The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-01


in climate The rise Of the lake waters
represents either a period Of CRATER rain
fan, or lessened evapora ton or both; for
Ii tells of the transformation Of a desert
r. on of interior drainage to one of suf-
ncient rainfall or sufficiently diminished
evaporation. to permit of overflow to the
sea. Net only do we find evidence of vast
changes Of climate here, but other des
ert regions, both in the Great Basin and
in other parts of the world tell of SINH
lar changes. Enough evidence has been
accumulated here and elsewhere to prove
that the climate OF many regions watch
we know is different now from what il
was in the past and to give fair basis
for prediction that it win be different still
ia the future.
Whether these changes are due 10 varia
ton in land level, to the formation or re-
novel of land barriers which interfere
with free movement of wind currents, to
the changes in ocean currents or to other
purely geographic variations, or whether
they are 10 be ascribed to astronomical
causes OF known or unknown origin can
NOS be settled now hypothesis are NOT
lacking. and each hypothesis has its ad-
Yocates; but all are hypotheses stil. Man
has lived for too short a time on the
earth, and the knowledge Of fact that he
has acquired is far TOO limited, to w9r-
rant any conclusion upon this as upon
many other large questions. The fact
of change in climate must be accepted as
fact amply proved; the cause of the
change must remain among the great
problems for the future TO solve.
1t is Interesting 10 note, however that
the changes in the climate of the Salt
Lake region harmonic with the climatic
changes that have been worked out by the
studies of the glacial deposits of the East.
There were two notable advances of the
ice, as there were two notable rises of
the lake waters. Not only this, but there
is known 10 have been extensive glaciation
among the mountains of the West; and,
moreover. that this glacation occurred at
the same time that Lhe lakes were higher,
This suggests thai whatever caused the
glaciation of the glacial period alsoicaused
the rise in the lakes. Heavier precpita-
ton in the form of snow among the noun
tains, and lessened evaporation because
of the cold, would suffice to account for
the rise in the lake; but this does not
remove the difficulties of accounting for
the changes, for what caused the heavier
precipitation in the form of snow and che
greater co.d2
There Is evidence of other interesting
changes in conditions registered in this
field During this lake history volcanoes |
beiched forth lava and ashes, and some of
them have been active so recently that
their cones and lava are still fresh as
IL just formed At present there are no
active volcanoes within a radius of thou !
sands of miles. There is also evidence |
that the level of the hand has changed |
percepiibiy since the water left the last |
beaches If the basin should again fill |
the water level would not coincide with |
the beeches previously formed. They have !
been deformed and broken here and there |
SO that they are no longer horizontal, as
they were when built. That is 10 say, !
the mountain growth had not ceased when |
the lake beaches were built.
Such facts as these teach us that the |
earth Is unstable end the seat of change. |
What we see to-day is not what would |
have been seen in the past nor probably |
what will be witnessed in the future The |
stantiy being increased as time passes, |
and as the work Of the army of investiga-
tors proceeds into new regions and in |
creases in detail in better known, sec tons. |
The facts that are gathered cannot al |
ways be understood nor their full mean
ing be interpreted, and this sometimes |
seems discouraging to those who are |
working and discovering them; but little !
by little the earth history is being in
terpreted, and every year sees progress
made. Many more facts are needed, and |
many men are patiently gathering them. |
When the facts are all in the explanation |
will be at hand; but until that time we |
must rest content to allow some things TO |
he mytery When the deposits of glaciers |
all over the world have been carefully |
studied. and the changes in climate of all |
the arid lands of the continents have been |
fully determined, we may hope that even
the mystery of the transformation of tenn |
perate regions to ice fields and of arit; |
deserts to lake-dotted, verdure-cOvere2 |
lands will cease to rank as mystery.
-s-@s