The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-12-08

tell when there was an extra brilliant
display by the working of my instru-
ments, thus giving to me satisfactory
evidence Of the nature of the phenome-
ma. II will seem strange TO many but
am firmly convinced by observations
extending over several years that there
is some occult connection between the
sun spots and the Aurora Borealis, the
effects Of which are almost as marked as
that of the sun and moon on the tides.
The question persistently obtrudes it's
self: What is this force? Through what
substance does it manifest itself2 Sci
entists have not yet been able to decide
conclusively what causes the dark spots
on the sun, much less to say what effect
If any these spots may have upon the
the climatology OF the earth.
| when, therefore, there is so much
do not know, and 30 very little that do
| am very chary of turning down man
who has made life study OF this one
particular branch Of science since befor,
l was born, on what he claims to be Q
scientific basis. Of those who claim
supernatural ability, either God-given
or self-attained, to tell the state of the
weather or any other event from one
years end to another, am in perfect
accord with Director Beals, and believe
them to be simply takers, bilking the
gullible of the public.
Regarding Mr.. Hicks, between whom
and the weather department operatives
there seems to be some enmity, am
inclined to give Mr.. Hicks the benefit
of the doubt as TO his claims and think
Director Beals has given most excel
lent and sensible advice when he says
to take these forecasts and compare
them day by day with the actual wealth
er. This in time should determine the
merit or demerit of their claims.
wish, too, that the weather bureau and
Mr.. Hicks might work together in har-
mony, | believe him to be an honest,
earnest, Christian gentleman, who has
spent a half-century gathering data to
establish the fact of an occult inter-
planetary connection, and the effect of
that force on the climatology OF our
globe. Surprising his theory to be true,
It would necessarily require the full
lifetime OF several generations of such
indefatigable workers as Mr.. Hicks to
gather the data and perfect system OF
iorecasting that would be approximately
correct, because of the long periods Of
time required for some OF the planets
to complete their orbital revolutions
and the Kaleidoscope changes Of plane
tary influences oecasioned therby reach
ing through such long stretch Of years.
II 10 this factor of time entering into
the problem which makes it particularly
desirable that the government should
investigate the claims OF Mr.. Hicks and
demonstrate by a period of observations
extending through the whole revolution
OF the planet Neptune at least, requiring
l64.78 years. II MIR. Hicks claims are
really founded upon a physical fact In
nuture such an Investigation made by
the government would be of incalculable
value to the people, and should his
claims prove to be without foundation in
fact, such an investigation, carried on
by the capable, painstaking officials Of
weather bureau, aided by the facilities
which the government could command
would undoubtedly prove Of such bene-
fit as to more than compensate it for the
expense.