The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-25

This was only one of the many false no.
lions derived from the fact that varia-
tons in average heat OF cold are very ap-
| parent in some seasons as compared with
| others.
| Prof. Willis L. Moore Chief of the
| Weather Bureau. in recent report ex-
| presses the opinion that so far as can be
| ascertained there has been no radical al
! iteration in the weather conditions of this
country from the earliest periods of its
history UP to the present time; that is to
say. he finds reason to believe that. while
one or even more seasons may disclose
| very sensible differences with previous
| years, there has been no permanent yari-
! alton Of atmospheric conditions which
would warrant the statement that the eli
mate had undergone any alteration.
The Opinion of snge.
Thomas jefferson. writing in 1871, said:
"A change in climate Is taking place
very sensibly Both heat and cold are be-
coming much more moderate within the
memory Of even the middle-aged. Shows
are less frequent and less deep. They do
not often lie below the mountain more
than one. two, or three days, and very
rarely a week .fhe SHOWS are remember
ed to have been formerly frequent. deep,
and OF long continuance. The elderly in
form me that the earth used to be covered
with snow about three months in every
year"
Prof. Moore writes: But Jefferson and
his neighbors were mistaken. Never dur
ing the period of authentic history has the
snow covered the ground in Virginia 1.-THE
State where jefferson made his observa-
tions) for periods averaging three months
per year for three years in succession. The
old inhabitants of Jeflerson's time were
like those OF today-they remembered only
the abnormalities of the climate of twenty
five or fifty years before, and in compar
ing the usual conditions of long ago With
the average OF the present. were deceived.
have known intelligent and truthful
men publicly to declare that they knew
from personal recollection that the eli
mate of their particular places Of residence
had changed since they were boys. that
they had reliable landmarks to show that
the streams were drying up; that rain and
snoyfalls were becoming less frequent and
that the winters were becoming milder
not, outstanding the fact that carefully
taken observations of temperature and
| rain for each day for the previous hundred
years showed no alteration OF climate at
such places OF course. wide variations
|
eral years. had occurred, but a deficit at
| one time was made up by an excess at
another"
Professor Moore believes that no sensi-
BILE change has taken place. so far as can
be ascertained, in the climatic conditions
of any Part of the world since the begin
ming of its history. Quite accurate records
of the opening of navigation in the rivers
of Europe and of the time of yintages for
five hundred years show no change in the
| average data of the first ten years as COM
| nared with the average of the last ten and
the date palm the vine. and the fig tree
| flourish as luxuriaptly today in Palestine
as they did in thesdays of Moses. Dried
nlants have been taken from the mummy
cases of the Pharaohs exactly similar to
those now hoursbiDg upon the soil once
the abiding places of those ancient mon
archs. ~
II was noted in this country several
| wears ago, when the tide of foreign immi-
grafton was strong, that there were sew
| eral years OF rather mcve than average
rainfall in regions that heretofore had
| had little Precipitation. These two condi
tions were coIncidnut.h says Prof Moore.
"bv mere accident; but the fact probably
| gave rise TO the theory that civilization
| brings an increase in precipitation. II was
| tboupht at the time referred TO, that the
breaking of The virgin soil, making IL more
permeabie. and thereby conserving the
| scant deposit of moisture; the planting OF