The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-30

rule the ground is not covered with
snow more than few days at a time.
but when il falls with a high wind. as
sometimes happens. it drifts badly and
is a serious obstacle to transportation
interests.
Whether there has been any increase
or decrease in the average precipita-
ton in Kansas since white men occu-
pied ii is Il question that has been the
subject of much bitter controversy, es-
pecially in the western half of the
state where all the rain that falls is
needed.
Fortunately there are several reliable
precipitation records that have been
kept almost since the first settlements
We're made notably the one at Leav-
enworth, begun ina 1855 the one at
enworth, begun in 1896, the one at
Manhattan. begun in 1858; that at
Hays, begun in 1868. and at Dodge City
begun in 1866: also that at Wallace. be-
gun in 1870.
An examination of these and other
long precipitation records shows that
in the nortl-centraI counties and gem
orally over the western third of the
state. where the increase in precipita-
ton has seemed most apparent, judg-
ing by crop yields. there has been an
actual decrease in the last half of the
record. and in the eastern and south
central portions OF the state there has
been slight increase in the last half
of the record. as compared with the
first half. This seems to effectuaIIy
demonstrate the futility of trying to
show any progressive increase or de-
crease in the amount of precipitation
the state Eas received during the past
80 years
Facts Concerning DrouthS.
Severe drouths in Kansas are usually
of local occurrence, and are more
o a Ian hn
state than the eastern partly on ac-
count OF the smaller average precipita-
ton and partly on account of the ex-
cessiye rate of precipitation due to the
high. drying winds, which are more
common there
In the twenty-Six years that state
wide weather observations have been
Ia ken the average precipitation for the
drleSt year. 1893. was IS per cent less
than the normal. For the western
third Of the state the driest year, 1910,
mad an average precipita ton of 50 per
cent less thar the normal
Since Observa tions have been her11n
in the extreme western part of tha
state there has been an annual aver
age OF slightly more than once at each
station when a period of thirty days
mas elapsed during the crop growing /,
season with less than one inch of pre- |
cipltation, but the occurrence of these |
drouths is very irregular. both as to
time and place.
some Of the most notable droughts in |
me state 5 history are as follows: |
r rom June 1913 to January. 1874 in
z-'islHe :, pul o-S5 inches of precipitation -
per. cent OF the normal amount. fell AZ
oft Leavenworth- During June July
and August of that period when the
lrousht was most severe. but 2 per cent /
d the normal precipitation occurred
In 1874 but II per cent of the normal rra-
:lpltatlon occurred at oFrt Leavenworth
rom July 10 November. inclusive though
n Nav 1
preceding this anu ''-ie
In June and July. 1854. there was but II
riley and in July and August but Is per
EN- OF tn. n2rIaal amount at Fort Leav
brought in eastern Kansas.
IN ISo9 a drought began in the central
Inued until the last of April 1851 in the
art Of NAY at ' FoE SaIe aRa {Re later
irought period Of upwards of 81 days
i, FROM mt, tie latter part of January. 1864. to
ne or the seVereSt droughts in the his
9 9ry OF me state During THAI period only
.ormal amount fell at Fort Leavenworth
he total precipitation ar the Agricultural
olege, Manhattan, was 90.14 inches. 81
Ter cent of the normal, and at Fort Riley
was I522 inches, II per cent of the nor
A drought began at Wallace in septern-
er. 49, and continued until the first OF
lay: 1874. a period of 600 days during
Per cent OF the normal amount.
TIE years 1S14-75 were years of diminish
d rainfall in eastern Kansas but they
.oUld not have been felt so severely mad
i not been for the grasshoppers.
Some Dry Seasons.
A drought occurred in the southwest
IN counties of the state during June. |
ul-- and August, 1874. when but 10 per
Dodge City. Following the heavy rains /
f September of that year a drought set
Il in the southwestern counties in Oc- |
ober. 1874. and lasted until the first of
nal precipitation at Dodge City
From November, 1880, to April, 1852. in
iusive. but 50 per cent of the normal pre-
ipitation occurred at Wallace
\ drought occurred during the growing
eaSon in 1899 over the southern and east
III portions of the state. the rainfall be |
lg II per cent OF the normal in the south |
-estern counties during May. June and !
anuary Il to May y it was but 13 peg
ent of the normal. |
A drought spread over the southern
ounties of the state in 1893 and into the
astern in 1897 and past into the northern ! !
ountieS in the summer OF 1875
In 1901 a drought occurred in the eastern ! !
ortfon of the state from April Il to July
. during which period but I6 per cent of
lie normal preeipitatiO fell In tie {
)uthern portion OF the state during the .
anne season a drought extended from
uly 20 to September Is and was severe l
the south central counties. but IS per
ant of the normal precipitation occurring. I
In 1910 occurred one of the most severe :
-oughts on record in the southern, and
specially the southeastern part of the
ate, only an average of 81 per cent of the
orulal precipitation occurring in the s
'Uthsrn half of the state in the II months
lding with November of that year. :
4 general deficiency in precipita ton ec- {
lrred during the summer of 1911 which