The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-01-07
The CrOw'S-NeSt

What a large proportion of our or
binary conversation is taken up with
remarks about the weather. The sub
ject introduces itself with nearly every
n you meet day by day and is the
most ~hackneyed topic of the whole
year. Just now people are wondering
whether we are to have a long. cold
winter and what the next season will
be in the way of a good ~crop-produc-
ing year. There are a few constant
facts which, if we'll understood, will
enable M to get a fair idea of the
kind of seasons that may be expected.
If the temperature should be taken
three or four times daily for the whole
year and these readings added to-
gether and divided by the total num-
Der Of readings the result would be
the average temperature for the year,
at any particular place. The average
yearly temperature for any one place
does not vary more than a degree OF
two, taking one year with another.
Therefore a cold winter foretokens a
warm summer and an open winter a
cool summer. Nature strikes it's own
average and we have to have so much
cold and heat to even things up. To
a less extent there is an annual rain
fall average, but it is governed more
by cycles. There may be quite a
spread in two consecutive years, but
in five years cycles the average is less
divergent, in ten year periods a very
few inches difference and in twenty
year periods scarcely any difference
in the average for periods of that
length. Such facts can be used to ad-
vantage.
1t is a wonder that some one does
not start a petition to have some of our
obsolete and useless ordinances re-
pealed by the city council so that a
person would not have to wade
through so much rubbish to find a real,
live law on our local statute books. If
an ordinance is passed and then an ex-
ception is made in regard to it's en-
forcement in certain cases it is multi
fed at once and might as well be re-
pealed. If certain things are forbid
den, such as are not generally counter
onond ond tho 1ou Sc not cfricf1r ON
forced, when the evidence is easily pro-
durable, what is the use of claiming to
have such ordinances. The officials
are not always to blame for the lack Of
the enforcement of certain ordinances.
1t is the citizens duty to observe the
law himself SO long as it is supposed
to be in force and to report, if he
must, fragrant violations of law and
order, This would bring about a few
needed reforms for the year 1915.
If you want to get a thrilling per-
sonal experience story next week just
mention to any of our early settlers
the January 18th, 1888, blizzard. They
will tell you about losing their way or
having to tie guide ropes between
houses and barns, how children had to
stay all night in the school houses,
what narrow escapes from freezing to
death were experienced and many
other interesting incidents. There were
no fatalities in the city but several
narrow escapes. Persons received in
juries from exposure which remained
with them long and have cause to re-
member the blizzard the rest of their
lives.
Several of the larger cities OF this
state have fallen into line and have
abolished the shaking of dice and the
displaying of punch boards. 1t was
found that punch boards and slot ma
chimes were encouraging the gambling
instinct in our youthful citizens and all
games Of chance have been banned. 1t
is surprising that proprietors of small
businesses are not able to see that the
shaking of dice at the front end Of a
store will drive away desirable GUS
toners. Women will not ~patronize
stores where Gice are shaken.
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