The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-01-30
THE RAIN AND TIE WAR.



mcnt that the excessive rains for the
ta1t two months were caused by the
European war. Perhaps you laughed
wEeh tho great conflict was givcn us
one OF the reasons" but all the Same
there are people who believe that
very thing and who will prove II at
least to suit themselves. Mr.. w. w.
tmdley oc the Abbeyille Press and
Tanner, is on the war side of the de-
bate.
The following editorial In last
weeks Press and Banner was writ
ten by him:
Everything that happens just nov
out Of the ordinary, is attributed to
the war. Is there not good ground on
which to charge this Unprecedented
mrrky weather that has hovcred con-
tinously on the South Atlantic and
gulf states To this same agency?
Students OF physical geography
know that rain is produced ordinarily
by a cold current of air coming in
contact. with warm moisture laden
current Of air which brings about
precipitation. Then again rain may
he produced by sudden disturbances
or tho atmosphere. Doubtless some
of tho readers OF this article Will re-
On III ctr n n h,,s
federatc army, to the effect that rain
almost invariably followed heavy cam
nonading after battle. Others will
recall that about fifteen years ago
during u protractcd drought i'm Texas,
II was attempted to produce rain az
tiflcially, by exploding heavy charges
OF powder high W in the air. The cX-
ploSion almost invariably produced a
slight shower, and To that extent was
successful, hut it could not bc made
or practical value because &C the small
a:ca that could be thus covered. There
Is no doubt that the terrific cannOnad-
ing that has been almost continuous
for three months on the European
continent. has Increased precipitation
there. Then still another condition
has added tn that precipitation. There
are, doubtless hundreds of square
mil s of territory or either border OF
Germany. so dcnscly covered with
smoke that the sunlight rarely pcne-
trates IL. Under this unnatural cloud
the air is artifCially cooled. and that
too, very rapidly. This cool air is
brought constantly in contact with tho
warmer currents from the gulf stream
thereby artihcially creating the very
conditions that produce rain in na-
ture.
Now. granting that these conclu-
sions arc reasonable, and, they are
founded on the principle by which
scientists explain precipitation in
nature. then the next step is to con-
meet the extraordinary weather con-
ditions there with the extraordinary
weather conditions that have prevail
ed here for three months or more.
In the first place. Is it not a fact
That this continuing cloudy weather
with slight precipitation. Is unprece-
dcnted? Certainly all must agree
That 1t Is. Well. then. it is signin-
cant that 1t extends only over the
south Atlantic and gulf States. There
mas Deen nothing unusual in weather
conditions either in the northern or
the western States. The unusual murliy
weather has been confined to the
south Atlantic aud gulf States. These
states border on the gulf stream. anu
The gulf stream terminates on the
shores OF England and France. carry
ing it's warmth and moisture far into
the interior of the continent. Is it not
Just possible then. tEat tho air cur
rents artilicially generated on the con-
t'ncnt como and so along tho track of
the gulf stream AMI moisture laden
sweep over the south .Ntlantic and
Sulf States, depositing their moisture /"
This looks especially plausible, when
1t Is recalled that nearly all the ocean
ic winds that sweep over this section
originate, under normal conditions,
in or near the gulf stream.
US the japanese school boy Is want
To say; If this is not true, II ask to
Know what is true? We would be
glnd for some ono better versed To
point out the scientific fallacy if there
Is onc.-forkville Enquirer