The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-08-03
Vagaries of Nature


Vagaries of Nature
Support for the contention that
the current rainfall deficiency in
most Of the United States Is due to
a natural "cycle" is contained In re-
ports received by the federal depart
ment Of agriculture from all parts Of
the world.
They show that the entire northern
hemisphere has been affected, the
drouth not being limited to North
America.
In addition, the southern hemi-
sphere, particularly Argentina and
Australia, have felt the pinch which
comes with lack Of moisture. The
soil in those countries is SO dry, ac-
cording to reports, that it has been
difficult to seed grain.
The Danube basin, Europe's bread
basket, will have short crop. there
by casting the pail of underproduc-
ton over Austria, Hungary and the
Balkan states.
Parts of Russia, with few excep-
tons, have been affected, the govern
ment recently announcing reductions
In the quantity OF grain which state
farms will be expected to deliver after
the harvest. Germany, Poland and
Czechoslovakia have small grain
crops, and England, where fog and
rain are common, has experienced
the greatest drouth in years.
AS was mentioned in this column
some time ago, the rice crop has been
reduced in China, along with the
wheat crop, and only Manchuria
promises normal production.
The natural inference Is that fac
tors are at work about which man
knows little and over which he Ger
tainly has no control Some blame
spots on the sun and others attribute
the phenomenon Of heavy or meager
rainfall to other causes, but no one
Is quite sure and no one can do any
thing about it.
Scientists, reconstructing the early
days Of this planet, say that 1t was
once molten ball. Then the surface
cooled and great clouds of steam
were shot into the air, returning to
earth as hot water, there to be ex-
banded into steam again.
Through millions of years this
process continued, we are told, gradu-
ally diminishing in both frequency
and intensity, until the world became
q habitable place. Eventually there
came the periods Of recurring sun
shine and cooling rain which we call
normal weather.
Within the memory Of living men
there have been other drouths just
as there have been periods OF excess
sive rainfall, but when either will
come no one has been able to deter
mine in advance.
The northwest has had more than
its share of weather prophets and
some OF them have even managed to
sell their service" to persons inter-
ested in crop and credit conditions.
but no one has been consistently sue
cessful, particularly In these last few
years, thereby proving the old adage
that "all signs fail in dry weather"
There are indications, however,
that, while man has nothing to do
with drouth or rainfall, his activities
have intensified the effects Of drouth
in many areas. Natural reserves Of
water have been eliminated by DRAIN
age and the result has been to AZ
gravate a situation which would be
bad enough If natures vicissitudes
alone were all anyone had to bear.
Meantime, one wonders II, for some
unknown reason, the entire world Is
not slowly drying up with the pros
pect that the entire globe may. some
day, become arid. But such thoughts
need cause us no immediate alarm
because time moves slowly II the
wheel Of the universe and the life
time Of generation Is but . tick on
the clock Of eternity.