The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-05-22
WEATHER IS
BLAMED ON THE sun
DROUTHS OF THE PAST TWO
YEARS LAID TO SUN STRIKE.
HEAT FALLS IA PER CENT.
FREAK SEASONS BEGAN 1920
Abnormalities of the Present Year
Are Recounted. Recent Reports
More Encouraging, But the Farmer
Is by No Means Out of Danger.


WASHINGTON, d. C.-Govern-
ment scientists, whose interest has
been awakened by the startling find
ings made by DR.. c. Abbot, of the
Smithsonian Institution, that the earth
is receiving from the sun from three
to four per cent less heat than IS
months ago, are centering their atten-
ton on the crop report put out by
the department of agriculture.
Basis for "freakish" season was
seen in this report, although condi-
tons are regarded as more encourag-
ing than few days ago. Serious
doughts have been broken in western
Nebraska and Kansas, but in the lat
ter state doubt is expressed as to
whether the wheat previously affected
can recover. In Nebraska consider
able acreage has been abandoned be-
cause of lack of rain.
Reports Somewhat Encouraging.
Too much rain is reported in some
southern sections while the soil is de-
scribed as too cold and wet in Utah
for planting and warmer weather is
an admitted need in the central Rocky
Mountain states. Up to this time the
late frosts have not caused material
damage to vegetation, but if they
should be repeated widespread dam
age would be incurred.
Weather bureau officials and other
government scientists, while encour-
aged by the favorable report, which
by no means declares the farmer out
of danger, remains conservative in
predicting the result of the sun strike
on the rest of the summer.
Began in 1920.
Experts today pointed out that in
the past striking abnormalities of
weather and climatic conditions have
year and the past few annual periods,
it is pointed out, have been excep-
tionally notable in this respect.
These abnormalities in seasons, the
department of agriculture's records
show, began in 1920 In that year the
southwestern cattle belt, in the Unit
ed States, was burned over because
of lack of rain, and the government
had to extend aid in bringing about
one of the greatest cattle migrations
III history in order to save the herds.
Famines in Russia and China.
Both 1920 and 1921 saw large areas
effected by drought, years which wit
messed the failure of the Russian grain
crop and a famine which probably
only American aid saved from prov
ing one of the most destructive to
human life on record. The winter of
that year was notable for warm
Arctic winter and unusually light
SHOWS in the northern regions.
The year 1922 produced another Sc
ries of abnormalities which the wealth
er experts have noted but are unable
to analyze. The Russian famine was
carried over, while China suffered Sc
verely in a famine which extended
from 1921.
Abnormalities This Year.
The hrst weather event out OF the
ordinary in the United States in 1922
was the great snow storm which
swept the south and middle Atlantic
region January 27-28; Richmond re-
ported Is inches of snow, and Wash
ington had % inches. In the year fol-
lowing, a great storm swept the At
lantic in December of 1928, reaching
Europe and causing much grief to
sea captains.
After January in 1922 there was a
series of freakish winter thunder
storms ranging between Milwaukee
on the west, to New York and Wash
ington on the east, causing an ap-
proximate damage of $15,000,000. In
March there was cold wave which
damaged the citrus belt of California
and Florida, and another in May
which did damage from New York to
Virginia Serious droughts have pre-
vailed in the transMississippi section.
During the past winter, in addition
to the abnormality of an unusually
mild winter, followed by heavy snow
falls in the late season and delayed
spring, the Atlantic ocean has known
the stormiest weather in its history.