Evening star., 1936-08-09

latter part Of the sos and the early
s0s Of the last century. Following q
series Of years with rather abundant
rainfall. widespread scarity moisture
began in 1886 and. while it was inter-
rupted in 1892 by fairly abundant
there was q tendency gen.
orally for subnormal rainfall from
1885 to 1895. eliminating In severe
droughts in 1894 and 1895.
Following this general long g-time
drought. there were several belonging
in the transitory class. Among these
may be mentioned that Of 1901 In the
interior valleys and the Southwest.
Another occurred in 1910. principally
in the Central and. Northern States
and the South. Another one, in 1917,
affected principally the Southwest
and Northern plains, and still another,
in 1925, was severe in the South and
Southeast. Thus, for come 50 years
up to 1890, there were q number
Of short-period dro6shts, but only one
persistent and markedly dry phase
Of climate. lasting about 10 years.
The present dry phase began In
1880 and has continued, with q few
fairly good years, such rs 1885, UP
to the present time.
Precipitation records covering 100
years or more indicate that q general
dry phase, somewhat comparable to
that Of is86-sS. and the more recent
one. obtained about 100 years ago.
Future Droughts Expected.
while study Of weather records
has not as yet disclosed law to
justify q forecast Of future droughts,
such study does give historical back.
ground which warns Us that droughts
in the future may be expected, just as
severe as those Of the past. For ex-
ample. the records show that In the
early nineties, or some forty years ago,
there was drought in the so-called
dust bowl. just rs severe as that
recently experienced. Doubtless, when
the present drought definitely comes
to an end. there will be . period Of
years with comparatively heavy rain
fall, just rs before, and little will be
heard about duststormS and the like
But in planning permanent farm
program for such areas, the basic con-
siderations should include the prac-
tical certainty that dry climatic
phases at least as severe rs In the
past will recur. ,
There Is much loose talk these
days about changes sin climate due
to human activity, and various sug-
gestions that man should do this
that or the other thing to prevent
drought. Most Of such talk is utter
nonsense. But here We must dis
tinguish between preventing drought,
as such and doing certain things tt
modify the unfavorable conditions
when droughts occur
The occurrence Of droughts is no
controllable by man; modification o
climate and weather is beyond tn
ability OF humanity. Forces wl1ici
govern them are vast and involved
and man knows relatively little abou
them or how they work. He will hav'
to accept them as they come, goot
seasons and bad. All he can do is II
devise ways and means Of modifying
to his advantage the unfavorable con
ditionS when droughts do occur. II
q limited but nevertheless 9importan
degree this Is possible today. Un
questionably in the future farmer,
will learn other ways to meet tn
problem and viii perfect the techniqu
of doing 50. Farmers have a habi
Of meeting difficulties and Of con
.quering environment. Every year the.
have to meet the hazards Of weathe
in the production Of crops. It ma.
be drought or too much rain, or hail
or wind, frost or intense heat. Farmer
are well acquainted with all thes'
things and they know that the goo,
and the bad have . habit Of balanc
ing one another. So they retain thei
faith and courage and 90 aheA'
brayely even In. the face Of what I.
others seems slniost overwhelmin
calamity.
win Not Be Evacuated.
The so-called drought belt" or, q
I prefer to call 1t. the region Of limite'
rainfall. will not be evacuated by thos
who inhabit It. Some farmers. tn
hardest hit, will leave and 90 to NOR
favorable locations. That has beel
going on ever since the prairies wer
settled. And 1t always will 90 on. n
| doubt.
But most of these hardy folk WI
stick, and I predicts that they WI
make good. This region will not be
come uninhabited; it will continue t
support q large number Of peopl
adequately. The predictions OF tn
| alarmists, who vision this region q
potential desert, should not be take
seriously. They either are misinforme
or wish to sensationalise for eee reaso
or Another. Most Of them prohAbl
VIII live TO ~ The day when the "du'