The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-02-28
U. S. WEATHER BUREAU.
Some Interesting and Instructive Obser-
vations About the Objects 1t Seeks
and the Work it Does
BY CLARENCE ]. NORTON.
PART Y.

PART Y.
The climate of the Mississippi val
ley is strictly continental, being too
far inland to be directly affected by
the modifying influences of surround
ing seas. So, to bring rain into this
valley so far from the great primary
sources of humidity there must of
necessity be vast deal ofexpenditure
of natures forces. 1t is somewhat
like working force pump to draw
water from very deep well; the ma
chinery must be well oiled and in
good order. And for that purpose the
power of the wind is brought into re-
QUESTION. The irrigation of this great
central basin is mainly affected by
wind power; that is, by cyclonie
action. Our main dependence is now,
always has been, and must always
continue to be upon natures system
cyclones. Even If we should use some
of the methods of artificial irrigation
to q limited extent, there would still
be necessity of cyclOnic movement
to draw rainfall to keep up the supply
of water in the ground, and ponds to
be drawn upon for irrigation purposes.
Natures windmills are usually suffic-
lent for the ample watering of this
region withsut artificial aid. This
valley is a great depression in the con-
tinent..or great trough reaching from
the Gulf to the Arctic sea, and this
great trough is open at both ends, so
that the south and north winds have
free course up and down. Here is the
great battle ground, the scene of many
desperate conflict of the elements.
And, asa result of these sharp aerial
contests, the earth is drenched not
with gore, but with refreshing rain.
Last summer this great inland val
ley suffered somewhat from a great
drought,tha was not 80 severe in Kan.
as north of here, that was caused by
change of direction of the storm GEN.
tres at the times when the drought
was most severe, the bulk of the
Flows" mOveing either too far north
or south to give US our full quota of
rain. The usual amount of humidity
was not drawn from the Gulf, or the
humid winds were DETECTED and their
moisture precipitated in other sect
ions. Kansas got enough, but Neb.
Iowa and Dakotes suffered severity,
also Wis. and Minnesota. For days
before this drOugh was broken, large
part of this great interior basin was
swept by winds of excessive violence,
accompanied by unseasOnably high
| temperature. Clouds of Sitting dust
filled the air, and the hearts of the
people were filed with fear and ap-
prehensiOn of famine. There was
almost panic in business circles.
The daily weather map showed an
immence low, or cyclone, central west
of the Missouri river, reaching from
the head of that stream to the Gulf.
The isobars, or lines of equal air pres
sure, were unusually close, making
very steep gradients. The weather
map of the next day showed six isOba-
ric lines in a distance of 800 miles
denOting difference OF siX-tenths of
an inch in the murcery of the baro-
meter between these points.
The wind could not help blowing
under such conditions any more than
water can help flowing rapidly down
steep declivity. 1t was a windy
period long to be remembered. Well,
the wind kept on pumping until the
power of the suction drew vast vol
umes of the Gulf vapors into this CEN
tire. Then the cOling process began,
the rains commenced al the Gulf,
down in Texas, and gradually extend
ing northward until cOpiOus showers
gladdened and revived a belt 1000
miles long and 200 miles in width.
The measurements of rainfall, as a re-
suit of that great cyclone ranged
from one and half to seven inches,
the heaviest rains falling west of the
Missouri.
So those high winds, frightful and
inconvenient though they were,
brought benefieence and joy into this
region. We must, therefore, breast
the storms as they sweep through the
valley, taking our chances of being
blowl into kingdom come by an Oc-
casional excess of natures forces.
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