208 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [jUNE 9, 



Now the question arises, What has been the cause of the 

 change ? 



Many theories have been advanced, but the general public are 

 at a loss to account for it from an ordinary basis of calculation; 

 some have ascribed it to an inshore drifting of the Gulf Stream, 

 and, without looiiing further, have satisfied themselves that that 

 solves the problem ; others to an increase of sun-spots ; and 

 some, the early breaking up of polar ice. But in each case facts 

 to verify the theories have been lacking. It is my belief, and the 

 following facts advance the theory, that a change in the course 

 of storms, superinduced by irrigation and increased rainfall on 

 our Western plains, is the cause of the unnatural weather of the 

 past and present that is taking place, not alone in this vicinity, 

 but over the entire country. 



After a careful investigation of the subject, the scientific bu- 

 reaus of the Government fail to show that there has been any 

 change in the course of the Gulf Stream; and even had it been 

 shown that a change had taken place, all the facts in a meteo- 

 rological sense bearing on the subject are at variance with the 

 theory. Should that stream literally wash our shores, it could 

 not materially change our climate; the efEect would be but in- 

 termittent and of so long duration proportionately with the 

 wind blowing on shore; and then only on the immediate borders 

 of our coast would there possibly be a perceptible increase in 

 temperature. 



The Gulf Stream theory must be disposed of when it is shown 

 that all our areas of high and low pressure move to the east- 

 ward, that our prevailing wind is from the southwest, and the 

 areas of cold and warm waves pass off the coast. It must be 

 readily observed that, in conformity with the earth's rotation, all 

 atmospheric conditions travel to the eastward. In direct oppo- 

 sition to the Gulf Stream theory is the established fact that the 

 same excessive heat felt on the Atlantic seaboard prevailed for 

 the same period throughout that country which lies between 

 the Alleghany and the Rocky Mountain systems. 



At 58 out of a total of 89 regular stations of the Signal Ser- 

 vice east of the Rocky Mountains having a record of ten years 

 or more, and at the older established stations in New Mexico, 

 Arizona, and Utah, the mean temperature for the month of 

 December, 1889, was the highest ever reported, and at 41 of 

 these stations the absolute maximum temperature was higher 

 than that noted for the same month of preceding years; while 

 west of the Rocky Mountains there was a deficiency in tempera- 

 ture, frosts occurring as far south as San Diego on several occa- 

 sions. 



In making a comparison of the month of January, I find it 



