Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-01-28
GROUND HOG1S DUE
Will Come Out for Peep at the
Sun Next Mon
day.
COLD WEATHER IF SEES SHADOW
If it is Cloudy the Theory is Back
bone OF Winteri is
Broken.

Feb. ?, one week from Aionday, is
the legendary ground hog day, and
at present among those who are be-
levers in the theory in connection
with that day there is speculation as
TO whether the ground hog Will see
his shadow at that time.
The old story is that III the ground
hog sees his shadow on the second
day of February he will go back to
his lair and remain for Il period of
six weeks, which means that we will
have six weeks more of winter. If the
day in question happens to be cloudy
the ground hog fails to see his shatI-
ow, and consequently the winter is
nearing an end and it will not be nee
cssary for him to hibernate six weeks
longer before he can brave the rigors
of the outer world.
OF course it is merely matter of
speculation, but in view of the fact
that the majority of the days this
season have been cloudy, it is per-
haps the safer to wager that the
ground hog will not see his shadow.
Hope for Cloudy Day.
If F,Aere be any bearing upon the
weather during the remainder of the
winter months on account of Old Sol
failing to appear on that day. it will
be hoped that cloud will hide his
Visage. So far the winter has been
favorable in view of the shortage in
the fuel supply, but if we are to have
winter weather until the middle of
March, it viii take great deal of
fuel to last until the balmicr days
Of spring put in their appearance,
when the heating stoves are hustled
To the attic to remain until the blus-
tering winds of fall necessitate their
being brought into Service again.
1t would be fine thing if the wealth
err for the remainder of the winter
could be foretold by this sign. The
they would then be able TO figure
whether they had enough feed for
their cattle for the remainder of the
winter. and to Judge in regard to 9th
er matters equally important to them.
Farmers Want Early Spring.
1t is to be hoped. however. by the
farmers that the season will be an
early one, as the ground is thorough
ly saturated with moisture, and I'M
less the spring weather is favorable
10 get the lanu III COnultiOn SullaDle
for cultivation, much difficulty will
be experienced getting the crops in,
especially oats. If the spring does
not open before April l and then the
usual rain follows, the ground will
not he i'm a tillable condition until in
May. which will he very late for oats,
and a the same time delay the plant
ing of corn.
City people would be pleased to get
tip as to how much more fuel was
going to be needed to last through
the winter. At present buying an
extra ton of coal means n great deal
to some people and TO do so plans
must he made accordingly.
Ground hog day will mean great
deal to some. who believe that condi
tions prevailing upon that day have
more or less bearing upon the rest of
the winter. For these the day will be
awaited with interest. But many
have no faith in the belief that condi
tions on this day have any signiti
canoe in regard to the kind of wealth
er which is to follow and to these of
course the day will be of no moment.