The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-09-04

the Holy Land which is now barren.
But the date palm. the vine and tho
fix tree will grow there as luxuriantIy
today as in the old biblical days. II
ARTIFICIAL watering were praCtlced, az
it was then.
Many have bccn deceived by The
fact that raingaSes exposed just above
the trees in forest areas catch more
rain than similar cages exposed at
the same height over interested areas
in the same region: but this Is due 10
the fact that trees restrict the flow
of wind. and cages always catch more
water with given rainfall where the
velocity Is retarded.
The erection of d tent, Of a barn. OF
dwelling house. Of Il village, or the
growth Of q great city, respectively,
influence the local climate in proper
ton to the area covered. Likewise
the vegetable covering Of the earth
may have local Improbable effect.
The flooding OF an area. the cutting
away of forest, erosion and sanding
may have either minute or appreclable
effect upon local climates in proper
ton TO the magnitude of the areas AZ
fected, but this does not mean that
there is any great difference in the
climatic effect of a forest covering and
one Of bushes. or of grass. or OF grow
Ing crops; and It does not signify that
there is sufficient change in the Their.
NAL conditions, due to the activities
Of man, as 10 make an appreciabIc dill
ference in the temperature at an ALL
! tude Of one or two hundred feet. or
to affect the general climatic condl-
lions. or to cause storms to be more
frequent than formerly or Of greater
intensity. or TO increase the amount OF
precipitation. The most OF tho con-
densation takes place several thou
sand feet from: the surface of tho earth
(probably one or two mlles) and The
air. even during the fall Of rain, is
almost never saturated near the
ground Therefore forests do not eX-
ercise an apprcciable influence in the
stratum in which precipitation takes
place.
1t rs logical to assume that it is A
matter Of but few hundred years
when the United States will be as
densely populated as China is today;
Long before that time practically al!
grow food for man and beast; and IN
places the cultivated areas will en-
tend to submerged districts Of Inc sea
shore, as they now do in Japan. III
will have become Il crime 10 use COM
bustihe material in the construction
of places of habitation. Cement.
stone and metal will be almost eX-
clusivcly used in building operations:
Houses will be warmer in winter and
cooler in summer. and may be easily
and frequently treated with antiSep-i
tics. Then trees will only grow wild
in inaccessible places or on surfaces
that will not produce nutritious crops.
Otherwise they will moi be allowed to-
exist unless they bear fruits or nuts,
or furnish beautifully colored and
grained woods for decoration; or are
planted 10 adorn the landscape and >
provide shade and shelter. They will
not be- needed for fuel. The blowing
of the wind, the ebb and flow Of the
tides, or the utilization Of direct sun
shine, will supply man with an abund-,
ance Of heat and power. But when
this time comes there is every reason
to believe that the vaporous Amos
phere arising from the great oceans
will be sucked inland by continental:
cyclones, the same as they are today. |
Only. the size of continents and the :,
height and trend Of their mountain !
ranges affects the rainfall. not forests !
or other surface coverings. So long,
as this continent remains nj its pres !
ent elevation and the oceans wash its :
shores the rainfall will remain praC-
tcally as it is now.