Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-17


of one extreme to be followed by another,
and this oscillation from dry to wet, or
vice versa, may be accomplished quickly
or it may run through three or four years.
One of the most remarkable indiv. dual
cases of a complete reversal within two
years is that of Mount Hamilton, Cal, on
whose summit SOL inches of RAIN and
melted snow were measured IN 1854, Bat
only 1874 inches in 1855. Thesyear 1854 was
one of generally heavy precipitation
throughout the Pacific coast and, in a
region west of the Rocky mountains dur
ing the months of JanuaFy, February,
March and December. In q great many
cases the early part of 1885 iwas dry An
other interesting case IS shatsof the general
drought over large poreion of the plateau,
region in 1889. The Humboidt RIVER in
Nevada, which had flowed m.pterruptedly
for thirty years. went dry. The precipi-
tation on the headwatees az that stream
mad been decreasing Gradually for several
years. reaching minimum ef 5.3 inches in
1887, and continuing low during 1888 and
1889. Elsewhere the drought was also Sc
vere but 1t was finally broken by success
sion of atmospheric disturbances, which
passed over the plateau region far south
OF the usual course Of such storms ant,
precipitated heavy rains over central and
lower California, Nevada, Arizona ard
Utah. AS much rain fell at Fort Mohave.
In the desert of that name. in the single
month of December as fell in the four
years. lsSO-1Ss3. On the other hand, the
precipitation of Washington and Oregon
was exceedingly scapty, being the least
ever known in December at a number G.
places.
The precipitation of the Ohio valley d.
1ers from that of the lake region pr;nc-
pally in quantity and evenness of d:str:bu-
ton. The precipitation of winter is con.
siderabiy heavier and often in the form of
rain. whereas that of the lake region. es
fhn Ill,
form of light snow. -,
The precipitation of the middle states fs
uniformly distributed throughout the wear
ana there is sufficient, on the averare for
tne needs OF commerce and agriculture. Its
geographic position IS favorable to moder-
ATE precipitation at all seasons being a.,
most In direct course of atmospheric dis
lurnances, whether advancing from the
southwest or by way of the lake rorion
vast sums of money are expended e,ob
year in the construction of sewers an1
drainage systems, In designing main sew
ers for large areas a thorough knowIed 90
o! the vicissitudes of rainfall of the re-
eien, particularly as regards the INTENSITY
ana duration Of the heavier falls. is es
sentiaL 10 Co
A number of heavy transforms occurred
during the past year; in many cases the
capacity of the sewers was not equal to
the task of d;scharging the accumulat led
storm waters. Failure of sewers to carry
of flood waters is not a new problem in
municipal engineering. although it has
cost. in damage to property and resultinr
il'lgauon' many thousands of dollars
The Cloudburxts.
The most violent rains and at the same
time those of which least is known. are
the so-calied cloudburst of the mountain
Gus and arid regions of the west. These
storms are not confined to any particular
state or region. but may occur in noun
t1lnOlIS
territory bounded by the British nosses
sions on the north. the Mexican border on
TIE south, the foothills of the Rockies on
tne east and the Sierras on the west In
the true cloudbIrst the rain seems to[nour
uowh, ratner than fall in drops. It often
happens that the downpour occurs over
marrow basins or on mountain stones whose
Outlets are canyons gorges leading to a
valley or plain below In such cases al
most the entire amount of wafer uuickh,
III Us IT'S way into the drainage channel
ana as result a wave of wafer rushes
Gown the outlet with great velocity and
~ stiIiiclent volume to destroy everything
III us pain. such a food wave almost
swept away the town of E,fre ka, New. in
isI4 and caused the Joss of fifteen lives
1ar greater disaster occurred in Rear
Creek canyon Colorado. in july. 1s,s;
Wnen thirty lives were lost and propertv
stroyed. "e
Inc amount of rain that fails in one of
THESE torrential dowrpours has never been
ascer'ained A cloudburst passed over the
ecse OF the little town ef Palmetto New
IN August, 1890. A rain gauge that was moi
exposed to the full intensity of the storm
caught $50 inches of water in an hour. In
august; 1891 two storms passed over Cam
pc. cal. within few minutes of each
other. The second storm was yeritahIe
cioadburst. The observer succeeded in
measuring the rainfall of the first shower
ana portion of the second. Eleven and a
haif inches were measured within an hour
The rain gauge and support were carried
away by the torrent of water, and the full
record of the storm was not obtained.
me great majority of excessive rains in
hundred and fifth meridian. and principally
In the summer months. They are most fire.
quent in connection with summer after
noon thunder storms. but occasionally oc-
cur IN the track of West india hurricanes
They are more abundant on the gulf and
south Atlantic coasts than at inland points