New-York tribune., 1897-07-29
ST. SWITHIN INDICATED.
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTINU-
Gus DOWNPOUR.
rur RAIN pEIJyGEp THE CITY YESTERDAY. But
THE WEATHER BUREAU PROMISES
SUNSHINE FOR To-DAY-sEAsIDE
HOTELS AND FARMERS sUs-


SUNSHINE FOR To-DAY-sEAsIDE
HOTELS AND FARMERS sUs-
TAIN HEAVY LOSSES.
7. would appear that ST. Swithin is an over
much abused Individual. and that the anathemas
that have been heaped upon his head of late be-
cause OF the continuous rain with which ne mas
been accredited with deluging this part OF inc
country are entirely undeserved. Day a1ter ia!
the little verse that predicts forty days OF rain
q, u nours on St Swithin's anniversary has been
repeated by thousands of disconsolate ana
drenched people, and there is probably not
newspaper in the city that has not referred to
the rhymng tradition. And yet after all II
seems that the rainy saint Is entirely guiitless
OF responsibility for the wretched weather con-
ditions that have prevailed for the greater part
OF the present month.
If WAS left for The Tribune to do justice to
the canonized prelate Of Winchester in its edito
rial columns yesterday. Therein 1t was pointed
ont that July Is last was fair and dry in New
York. and in fact, all over the country. with the
execution Of local showers In the Ohio and Ten
nessee valleys. This statement Is supported by
tho officials Of the Weather Bureau. f. II.
Emery. who Is temporarily In charge of the de-
nartment said yesterday that no rain fell on
the 18TH nor upon the two succeeding days.
Thus another blow has been dealt superstition
that has been handed down to posterity for gen.
erations.
PROMISE OF SUNSHINE.
peonIe who have been wondering whether or
M. forty days of rain were really In store for
tbeno will be relieved to know that there Is at
length some prospect of clearer weather. To-
dav according to the predictions of Mr.. Emery,
will probably see the beginning of bright and
warm period Throughout the country west OF
the lower lake regions fair weather existed yes
,crday. and with the dissipation by westerly
winds Of the storm centre lowering over the lower
lakes relief will come from conditions that have
tended to make this July the most miserable
that memory recalls for many years
In more than one respect the month has been
, Variable freak II has in It's lunar span had
such q combination Of heat, frigidity and coniin-
,,ous rain as no other July can show on the
,ages of Mr. Dunn's records. But rain-laoen as
II has been, there have been two 1'her coii'eiii-
porarv months in previous years WIN srea'ei
volume of rain. In 1S'2 ana 1888 over n"e
,ncbes fel IN July. Rain has fallen every day
with three exceptions since the Ilth OF 'he
nresent month. the total fall UP to : a m. yes
terday being 694 inches. In the subsequent
twelve hours no less than 1.5l inches was meas
inches. But unless the forecast Of the oihc'ai
weather prophets is verified it is likely that TINS
month will create yet another precedent %!
heating the 63 record of July. lSs9
RAIN FELL IN TORRENTS.
x...orao,.s conditions compared we'll with the
worst of the days that preceded It, KAN zen
,,.arr,ittentlv the whole of the day, over the
citv hung a thick impenetrable blanket OF
Gloom md q chilling easterly wind swept AT d
t,,-nty-mfie rate along the streets. TO aao 10
the thorough depravity of the day an uhcoiiI-
fortably high percentage of humidity pre'aneu'
With one exception it was the coldest July - oii
racord and those who took the precaution TO
wear overcoats had good cause to he grateful
Dur,ng the early part of the day thin. driz-
cling rain such as London is accustomed TO- pu'
which is misfit for New-York at TINS time ol
the wear made it distressing for pedestrians
Little change took place until about o. CLOCK III
the afternoon, when the rain began 10 IAN with
the persistency and force of iropical stoiH'
For hours it continued without the sign of abate-
ment To make matters even WORSE t"o
,bunderstorms brole over the city at night'
flooding the st -eets to such an extent as 10 MAKE
them almost impossible in many places.
HOTEL PROPRIETORs SUFFER.
The prolonged wet weather. besides being
sourca of discomfort to city residents. has more
sa-,ous consequences to answer for. From the
hotel and clearinghouse keepers at the seasioe
and inland country resorts are heard ioud
lamentations and they tell of the loss because
of the continued rain OF many thousands OF dol
lars Transportation companies furnishing ac-
cournodations to the rearby seaSnoree die as
,oro,iaipipo and II has been estimated Dy all
Official of the Starin Line that the loss 10 uiiiei
ent companies has not been less thdh iou o
million Of dollars Fol- days past the plea9ul' pH
steamers that ply from New-York have ire
ouently not carried more than score OF pas
sengers on a trip q, ,os,,,
The evneriences Of the hotel and boarding
house nronrietors and of people who cater 10
The anust nent of visitors to holiday places
have been equally disastrous. AL the pes' , NJ
season. during which time they rely upon ma an
Ing money enough to carry them through tne
rest Of the wear. lasts only about 1our mohths
Consequently a whole month OF pau Wea.nei
will bring many of them race 10 race VIII az az tt
bankrupfcy From every popular resort IN the
vicinity of New-York reports are arriving tna'
the season has been wel-nigh killed py the 1, re-
lentless rain Many of the places are a,,,,oos 30
deserted. and guests, tired OF the hlonotoh! oi
the dreary weather are leaving for theT Guy
homes in such numbers that the hoteis aIe .o oe
coming greatly depleted Such depressed s'aue az,
OF things could not have happened a' iiioie III
opportune time Of the summer
1T COMES AT THEIR HARVEST TINE.
From the middle of July until the beginning
OF September the hotel man looks for MS pest
harvest time Usually those six weeks mean "
him period Of large receipts Therelofe' WIZ,
many Of their guests already driven away anu
with the prospect that the combined coiu anu
wet will persuade others to forego their usuai so
!ourn by the sea this year the OUTLOOK Is eSpe
c!ay ominous Even If the rest OF the suiii',. sum al
should assume its brightest earo, arad .nr ,V''''
ready sustained will hardls be recovered: -,
Even more banefu have been the eiuo' - tba
the extended rainfall upon the 1aIiieis al an and
In, 70 Wy
the surrounding States. crops, pait@icuia @ ;
those which lie close TO the earth. nave peeh
ously damaged The wheat. oat anu nay S ore
that have been cut cannot be housed anu o. b
Suffering from the excessive molstuIe. ~ IN
products as melons and tomatoes are iui1ieu IT,. -,
many sections. while advices from NJ 49, Tb