The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-30
TO CHANGE CLIMATE
BY BELIEFS DAM
Newfoundland Would Shut Out
Labrador Current and Let
in Gulf Stream
IS FEASIBLE BUT COSTLY
New England Would Benefit
by Plan If It Is Ever Car
ried Out.
IS FEASIBLE BUT COSTLY

Newfoundland is contemplating chang
ing its climate. Well. why not, II It
doesn't like it, All it has to do is to
build a braakwater across the Straits Of
Belle Isle between the island and the
mainland and the cold Labrador current
will be shunted out into the Atlantic
Ocean. Such n dam is being seriously
considered. It would cost an immense
sum of money. but engineers say II pre-
sents few difficulties.
Here's the way the proposition lies
In the minds of those who favor It. One
OF these speaks to the Canadian Section
of THE SUN as follows:
THE Labrador current at present Is
the chief factor In moulding the climate
rot only Of Newfoundland but OF the
Maritime Provinces of Canada and or
New England. Coming down from the
Arctic Ocean, II pours through the
Strait OF Belle Isle, and. circulating
around the Gulf OF st. Lawrence. washes
with its cold flood the coasts of New
foundland, Quebec, New Brunswick and
Nova Scotia. Then, passing through
Cabot Strait. It turns south and sweeps
along New England. Its strong south
ward flow acts as a cold wedge which
prizes the Gulf Stream away from all
these coasts and shunts that oceanward.
bearing the warmth Of the tropics.
IF the Belle Isle dam were built
the Labrador current would be blocked
out of the Gulf of st. Lawrence, and,
steering of southeast, would miss the
mainland and continue to affect only the
northeastern coast Of Newfoundland.
The Gulf Stream then would case In
against the continent, and, flowing into
the Gulf of st. Lawrence. warm all the
surrounding shores and Islands.
THE Gulf Stream is responsible TOT
| the mild winter climate OF England ann
| northern France. England Is further
north than Newfoundland. IF, after
cooling off in its long passage across
the northern seas, the Gulf Stream is
still such a factor in ternpering Eng
lands climate, it would have an even
greater effect, It is believed, in tempering
the winter climate Of eastern Canaoa
and of New England.
! Its influence would be felt far IN
land, too The mouth of the st. Law
! renee Is in the same latitude as SOUTH
ern Alberta. Yet, while the St Lawrence
ports are blocked with Ice in winter
there are only light snowfalls on the
prairie farm lands OF southern Alberta
| and live stock grazes out OF doors all the
year round. Alberta Is an Illustration
| of the effect of a distant warm sea cur
rent. Its wonderfully open winters are
due to the chinook winds which
warmed by the Japanese current that
washes the shores of British Columbia
filter across the Rocky Mountain
ranges.
Under present conditions New Bruins
wick, Nova Scotia Quebec and Prince
Edward Island are fine farming coun-
tries and their output in farm products
especially fruits and live stock. accord
ing to statistics of the Canadian Ma
tional Railways, compares favorably ir
bulk with that of other parts OF the
! Dominion. But with a warmer climate
agriculture would be wonderfully slim
ulatod The value of land would be en-
HANGED by billions of dollars.
st Lawrence River ports, through
which a great part of Canada's expor
trade in wheat passes, would remalr
open all winter and a tremendous &C
cession OF wealth would result to the
nation from this unrestricted all thu
year round commerce. Montreal. as ;
result. would suddenly loom as an ever
greater trade rival OF New York thar
now.
New industries would spring vi
everywhere. Population would be vastl!
increas ed. The Belle Isle project woulC
change not only the climate, but per
haps the future destiny of Canada ant
the entire northeastern coast of Nortl
America