New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-04
4 DRY, COLD AUTUMN.

The local weather bureau reports that the
temporal re in this city last month averaged
23a degrees below the normal. and that the
deficiency In October a little over de-
grees. The first three or four months of the
year here were much colder than usual, but
from the beginning of May until the close Of
September temperature eccenuicities OF one
kind were offset by those of the other. The
net change in the account during that period
was hardly perceptible. About two months ago,
however, the prepOnderance Of cold again be-
came marked. Under ordinary conditions there
is q fall of 10 degrees from the mean tenn
perature of November to that of December, or
21a degrees a week. The statistics indicate.
therefore that in this vicinity-and probably in
the greater part of the Middle Atlantic States
and New England-the season is only a few
days ahead of time. If the difference has
seemed greater, the erroneous Supposition is
due, perhaps. to the aggravating influence or
searching winds.
From the early appearance of winter It is
not safe TO draw conclusions about the tenn
perature of the next three four months.
Whether or not there will be repetition Of
the severe experience of a year ago cannot be
foretold easily. One can argue with equal pro-
priety in two different ways from the same
facts. On the one hand, it may be assumed
that according to the great law of cOmpensa-
ton, the winter Of 1890 o. should be followed
Immediately by one Of exceptional mildness.
On the other 1t may be urged that some I'M
usual influence has been at work continuously
for two three years 10 produce abnormal
cold. For either opinion there is apparently
some ground. On the whole, 1t is better not 10
take anything for granted but patiently to
await future developments.
Here in the East there a scarcity of raiD
in November. Indeed. except in August. there
has been slight deficiency for the last six
months. a remarkable excess for few days
| in summer counterbalanced these accumulated
! losses, at least IN New-Y0rk City. The local
| shortage to-day is probably no greater than it
! was last May. Press dispatches from the West,
! however, show that other parts Of the country
! have been less fortunate. In Ohio and Illinois
! the precipitation last month was smaller than
| for many preceding years. amounting to scarce
! ~ fifth Of an inch in certain localities. 1t is
now too late for crops to suffer in consequence
! of a lack Of water, but the effect on municipal
reservoirs, miIlponds, railroad water tanks and
! even the navigation Of some Of the tributaries
of the Ohio should already be noticeable. The
| States just mentioned and some others have
| been dependent for their rainfall the baro-
| metric depressiOns which have come down the
| lakes and st. Lawrence Valley during the last
| few weeks. and those storms have neen eXcep
| tionally dry One which took more southerly
| route last Friday and Saturday may have af-
! forded little relief, but by no means as much
| as is needed.
| Had not the Atlantic Coast been visited in tho
mean time by two or three disturbances appar-
| entity Of tropical origin the seaboard might
! have suffered a the West has. These cyclones
have been trying 10 shipping and have made
much mischief on shore. especially with tele-
| graph poles and wires, but they have not been
| without their advantages.