Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-01-22
1Niserllaneous Rraaina.
THE RAIN AND THE WAR
AbbevilIe Editor Thinks There ID
Scientific Connection.

The RAIN AND IHE WAN
AbbevilIe Editor Thinks There is
Scientific Connection.
OF course you have heard the argu-
ment that the excessive rains for the
past two months were caused by the
European war. Perhaps you laughed
when the great conflict was given as
one Of the reasons i" but all the same
there are people who believe that
very thing and who will prove it at
least to suit themselves. Mr.. w. w.
Bradley Of the Abbeville Press and
Banner, Is on the war side Of the de-
bate.
The following editorial in last weeks
Press and Banner was written by him.
Everything that happens just now
out of the ordinary, is attributed to
the war; Is there not good ground on
which to charge this unprecedented
murky weather that has hovered con-
tinuously 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 a warm moisture laden
current Of air which brings about
precipitation. Then again rain may
be produced by sudden disturbances
Of the atmosphere. Doubtless some
Of the readers Of this article will re-
call statements by soldiers in the Con-
federate army, to the effect that rain
almost invariably followed heavy can
nonading after a battle. Others will
recall that about fifteen years ago
during a protracted drouth in Texas,
it was attempted to produce rain ar
tificially, by exploding heavy charges
Of powder high up in the air. The ex-
plosion almost invariably produced a
slight shower, and to that extent was
successful, but 1t could not be made
area 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 con-
tinent, has increased precipitation
there Then still another condition
has added to that precipitation. There
are doubtless hundreds Of square
miles Of territory on either border OF
Germany. so densely covered with
smoke that the sunlight rarely pene-
trates 1t. Under this unnatural cloud
the air is artificially cooled, and that
too, very rapidly. This cool air Is
brought constantly in contact with the
warmer currents from the gulf stream
thereby artifcially creating the very
conditions that produce rain in ma
ture.
Now, granting that these conclu-
sions are reasonable, and they are
founded on the principles 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 1t not a fact
that this continuing cloudy weather,
with slight precipitation, Is unprece-
dented? Certainly all must agree
that 1t is. Well, then, 1t Is signif-
cant that it extends only over the
south Atlantic and gulf states. There
has been nothing unusual in weather
conditions either In the northern or
the western states The unusual murky
weather has been confined to the south
Atlantic and gulf states. These states
border on the gulf stream, and the
gulf stream terminates on the shores
Of England and France, carrying its
warmth and moisture far into the in
terror Of the continent. Is 1t not just
possible then, that the air currents
artificially generated on the continent
come and go along the track Of the
gulf stream, and moisture laden sweep
over the south Atlantic and gulf
states. depositing their moisture?
This looks especially plausible, when
it is recalled that nearly all the ocean
ic winds that sweep over this section
| originate, under normal conditions,
| in or near the gulf stream.
AS the Japanese school boy is want
to say: II this is not true. Il ask to
know" what is true? We would be
glad for some one better versed to
point out the scientific fallacy If there
| is one.