The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-12-08
TAKES issue
WITH BEALS
Local Observer Would not be so Sc.
we're on Long range Prophets
Hicks May be Right.

| bue pIcss VI t06 6tdJe DATtlCulaTIy
strong denunciation of long-range
weather prophets. There seems to be an
unfriendly feeling existing between
the weather bureau operatives and some
of these prognosticators and Mr.. Baali
attempts to set the public right on tn,
subject of fake weather forecasts in tht
following letter:
There are today In the United States
as well as in other civilized countries, q
few persons who make their living BY
publishing so called long range weather
forecasts, based upon old theories which
have no foundation, and which scientific
men long ago rejected. We also find in
almost every community some man who
sets himself up for weather prophet,
and who prognosticates, year after year.
hard winters, dry spells, and other ca
lamities Once in a while he hits the
mark, and then his az told you so'
receives public acknowledgement ;
all his previous misses are forgotten, and
great is his fame throughout the
land
These men may be conscientious in
their beliefs, or regular tricksters, 1t
matters not which, and does not change
the fact that their sayings and doings
are an inheritance of dark ages, when
oil the world was yelled in superstition
and ignorance. This we know, for by
tracing back the mental progress OF the
human race we find that all savsges to-
day have their rain makers and rain
shoppers, and that the patriarchal tribes
still believe that comets, eclipses and
other unusual appearances forebode
dire disasters. Also, anciently, the
most civilized nations, such as Chal-
deans, Egyptians, Jews, Greeks and
Romans had their soothsayers and ora.
cles, who imposed upon a credulous
public.
Latterly, the astrologers Of the middle
aces had large following, and from the
beginning of the 10th century up to the
10th century they flooded Germany,
France and Great Britain with almanacs
containing prophecies Of the weather,
as we'll as prophecies regarding the mi
nutest details of conduct in the daily
lives Of people. These prophecies were
the merest twaddle, but it took long
time after Copernicus had exploded the
theory that our little world was the GEN.
ter of the universe before the belief in
astrology received any check. Now it
has so far disappeared that none but
artful plunderers and ignorant dupes
give 1t slightest countenance.
1t is not the so-called long range
weather forecasters. Unfortunately,
many people, and some Of the less care
full publishers, are apparently in igno-
ran nf ihn ho Af l,n Il II
these sef-adpointed prophets. We can
not account for the continued publica.
tion OF their utterances in any other
way.
Characterizing them as takers and inn
posters avail us little. The people them.
selves must decide as to the true worth
of their work. Let those who have any
interest in the matter carefully compare
the published forecasts with actual
weather day by day, for in no other way
will the worthlessness OF the whole mis-.
chievous business be exposed. Yours
truly, EDWARD A. BEALs,
District FOrecaster.
The above was shown to D. N .Byerlee,
local observer at Hood River and asked
If he had seen the article.
eyes," he replied, 81 read Section
Director Beal's roast Of the e'long-dlstance'
fore1asters some time ago. In the main
Director Beals is eminently correct, but
| really think Mr.. Beals is too radical.
OF course, no person who is conversant
with the modern discoveries in astrono-
my and other departments OF know
ledge can for moment indulge in the
superstitious beliefs Of the dark ages re.
ferred to by Mr.. Beals.
"But, because we know that the vaga.
ries of the ancient astrologers, sooth-
sayers, so-called witches, ETC., we're ut.
terly void Of merit or truthfulness, it
does not necessarily follow that all
prognosticators are such. Take Irl
Hicks of st. Louis, for instance, who
claims that his forecasts are made upon
existing natural laws, scientifically
demonstrable facts. Mr.. Hicks claim
an electrical or other elementary con-
nection between the sun and all the
planets. Can Mr.. Beals or any other
scientist demonstrate the falsity OF this
claim2 i do not believe any one will
attempt it. Until we know more about
the source and substance OF electricity,
we should not be too radical in pre-
scribing the limits of its field of opera
ton.
"Within the last few decades it has
been demonstrated that the atom, which
at one time was believed to be indi.
visible, the very smallest particle of
matter, is composed OF myriads OF
smaller particles each Of which are be-
lieved TO be composed OF more than one
element. A few years ago hundreds OF
articles classified as Opaque, impervious
to light, are now as easily penetrated
by the X-ray as is the air by sunlight.
The recent discovery of Radium has
opened wider and more wonderful
field Of experiment in light and heat.
That which has not yet been discovered
in nature may yet, when brought to our
knowledge, make our present limited,
narrow conceptions of inter-planetary
influence appear as frivolous and faulty
as is TO us now the present Chinese idea
of the shape Of earth, who believe it to
be square, fiat body, contending that
if the earth we're round it would roll
away. One Of the latest fruits OF scientific
research lie the ability TO measure the
!electrone, the atom Of electricity, and
to demonstrate that even this atom is
dlvisible into two or more different
elements.
"We all know that the sun and moon
control the tides OF the ocean; we un-
understand that it is the attraction of
these bodies on the earth pulling the
waters up and thus causing the tides !;
but who can say what that attraction
consists off OF what is it's substance?
Is that force form Of electricity Is
it magnetism Certainly not in any
form with which we are familiar. Yet
it is a force in nature.
"We all know what the Aurora Bore
alis is. That is, we know it when we
see the phenomena. We believe it is
is a visible display Of electricity. Years
ago when working as telegraph operator
in Iowa and Nebraska I could often