Show HOW RAILROADS AFFECT CLIMATE silent conductor of the earth and the cloud clouds dr george W sloan has a theor theory y I 1 concerning tl ti e climatic changes that have taken place in the united states especially in indiana and farther to the west and northwest that la Is apparently borne out by the facts spreading a map of the united before the reporter ho be began to explain his views you will observe here said the doctor the level tract of country lying between the mississippi river and the foothills of the great chain of mountains known as the Ro ckles that tract in former years waa was consi considered deret and was for the most part an arid and plain winds from this north and south swept over it backward and forward it was furnished with rivers having their sources in the mountains but there were no extensive bodies of water such as the great lakes air currents from the pacific laden with moisture striking the mountain peaks of the brockles anil anti sierra nevadas Xe vadas made snow and rain at the season these winds prevailed this gave to the pacific coast wit wet and dry seasons in order that the sky moisture might be precipitated it was necessary there should be some electrical connections between the upper current and the ground the plains being practically dry that Is having no great bodies of water there was no evaporation of moisture to produce an electric current and in the next place the small amount of moisture in the clouds was carried eastward and southward coming to the east cast it came within the influence of the great I 1 lakes that gave and continue to give us I 1 our rain and snow cold winds from th the a I 1 arctic region came rushing down through this plain bringing cold weather with them of late years there have been built through the mountains and across these plains four lines of railway ralla ay whose bands of steel act us wn silent electrical conductors conduct om bringing into tills this once arid and region a good amount of rain and und an amount of vegetation unknown informer in former times ItI awell known tact fact that moisture has a mitigating influence upon temperature an and that there Is not now the severe cold that once characterized the immense area of which I 1 am speaking the changes in temperature west of indiana hae have brought about changes in our own state As to the influence of great bodies of water upon climate we know that the eastern shore of lake michigan Is a good fruit area that the winds from the west and northwest crossing that lake are tempered by its moisture and reduced in temperature the area arca eist east of the lake is ft a peach country while farther south in indi indiana ana where this influence is not so great peach trees do not withstand the winters this at least has been the case emse but tor for the last eight or nine winters the temperature has been milder and peach trees have survived the increase of rain in this state in the winter is not unconnected with the electrical conditions I 1 have named concerning the great region here on the map As railroads have multiplied and trees have been removed our weri wahter t r rains rales have been more frequent while wh ile there has been less snow and ice cultivation of the land too has brought rain with it there are also electrical disturbances connected with the movements of rains though perhaps these are less definite than the other causes I 1 have named my idea is that while we may occasionally sio nally have a cold snap to rush down upon us these will be but temporary and we will never again have long continued cold winters our climate Is changing and t these hese changes come more through the influence influence of man than from nature in dine polls journal |