Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-13

NltlOHS are very ucCluCu.
The weather bureau is utilizing the
lest talent obtainable in its endeavor
10 meet the requirements of the peO-
pie for whom it was organized, and
contrary to the fake long-range fore
casters, it takes the public into it's
confidence and makes known its theO-
ries and methods. Therefore, the ad-
vancement Of this important branch
of science should not be hindered by
the encouragement of those who have
absolutely no standing in the scien-
tific world.
Methods of Some "Forecasters."
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 number of various prin-
ciples. One bases his conclusions
upon the records of many years; an
ether claims that the weather is con-
trOlled by planetary combinations and
stellar influences: a third bases his
predictions upon the spots upon tho
sun. declaring that the solar spots
control our weather: another claims
10 be endowed with periods of Inspire
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 comhina-
ton of all the preceding methods. In
from such sources are couched in
such ambiguous terms as to apply
about as well to a thunderstorm, hur-
ricane OF 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
q SlOlLI ulIlCSs TIE dCliOH OCCuIS dll
over the entire hemisphere. To say
that storm will occur on a certain
day and claim verification if one
should occur at one place or in one
section of the country is of no COM
mercial value whatever, for there is
scarcely a day when there is not a
storm in progress somewhere in the
northern hemisphere, if not in our
own country.
] The cOmmonest force to which
weather changes have been ascribel
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
tie caloric action. The theory that
the moon produces tides in our at
nosphere 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-
ture, cloldiness and storms do not
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
who 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 prophets
it is claimed that the planet has it's
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
site theories that are due the we'll
known results that the storm periods
OF one are the fair periods Of the
other. In face of these plain contra
dictions perfect veritication of their
A rigid and impartial system of veri
fication would soon settle the ques
ton and expose the utter uselessness
tive Injury to the public at large. II
is to be regretted that so many news
papers not only give space for these
;oti l11t oo+, ,o1