Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-07-17

49,
those seasons should come again it
would mean disaster to many in Da-
kota. Some say it shows lack of
trust in the Lord to fear that such
seasons shall come. But lack of fear
may not keep them away. They may
come to those who may or may not
!, trust.
Will the seasons become SO dry
again that grain crops will virtually
| fail? Will many of the lakes dry up
again? Will frosts swoop down from
out the preharvest nights and cut
down the hope of the husbandman?
Will hot winds sweep over the har-
vest fields again and wither the rip
ening grain? ? Must we not expect that
i all these things will come again in
! time? But should they come will
severity as they did in the days of
! yore? Rather then try to make our
selves believe that these things will
! not come, is it not vastly better to
concede that they may come, and, as
far as it may be possible, to prepare
i for their coming?
4 Will Dry Years Come Again.
j In this respect there are good rea-
. sons for believing that the thing that
\ hath been is that which shall be.
The opinion is common, first, that
the breaking of the soil and the
planting Of groves will increase the
rainfall, and second, that the rainfall
is increasing during recent years. 1t
| cannot be said that either opinion is
sustained by the facts. At Bismarck
the average precipitation for the ten
year period beginning with and in
r Guiding 1875 was 213 inches. At
Williston the average precipitation
cannot be ascertained for the cor
responding period owing to incom-
: pletenesss. in the record for 1878.
{ During the next ten years the aver
7 age precipitation at Bismarck was
! 1913 inches and at Williston, 14.5 in.
: ches. This makes it apparent that
! during the first period named the
: average annual PRECIPITATION at Bis
9 marck was 6 inches more than dur
7 ing the ten years period following
s This was before any groves had been
! planted and before any considerable
! amount of the land had been broken
s up. Itscannot be said therefore, that
the breaking up Of the land during
: the second period referred to had any
g influence on precipitation, since i
: was so much less during the secont
: period. Hl 2 st &~'=. -.
: That the precipitation during tn,
: recent years has been much create
:. than formerly is not sustained by til,
- facts. During the ten year periot
!. beginning with 1885 the average an
= nual precipitation at Bismarck wa
1873 inches, and at Williston 14.5 in
az ches. During the ten year period fol
Is lowing it avs 1919 inches at Bis
Z marck and 1871 inches at Williston
L The total average precipitation there
.. fore, at Bismarck, during the tel
D. year period ending with 1904 had on
u ~ increased inches over the proceed
q ing ten year period, and at Willistol
a. To inches over the same. The In
S crease in the precipitation durin
D. the periods now being considered wa
e not very material. 1t is further az
q parent that it is quite possible 70
at western North Dakota to have
N much heavier rainfall than it has ha
N during the twenty years followin
ct 1886. 49, ~
n 1t is easy accounting for the re
a. cession of the waters in the dakes /
rs the ten year period following 1885, a
le the precipitation had decreased on a
"a average 6 inches per year, but IS
Sc not so easy accounting for the pa
n tial refilling of the lakes during tn
re next ten year period with but littl
ne increase in precipitation. The fax
n. cannot be questioned. What is II
IN cause? Did the precipitation com
as more as it were in spurts during tn
d ten years beginning in 1885 and S
e. run away in the streams, or what
te the explanation? The precipitatio
that fell during the ten year perio
Is. following 1875 warrants the belle
Sc that seasons may come again ths
v, will fiji the lakes to a much highe
ed Ileyel than at present.
le If the annual precipitation in tn
ne ten year period following 1885 wf
It but little less than the same durin
lie the next ten year period, why d.
st the distress during the first perie
ma lead to the aband onment Of farm
OF and why during the next ten yes
an period have the crops been on Il
up whole good? The average precipit
In ton during the growing months |