The Bismarck tribune., 1934-09-29
By MEYER 3. COHEN

S~8oOAN
Drouth Is far from unusual In this
prairie state, Is the table Of least an
nual precipitation clearly indicates.
Since loo2 there has been some
point In the state with precipitation
below u inches for 80 years Of the
q, including 1884: that u, 70 per cent
Of the tin1o drouth has prevailed
somewhere In the state. FOR in the
temperate zones It Is . known fact
that thef0 are large areas In which
tho ratn1ad = less than IL inches per
annum. Agriculture cannot be prac-
ttoed successfully with 50 small an
amount o6 precipitation: but under
certain conditions grazing may be
profitable. Dry farming has sue
ceeded In districts receiving only 20
Inches Of rain yearly. The certain
condition here that has been respon-
stble for bumper crops at times and
the profitable grazing lands is MAIN
" the fact that go per cent OF the an
nual precipitation falls in the months
Df May, June, July, and August, which
we consider the growing season. Dur
3ng May Is per cent Of the annual
precipitation falls. In June comes
the greatest average amount, 20 per
cent, July brings II per cent, and
August approximately II per cent OF
The annual amount.
Long Days Are Help
1t is the combined long growing
days, with the sun rising before five
o'clock and setting near eight thirty
IN June. l5h hours Of sunshine, with
the greatest percentage of moisture
usually falling In this the growing
period. It has been these combined
conditions which have made 1t DOS
siblc to raise wheat, corn and all 9th
rr crops.
The latest available figures for
average precipitation are for the IS
year period l8o8-l932): Moorhead.
Minn., 2l.97, Devils Lake, 1896 inches.
Bismarck. 1893 inches, Williston.
14.47 inches. These figures clearly
show the greatest precipitation in the
southeastern portion Of the state with
gradual falling off Of the amount
as you 60 northwestward until we
Sind the least or driest in the north
west part Of the state. The stations
used and figures quoted are all
weather bureau stations and the fie.
1lres therefore accurate.
We find In Certain Climatic Fea-
lures Of the Two Dakotas" by John
=. Finley. published in 1893, he has
devoted ten pages to drouth. from
which ] quote: while there appears
no important change In the amount
q precipitation over the Dakotas.
from an examination Of the longest
record. yet the Inhabitants Of both
states report from various sections
evidences Of . gradual diminution in
the amount Of rainfall. by the drying
up Of lakes. ponds, rivers. and the
failure Of crops"
Evaporation ID Faster
These conditions still prevail to-
aAy. possibly to Z great extent thru
mans own efforts: that is. the break.
lng up Of more acres, draining ponds.
and otherwise causing more evapor-
alton 70 take place. not necessarily
s 49, AOAAAA0sAs S0t VIC U10RxI1X OF Wkl8C
moisture falls easier to evaporate.
The quotation Is merely to show
here has not been any great change
q the climate or drouth conditions In
The last 50 years.
1924 1929
1888 1888
IS year 10year 5year
Average Average Are-,ae
Bismarck .... 1893 1917 1..4A
Wlll1ston -. l3.l7 l462 l3.l7
0ov1lS Lake. 1876 1910 l7.3l
16ooFhead. u. 2l07 18.12 1922
The drouth condition has been ar
gtavsted n the last year or 30. but
taking the last 70 years you viii find
0evils Lake and Williston above the
~ Hear average: while the average
- tn Gtate II the last ten years Is
Ut ! .per cent leas than the IS year
oyog1lo, ell4 ~ ~ last five years