe
n ,c electricity. and drew away all Il
I thunder storms into the valleys, lea
a ing the interior mountain districts Or
;. Ana that wisely formulated theory
!. mo most learned men Of that sectie
A. obtained general acceptance amor
!, tho people. and they began to Ia
!, about taking legal steps to have Il
4. drouth- producing wires removed.
"a aue time. however, the chorus
! croalers was drowned out by the r
turn of normal conditions with supe
abundant rainfall
n is one OF the fads OF pseudo-scle
,,sts 10 ascribe great potency to eie
le ,ric currents in the production OF RAJ
= sall and they gravely assume that t
10 acranh and telephone wires, railro
y tracks, and even the innocent wi
" fences, exert powerful detecting inn
'. ence upon our summer thunder stori
~ ana refreshing showers. THESE On
W cries will not Withstand scientific
no vestigation.
~ or piece with the unscientihc
" ,,ons above referred to Is the theo
that the climate of the west has be
changed and is being practically ruin
nv drainage and cultivation OF I
a lands which in early days were class
IN. os swamp lands. These drained a
,r reclaimed lands do not exceed
he cent OF the entire area OF country
wo which, Il is claimed, such tremendo
TO influence has been exerted upon
ID climate. The alleged cause is al
ct pether too small and insigniiicant
lpt nroduce such widespread eject
Is wholly unphilosophical and uns'
E.at a.