davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08

these depressions should form and ling
err in those very localities where man
has artificially provided supply OF
moisture tending to bring about just
such conditions.
We may ask why areas of low press
ure have not the same influence in 9TH
er sections, and the answer would be
that the warm air would be drawn to-
v ard their centers in whatever part OF
the country they may happen to form
or move over. In other sections, how
ever in the lake regions, for instance,
should they form there or pass over
that section they would draw sufficient
moisture to give them an active move
ment and carry them to the eastward
without much delay, and the heat of
the country over which they Travelled
and to the south and east Of their CEN
ters would be higher than the normal
for the season. but of short duration,
lasting only so long as the depression
was passing. But in the irrigated lands
the moisture to furnish energy Is
these depressions is not so great, being
only sufficient to give them formation.
While the surrounding country for hum
dreds of miles is covered with a belt
of dry air which practically forms
wall of resistance, through which these
weak depressions can not break. Thus
tDey are Conuned through Lnelr own
weakness for weeks at time and fln-
ally drift off or dissipate. 1t is exceed.
ingly rare that they are reinforced by
storms crossing the Rocky Mountains.
as such disturbances are devoid of
moisture, all the yapor having been
condensed on the west side of the
mountains by the air having been force
ed to such a hight that the moisture
would be condensed by the GOODNESS OF
the elevation.
There is no doubt but that artificial
irrigation has been the means OF
bringing into use land which for years
had been an idle waste, but is it not
of the utmost importance to estimate
what further changes, possibly of the
direst effect, may be wrought thereby
in the development of heat waves and
other atmospheric phenomena before
we decide that the benefits derived
from irrigation are greater than the
evils which follow in it's train? SO
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08

effects upon the surrounding air. IL a
great body of water were suddenly
introduced into a region which before
had been desert, such as was suS-
gested III the induction of The oceon
into the Sahara, there is no doubt but
that TREMENDOUS and permanent at
mospheric alterations would result.
Similarly it is reasonable to suppose
that the irrigation of a great tract OF
land in the west will have been accom-
panied by alteration In weather condi-
lions, hot only local, but widespread
IN influence. And here Is a Significant
fact bearing upon this question.
In 1890, when ] made d careful in
vestigation fcr the Scientific Academy
of New York of the theory that our
climate was changing in consequences
of shifting If the Gulf Stream,
found the alteration of weather condi-
lions was much greater in the Central
West and il that part of the country
just east of tho Rocky mountains than
along the Atlantic coast. Furthermore,
IL developed that many low pressure
storms originated in the great plateau
Of the Rochy mountains; that some
moved slowly northeastward, while
Others fingered with little or no energy
until the whole central mountain sys-
tenn would be enveloped in an oblong
barometric depression, extending over
several states and into the Upper Mis-
souri, valley Often these deprsssloas
Were divided by areas of high pressure
forming two distinct low pressure CEN
tiers of what was a sort of baromstric
trough, During the existence of these
low pressure areas the temperature to
the east and south of them was above
the normal. Many low pressure areas
passing inland from the North Pacific
r ff a
southwark into the states east of the
Rocky mountains, as shown by charts
of storm tracks of the weather bureau
Some reason for this must exist. To
all appearances the reason was arti-
fetal irrigation.
Now, let us see how the recent terri
BILE heat wave that has burned up the
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08

here. What's bettere"
"Why, not doing it, and being paid
for that same. Don't you know that
all the diamond people have dubbed
together into the biggest ring, or trust,
or corner, or whatever you choose TO
call it, of any commercial fraternity
in all the world? This ring either
owns, or has a governing interest In
all the big, mines in Africa, Brazil and
India, and even the lesser ones In
Virginia and Borneo and those places,
and it regulates the output and brings
the price to what it exactly likes. Do
you think that ring would submit to
having another mine opened-my mine
without trying very hard to have
two fingers and thumb in it?"
mot much. And so you offersd to
trade with the ring?"
IT wrote to two Hatton Garden fell
lows knew. They were merchants !
used to buy my diamonds from to ex-
perinentalize with, and invited them
to come down here with an expert
friend. They came. and Brought a
man with them who-on paper. at any
rate--is one of the first chemists of the
day. 1 treated them to a short scien-
tific lecture, stated some facts, and
showed them some specimens. Then
before them I loaded up a small gun
metal cylinder with various things,
screwed on the top and sealed IL.
fs"'Now, Mr.. Levenstein,' said to
one of them, you put that in your
pocket and take it away with you. If
you leave 1t as it is the things safe as
a paving stone. If you try to unscrew
ii before weeks out, you'll have an
explosion which an anarchist might be
proud Of and whatever else happens
to the Diamond Ring, its subsequent
proceedings won't interest you any
more. But If at the end of the week
you take out the stopper--which you
can do then as safely as / put 1t in
you'll find colorless liquid, and rather
a good diamond. I'll make you a pres
ent OF the lot to do what you like with
They went away then, and heard
at the end of the week they'd found
the diamond all right a gem, / guess,
worth about ESQ, and that they sent
to Amsterdam to get it cut into bril-
liant.
well, that specimen gem took its
facets all right. and then I didn't hear
anything more from the Diamond Ring
directly for some time. They communi-
Gated indirectly. First a pyramid of
beer barrels took the opportunity OF
collapsing as / was crossing the brew
cry yard. / escaped by the skin Of my
teeth, and thought II was an accident.
Then there was a gas explosion in my
laboratory, and the place was wrecked
body and walls. BY the greatest mira
Gle on earth I'd just gone outside. and
the only victim was strange man,
who was blown to rags. That made me
Suspicious, and. when, walking across
the fields here tonight, a man came
for me with a knife, I'd this revolver
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08
IT'S NATURES REVENGE.
Dunn Says Destructive Heat Is Re-
suit of Irrig a tion.
BY E. B. Dunn,
Formerly Weather Forecaster New
York Weather Bureau.
Copyright 1901 by e. B. Dunn.

Copyright 1901 by r. B. Dunn.
There has recently afflicted the
states west of the Mississippi river a
heated spell, which, for suffering in
fiicted on human beings and for dam
age done to stock and crops. is perhaps
unexcelled in the weather records. For
a period of several weeks temperatures
ranging in the neighborhood of 100 de-
grees have burnt the life out of vegeta-
ton, so that the full extent Of the loss
will not be known for a long time yet.
Visitation of providence" is the phrase
by which such calamity Is usually
described, but q careful consideration
of the circumstances indicates rather
that the late destructive hot wave is
the result of mans own devices; that
the work of years whereby he has
sought to turn the land to his own pur-
poses Is now bringing about an unex-
pected and alarming result. In short,
there is sound reason for believing that
where man has altered the Landscape
nature has followed by changing the
weather.
1t has been advanced by one of the
leading papers of Colorado in suggest
ing an increased appropriation from
Congress for the extension of the sys-
tenn OF artificial irrigation in the states
west of the Mississippi river that the
great heat waves visiting that section
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08

corn and other crops in the Middle
West came about. In the Irrigation re-
gion of Southeast Montana Northern
wyoming and Nebraska, an area of
low pressure was formed. Storms or
atmospheric depressions move across
any section wher they are nourished
by moisture, but during the warm
months they may linger for weeks
over some section where they do not
gather enough moisture to give them
motive energy, That is what seems TO
have happened in this case, A system
of irrigation continued for years in that
part of the country has now extended
over millions of acres, affording enough
evaporation to call the low pressure
into existence. but not enough energy
to set it in motion.
low pressure area is a sort OF
vacuum into which pour currents OF
air from all sides, The areas OF low
pressure centering over the eastern
Rocky Mountain slope and stretching
into the upper Missouri valley control
the direction of the winds for the entire
region between the Mississippi and the
Rockies and from Montana to Texas.
the general surface direction being to-
ward the center OF atmospheric depres-
sion. The last great heat wave held it's
position varying from Utah northeast
to South Dakota. Consequently vast
volume of super-heated air moved UP
from the torrid south, passing like a
blight over the intermediate corn re-
gions. Such has been the Intensity and
duration of the resulting heat wave
that it has absorbed from the earth
such an amount of moisture as to leave
not enough for plant life, which draws
sufficient moisture from below the sur
face, ordinarily, to nourish it through
weeks Of great heat, long after the sur
face crust of the earth has been parch-
ed and burned.
do not say positively that irrigation
has brought to pass these long station
airy areas of low pressure with their
destructive consequences, but do say
that It is a most significant fact that
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08

are modified by the irrigation system,
and further extension of these water
ways would have an effect in prevent
ing or dissipating the intense heat and
be the means of saving crops in the
future. While this statement may APP
pear to have the right ring and show
that the cause for the loss of crops in
that section had been discovered and
point out a way to remedy the evil by
an appropriation from Congress, there
is another side to the question. Has not
irrigation brought into existence
the very evils which it's advo-
Gates claims that 1t has de-
stroyed? Is not nature. whose
waste and arid places have been wat
cred by mans article, scourgtng the
land with fiery punishment in revenge
for that interference with her plans?
There is certainly ground enough for
belief in this theory to give pause be-
fore we assume broadly that irrigation
is a nitigant of blighting heat and a
savior instead of an incendiary OF
crops.
Certain parts of the country have, IN
the geologic development Of the earth
through thousands of centuries, become
almost drained of moisture. In all
other respects the soil is admirably
suited to mans purposes; farming or
stock raising. If the settler can bring
water thither, the wilderness will bios
som into riches for him, So he sets
about tapping streams, scores or even
hundreds of miles away and present.
ly the dry sell is drinking in m o'7tu-e
from long lines of bitches New vege-
tation springs up; cattle spread abroad
over the ranges; land that was worth
no mans attention assumes a value
and settlers begin to flock to the re-
zion. From the point of view of the
earth on which we live the results are
highly satisfactory.
But the atmosphere which surrounds
the earth, and of the mysterious ana
often terrific working of which We
know 80 little, is highly volatile AMI
sensitive element Changes in the
earth's surface may have tar reaching
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08
DEATH TO PLANT PARASITES.
Even in Autumn They May. KIN
NN Trees and Vines.

Even in Autumn They May. KIN
N Trees and Vines.
Paris green, Scheeles green and Lon
don purple, all of arsenical origin, are
the things wherewith to conquer the
myriads of garden insects Most OF
these insects live by eating or sucking
young leaves, vines and stems. Such
as the squash bug, potato beetle and
grasshopper quickly kill themselves IL
given the chance. To give them the
chance mix half a pound of the poison
powder with half a pound of -four and
q pound, of sifted Stacked lime. Tie Ii
in a cheese cloth bag and dust the
plants well while dew is on them or
just after a rain The poison vanishes
in fifteen to twenty days-beside, If It,
did not, one would have to eat whole.
barrel OF the cabbage at one sitting IL
order to get enough arsenic for a dis
comforting dose. Ri
Bordeaux Mixture-Dissolve a pound
Of blue yitriol in Ave gallons of water,
stirring we'll that no Jumps may be
left. Mix a pound of powdered unslack X
ed lime with water enough to bring IL
to the consistence of creamy milk. Stir
we'll, strain out any grit and mix slow
ly with the vitriol; turn all into four
gallons more of water. This is TO be
sprayed or sprinkled finely upon
shrubs and trees afflicted with rust or
any sort OF fungous growth. II there
are insects as well, some form of ar
senic powder may be added to the mik-
ture, which must be constantly stirred
while the sprinlSling goes forward. Bor-
deaux mixture, indeed, is standard and
sovereign for grape rot, mould, rnildew
and scabby rust. Apply to grape vines
as soon as the fruit sets, so as to pre-
vent even the appearance of evil. A
later application when the berries are
half grown brings them to ripening
sound and perfect
Kerosene Emulsien--Put into a big
Jar half a gallon of kerosene and one
quart Of buttermilk Stir hard 4
wooden paddle-the harder the ter.
In five minutes the emulsion should
begin to swell and grow thick and but
terry. If sweet milk must be used turn
it sour with vinegar before putting IN
the oil. For winter use on outdoor
things dip a sponge in the emulsion
and go lightly over bark and branches,
Never use the emulsion full strength
upon any green and growing thing.
Mix 1t with fifteen or twenty times its
own bulk of luke-wartn, water when
1t is to be used as a spray. Thus used.
II is sure death to plant lice and all
sorts of soft bodied sucking things. For
banishing red spiders stir little sui
phur--an ounce to the quart-into the
emulsion, then dilute with twenty parts
water. Do the spraying or sprinkling
as close as possible, since it stays on
longer then.
Bisulphide of Lime-This is equally
valuable against plant lice. To make
it mix half a pound of -four of sui
phur. with a half pound OF quicklime,
cover the mixture with boiling water
and boil for at least five hours, until a
dark brownish, strong smelling liquid
results. Dilute this liquid with one hum
dred times it's bulk of warm water and
use as. either a wash or a spray.
Emily Holt.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08

your slang?"
But why? What bee have you got
IN your bonnet now? Why ever should
yeu, OF all people. take to manslaugh-
Because, my good McHinnie, as you
remarked for yourself the atmosphere
OF this place has changed. The day
OF evil smells is past, thank good
ness! There's been no free chlorine
on the roam round this barn for three
mortal months. Here, don't light your
pipe at the Bunsen; try spill"
He tore leaf from a valuable Ger
man work on crystallography and
twisted it up. I stared at him with
a puckered head. He flung the book
with crash at a rack OF test tubes,
and laughed.
I'm not mad, or anywhere near it,
he explained But I've done with
original research in chemistry and
chemical physics for ever and ever.
Amen. At the present moment I'm
trying TO levy my fee, and it is not
an easy Job, There's strong propa-
oil1ty that ! shan't earn more than a
coffin and coroner's inquest. BY
the way, where have you been these
last eight months?'' ISL.
COAtSSbiAlS O1IQS ana Averages IN
Madagascar; but never mind that.
Try and tell. me sanely and coneisely
what you've been at recently. It ISM
the marrying tack, I suppose -
Mot much. Look. it's this He
took something from his coat pocket.
pulled out my watch, and scratched
on the glass the word Feel in large,
struggling angular letters.
THE deuce you did" said LET
me look. Shade of Solomon! This
can't be a diamond?"
You can't prove it to be anything
else
An expert could, perhaps"
IAN expert couldn't. For one rea-
son; it happens to be a diamond-va
gem like those of the mine and the
shop. McHinnie. neither more nor
less. That's a rhombic dodecahedron,
merphologically and chemically the
same, as a diamond from Kimberley
or Brazil. Not counting experimental
labor, the actual manufacture of that
crystal cost me 60. On the market,
as YOU see lit now, the stone is worth
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08

for more funds, and got this job of
analyst here in Burton. It's been an
awful time. You know I'm luxurious-
minded chap, fond of purple and soft
living, and yet I've not spent $50 a
twelve month on my body through all
when had my swim in that tank. I've
been biting against the Fates from
waking hour to sleeping time.
The big mistake I worked under for
a long time was in thinking with other
chemists that diamonds were nothing
but pure carbon. 1 did crystalline that,
though didn't say anything about it.
Another man-wMr. Hannay of Glasgow
also did the same thing, and publish
ed his results in 1880. He exposed a
mixture of paraffin spirit in strong
iron tube to the prolonged heat OF a
reverberatory furnace. He got speci
mems of diamantoid carbon, but they
were small in size, and when placed on
the polishing wheel Immediately crum-
bled. I was about as lucky except
that, in addition. had a bad blow-up,
which cost me half femoral muscle,
and will make me limp to my dying
day. Afterward I found that there
was something else in natural
diamonds beside pure carbon;
and working with that some
anee with electrical adjuncts--''
20, look here" ! cut in, 'thatll do
You make me tired"
Z Greek, still Greek to your"
"Emphatically; SO come to results.
You say you know how to make dia-
1nonds of large size for half-nothing a
carat-diamonds which will stand cut
ting, and which are in all respects
equal to the dug-up animal?"
Macdonald nodded. and rubbed his
hands. softly.
And now you're going to put them
on the market? Well, don't flood it,
and you've got the softest thing any
one man ever owned since Noah had
the monopoly for live stock"
ITS highly improbable that / make
or sell single crystal
I turned and stared at him. Was
the man crazy?
There's much better dodge than
setting up diamond factory"
He paused again and laughed.
Speak, you scoundrell" shouted.
Don't keep me in the thumbscrews
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08

overdrawing his account, used to Won
der whether Macdonald was supporting
an invalid mother in luxury elsewhere.
Macdonald knew very few people out
side the brewery. Myself and one other
man made up his list OF callers. AS the
other man pinned himself to travel 10
900 miles per annunl, mostly on foot or
horseback, he did not often turn up at
Burton on Trent; and-also because OF
wanderlust-my own visits rarely
amounted to the biannual Neither Mac
donalds residence nor his menage' were
attractive enough to draw more respec-
table visitors.
He inhabited then a large rectangu-
lar barn, standing by itself in a helo'
1t had originally been grain store
possessed no chimney, and had WIN
dows only in the roof. When necessary
Macdonald procured heat, by exaltlns
brick over two roaring Bunsen purh-
ers; light, by inducing the SAID Bun
sens to cast forth yellow, SMOKY
flames 4 canvas hammock slung
across one angle, and blanket Sleep
ing-sack, saved the formality OF bed
making; the floor was a seat which
never required dragging into position
These things, when reported IN BUT
ton-on- Trent, were looked upon as the
adjunets of a savage. Moreover, there
was usually free chlorine in the air
which, with the other stinks OF the
place, bit heavily into stranger
lung.
Consequently, Macdonald became
pariah, and was left severely alone
which was what he wanted. He natur-
ally earned the reputation OF oeing
mad, which he was not; and OF pelnS
unclean, which was only true Win
modification. For instance, he had d
tank in his barn, and dived there three
daily.
The other attribute which limited at
as being his was business talent
which enabled him to bring off the big
gest Matchmaking coup of the century.
So cunningly had he kept this up his
sleeve, that not even and the other
man knew anything about 1t. He had
exhibited himself UP till then In all
matters commercial as the most un-
methodical creature imaginable.
AS it CHANGED, did not see him till
after the blackmailing scheme had been
laid before the Diamond Ring, and they
were beginning to show their dtstaste
for its proposals in violent form.
He answered my kick on the door
panel with a sharp "Qui vive?" recog-
nizsd my voice, and let me in.
drew, to my surprise, an easy
breath, and commented with point
upon the unwonted clearness OF the at
mosphere. He asked If had a pistol.
No" 1 saidi never carry one. AL
ways too much afraid of shooting my
self And what the deuce do you want
pistol for, anyway"
have one for myself, but thought
you might md II convenient to be arm
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08
"'' MADE DIAMONDS.


copyright, 1901. in the United States
and Great Britain by Cutcliffe hyneD
y is a remark past doubt that Com
xod Macdonald was a most wonderful
chemist
Myself, I know this, and that's why
cav it. His small knot of acquaint-
anees are, with few exceptions, entirely
IGNORANT on the subject. Even the Hat
ton garden people, who ought to know.
have overlooked this talent, in their
awe at one another of the mans pecu-
liar attributes
pedantically, Macdonald was Phi D of
7,sipsic and a D Sc of London-whieh,
.f course. does not go for much, and he
vas also a B A of Cambridge (first
class Nat, Science Tripos, both partsl,
which naturally goes for nothing at all.
uonors men are notorius hzzles in af-
Ter life. and so none of these things in
The least prove that he was usefully
end practically clever. Even the post
Of Burton onTrent, from which he de-
rived a living during some 16 prepare
tory wears, was no criterion of his pow
ers. He was merely analyst in a brew
cry Officially, tndt may argue certain
niceties Of manipulation and an ele-
nnentary knowledge of organic work,
but no operations are required which
are not exhaustively remarked upon in
the textbooks. Original research is en-
tirely foreign to that branch of The
Trade.
For the style of work, he drew good
income-few journeymen analysts could
boast a better-but the exoteric pub
lie failed to see how he spent it. He
Jared on Spanish claret, Camembert
cheese, brown biscuit, and plug tobacco
entirely: bought one inferior suit of
black per annum, which became many
hued with bleach and acid before the
day of discarding; never purchased let
terpress, amusement, or new hats; and
vet wore his money down to the break
ing strain. The local bank manager,
whilst sending him uncivil letters about
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08

fully 1890"
And this is what you've been peg
ging at all these years."
Its what I have had in my mind
all my life. It's what I've worked for
ever since could read or reason, It's
been by o. idea for making for
tune, just as other men try for their
millions in Goals or cotton. I'm there
now; assets ready to realize; but tell
you, old man, the apprenticeship has
been too bad to even remember in de-
tail. The original outfit before even l
touched work was enormous--chemis-
try, mineralogy, and the whole OF
physics, crystallography, geology, me-
chanics all to the utmost verge that
any man had ever worked before. They
took up years of ferocious labor, and
almost all my capital. The balance OF
money went in buying diamonds to ex-
pertinent upon. Then had to work