The Delta independent., 1902-08-01
pAnsFALL DECREASING
The Weather Clerk Clains il Is Raining
Less Nov Than Formerly,

Inc Weolher Clerk CIdt03 II Is katn1n3
Less Nov Than Formerly.
The present scarcity Of water has
brought out tho interesting. although
somewhat alarming, fact that for the
last thirty ysars the average annual rain
fall in Colorado has been decreasing.
When the fret twenty-eight years of
The thirty are divided into four perieds
OF seven years each it IL found that the
average annual rainfall is 800 inches
less for the period ending 10 1899 than
tho seven years beginning With 1872.
The year 1901 shows the lowest prsoipi-
tation. e.l0 inshss. il thirty years, sx-
ceptiDg 1898. whom the rainfall vas s4s
inches.
The total reoipitation In inches,
which will. whsn divided into four seven
year periods, show the marked decrease,
10 a. follows: 1872, II %; 1873, 1881;
1874. l3.46; 2s75. II. 10; 1876, 2Ol2; 1877,
10 80; 1878, 1916; 1879, 1886; 1880. 9.5s:
1881, 1919; 1882, 1879; 1888, 10 40; 1884,
1907; 1885, 1885; 1886. Is OF; 1887. l249;
1888. e.5l; 1889. 1A75; 1890. 9.33; 1891,
q a3; 1892. 1902; 1893, s4s; 1894. l5 90;
1895. 1912; 1895. ll.s4: 1897. 1897; 1898,
IL. %; 1899. 933; 1900. Is %; 1901, 9lo.
Dividing the 6rst twenty eight years
into seven year periods It is sees that
the average precipitation Of the first
period is 1894 inches; in the second,
IA o3; in the third. 1894. and 10 the
fourth. ending with the close OF 1899.
l274 inches The greatest an ount In
any one OF these twenty eight ysars vas
10 1901, when there was 81 l3 iuchea; The
lsast was In 1893. when there vas but
s.4s inches. In 1900 It vas above the
average for the twenty nios years, but
10 1901 = nisimum vas again nearly
reached.
Thsststistics for the consecutive years
we're prepared BY r. H. Brsndsnbutg.
local forecast ofIacisl At Denver. aud di
ssstss of Me weather bureau OF the de
Psrtnsnt Il Asrsesltsrs. Tbs decided
changes froo year 70 ysar. says Mr.
Brasdsnhssa, canpos - aeeuyatsly 40
counted Tor. nor eau they BE- positively
foretold. The sequence Of an extremely
vet and sn extremely dry season doss
not necessarily mean that the theory OF
consistent progress In any one loo 10
throwp out OF reason. Exceptions to all
ruies are continuslly happeping and the
radical changes In climatic conditions
are not due 10 local causes alone.
Colorado 10 frequently visited BY long
dry periods. which iast for several wssks.
These oflon prevail simultaneously over
extensive areas, since the distribution
OF pressure which brings about this con.
dision is generally widespread. The
records at the Denver station show that
since November. 1871. there have been
thirty-six periods OF fifteen to nineteen
dsys duration without u nsasrrsbls
amount OF moisture, and four without
precipitation 10 excess OF .Ol inch. These
periods are most common 10 autumn.
although thoy occur In tie different
seasois, often covering longer periods.
Autumn has . total OF thirty five dry Pc
riods. uintcr twenty -ons, spring ten and
summer live.
A season is considered dry il the total
Tor the three months 10 lees than 80 Der
cent OF tho noru al ssd wet II the total
10 more than 20 per cent above normal.
Both 1895 and 1899 are below the nor.
NAL; 1900. by one OF those exceptions, 10
above. while 1901 again falls below nor
NAL.
The decrease In precipitation, which
statistics show to be existent, disprovss
the old theory OF the IEdians that with
civilization the rainfall increases. The
indians declared that the white men
brought rain with them, and that the
dry season was becoming shorter. Some
OF the old settlers also believe that the
occupation and improvement OF the
country has been followed by an increase
In rainfall. Mr.. Brandsubu however,
says that the aborigin,ss aud the early
settlers did not base their invssliua atiops
upon accurate observations and that
their theories are without foundation
Denver Times.
Az were Saved.
For ysars l suffered such untold mi.
eerv from Rronchifio u.i,-. N