The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-11-23
LONG RANGE FORECASTS.
Weather Changes are not Dependent on
Planetary Influences.
j. w. Bauer, Section Director U. S. Weather Bureau

all the sciences, from the earleet
dawn Of civilization, has been ham
pered and burdened by the actions of
men incapable Of mastering the prin-
ciples involved in the study of science,
yet had the keenness to be alive to
the possibilities Of science for the
public good. Those men were un-
scrupulous enough to assume the to
them false garb Of knowledge, and in
that:false garb possesses apostles OF
the science, for personal gain and
utterly regardless Of the good of
humanity. In their false guise, it
is true, these imposters were but the
laughing stock of men Of science and
deemed unworthy Of serious notice,
while the ignorant and credulous be-
lieved more readily in the false than
10 the true, as the former promised
more, were more mysterious, claimed
TO know it all, and it is too sadly true,
i that the people in ages past, as in our
4 own age, delighted in being bum
4 bugged and were willing to pay for
4 their pleasures.
a Thus it was that the beautiful
a science of astronomy that demon
h strates with such exactness the mo-
Y tion of the heavenly bodies and that
H teachee other properties that pertain
b to them only, gave rise to the astrolo-
"a ger who made the credulous believe
that planets had an influence on the
n destinies Of men, until wiser age de-
S stroyed the fallacy. Thus it was that
Il chemistry gave rise to the alchemist
H who in his mysterious and prefer
T. natural processes made the credulous
n believe:.that he had the command of
@the much sought for elixir of life.
q Thus it was that the science Of medi-
Hcine gave rise to the quack with his
HHnostrums and who, even today, de-
gludes the sick and afflicted with his
sadeadly doses; and thus it is that the
beautiful and intricate science Of
Gmeteorology and weather forecasting
Hhas given rise to its own peculiar
parasites, host of long range weather
Hforecasters, that in mysterious and
Hwholly irrational way claim to be able
no foresee that which patient, hard
Ehnd intelligent study Of meteorology
Eby learned men in ell PARTS of the
world has not been able to do, and
by them has been declared impracti-
kable.
It is true that our own weather bu-
beau and the meteorological services
f hergcountries have demonstrated
Bhe practicability Of forecasting the
weather. for from one, two or in very
favorable conditions three days in ad-
v d Bance with reasonable accuracy, but
honest forecasters, with one accord,
Reny the possibility Of foreoasting the
FEATHER for month or season in
Rdvance, and yet these charlatans,
hkes, or whatnots, who make fair
hough fraudulent living by selling
Ech forecasts 20 the public, and,
hat is still more strange reputable
hpers, that ordinarily are not willing
hrties to any fraud publish such fore
&C Rsts in their columns.
urra The desirability of long range fore
in qsts is admitted, their usefulness, if
Bey were possible, cannot be gain
Hid, and their attempt is not depre-
Rted; on tho, contrary success is ar
Nntly hoped for and encouraged on
Y Eional grounds, but their practice-
]CLaity is, at present, wholly denied
IL d can be shown by an attempt, how
I Ier friendly, to verify them when
y er made. People who are familiar
- fh meteorology know, this,. but the
.1s. Any have not studied the science,
an 4 influenced by their desire for
M Iowledge and misled by the spurious
% y APPugh plausible claim Of unprinoipled
lg range forecasters, readily buy
Cha4 believe the goods to be genuine.
test it's worth by actual verif-
Q hig4ion, but credulously accept an aoci-
,srlaA SnnaA Atal agreement between the. fore
ted weather and what actually oc-
1,e me ssdred as convincing proof, while the
lures that so numerously happen,
essHs nf taa oted at all, are charitably forgiven
eated4 forgotten. It would indeed be
~ .sa;ioa ange Il come e he lo1s range fore
J combs did not prove correct, for the
lnces are about ~ one in Eve that
will. if ordinary intelligence is
,l FcisetI in making them, and it is
probability Of chance that gives
to the long range forecaster. But
las other deceptive devices such