Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-25

tiic world
Methods Of Some "forecaskers.'
While the predictions of the wealth
CT bureau are based upon the actual
conditions over the country as shown
by the daily maps. those Of the So
called long-range forecasters are
founded on a number of various prln-
cipIes. One bases his conclusions
upon the records Of many years; an
other claims that the weather is con-
trolled by planetary combinations and
stellar Influences: third bases his
predictions upon the spots upon the
sun. declaring that the solar spots
control our weather: another claims
TO be endowed with periods Of inspira.
ton during which he devotes his time
to weather making" and wires; just
what sort Of weather to expect during
the coming year There is probably
another class that adopts a cOmbina-
ton of all the preceding methods. In
all eases the predictions emanatine
from such sources are couched in
such ambiguous terms as to apniv
about as we'll to thunderstorm. hur-
ricane or earthquake. and to one sec
ton Of the country as we'll as the
ether
1t is difficult to imagine how it is
possible for any extra terrestrial
forces. upon which many of the long
range forecasts are based. to produce
a storm unless the action occurs all
over the entire hemisphere. To say
that a storm will occur on certain
Gay and claim a veriication if one
should occur at one place or in one
section of the country is of no COM
Elercial value whatever for there is
scarcely a day when there is not
storm in progress somewhere in the
northern hemisphere. if not in our
own country.
The commonest force to which
weather changes have been ascrbed
is the moon, and this is known to be
! a dead and inert body. which imparts
! to the earth only very small part of
the heat it receives from the sun-so
feeble is this heat that the most pow
erful Instruments are necessary to de-
tect it; therefore there can be but lit
IL caloric action. The theory that
Ia moon produces tides in our at
'eOsphera similar to those of the
ocean has been carefully investigated
with the result that these atmospheric
tides are extremely feeble and can
only be found near the equator and
disappear in the middle latitudes.
Moon Forecasts Useless.
1t has been proven that tempera-
show any periodicity in relation to
that of the phases of the moon. This
fact has been proven by numerous ex-
periments in Germany. France and
ether countries
The planets have yielded very pow
erful theories for weather changes,
but it seems Incredible that any one
no realizes the power of the sun can
| for a moment think that one of his
tiny attendants can Overpower his eff
fects and produce storms in its own
locality
/ By some pseudo weather Dronhpts
ii is claimed that the planet has its
most marked effect when it is far
thest from the line between the
earth and the sun, while others claim
| just the reverse. 1t is to these oppo-
ste theories that are due the well
known results that the storm periods
oI one are the fair periods of the
other. In face of these plain contra
dictions perfect verification of their
guesses are claimed by both.
rigid and impartial system Of verl-
ficatiOn would soon settle the ques-
ton and expose the utter uselessness
OF these guesses, which are doing Dos.
tive injury to the public at large. 1t
is to be regretted that so many news
papers not only give space for these
harmful predictions. but some actual
ly pay for them. Forecasts Of this
description can properly be classed
With advertisement Of quack medi- |
fitA t1y,- e