10
UNIVERSITY COURIER.
products, is specially available for the general distribution of power to light machinery of every description." Small steam engines consume two and a half times as much coal per horse power as large ones of good construction, while the loss by transmission of electricity is certainly not more than fifty per cent. He further states that "the electric railway possesses great advantages over horse or steam power for towns and in all cases where natural sources of energy, such as waterfalls, are available." Would it not be well to induce the raging Kaw to carry the "co-eds" up the hill of learning.
The large comet now visible, called tentatively the great comet of September, 1882, is brighter than any comet seen since 1858. It does not attract much attention because it can be seen only between three o'clock in the morning and sun rise—an unfortunate time, too late at night and too early in the morning. On September 19th it passed within about 800,000 miles of the sun, this being, with one exception, that of the comet of 1843, the smallest perihelion distance known. On the morning of October 9th it was observed at the observatory here, and it was seen to present an appearance entirely novel, so far as known. The peculiarity consisted of two faint streaks of light, one on each side of the nucleus and some distance from it, running parallel to the length of the comet, extending a short distance from the nucleus toward the sun, and going away from the sun until they met the tail. This observation must, of course, be verified, but if verified will doubtless have decided influence in the discussion on the nature of comets.
MISCELLANEOUS.—Examination of the Delta of the Mississippi River has led to some interesting discoveries.
For a distance of three hundred miles large forests are buried. There are ten distinct growths, one above the other.
Geologists allow 10,000 years for each growth, making a total of 100,000 for the whole.
Many of the trees are from fifteen to twenty-five feet in diameter. Five thousand seven hundred years is the time it took one of the largest to grow, allowing one ring of growth for each year.
The genus of the tree belongs to the order Coniferæ, and proved to be the bald cypress of the South.
Prof. Snow has made careful observations on the climate of Kansas at Lawrence for the past fifteen years. It is from his reports and records that we collect the following facts on rainfall (including melted snow).
February and June are respectfully the dryest and wettest months. Average precipitation for February 1.33 inches, for June 4.98 inches.
There is a gradual average increase of the rainfall from February to June, and a gradual decrease from June to February.
The greatest monthly rainfall observed was in June, 1876, which was 12.11 inches. The least for any month was 0.01 inch, November, 1872.
The greatest rainfall for any single day was June 13th, 1876.
From the 1st of March to the 1st of October, when rain is needed for the germination of crops, Kansas had more rain than any of nineteen leading states with which comparison was made.
The mean for spring is 9.66 inches; for summer 13.44;
The average for the middle third of the State is about one-third less than for the eastern third. The western has about half as much as the middle or one-third as much rain as we have here at Lawrence.
for autumn 7.68; for winter 4.05, and for each year 34.83 inches.
South winds coming from the Gulf of Mexico are usually moist and bring rain.
West winds which have come across cool-topped mountains have had most of their vapor condensed and precipitated and are consequently usually dry.
Observations show that the last half of the period observed has a slight increase over the first half. This indicates a slight permanent increase which is attributed to the cultivation of the soil.
The common belief that the rainfall is more equally distributed now than ten years ago, coming at shorter intervals and more gently, and that single storms or showers extend over more hours than formerly, is confirmed by the records.
During the fourteen years of observations ending January, 1882, the largest interval without rain during the growing reason—March 1st to October 1st—was nineteen days. This rainless interval was, however, exceeded during the present season, when less than a tenth of an inch fell for seven weeks-July 30th to September 18th. This is the longest "drought" on the record, but on account of the copious rains of May, June, and July the corn crop was not seriously injured.
Snow is recorded to have fallen as late as April 21st (in 1871), and as early as October 19th (in 1869), but not enough in the former case to whiten the ground.
A single fall of snow rarely exceeds six inches in depth, and rarely remains on the ground a week at a time.
The heaviest fall of snow was fourteen inches, which occurred on December 12th and 13th, 1878.
The greatest depth of snow for any month was twenty inches, December, 1878. The greatest for any year fortythree inches, in 1874.
The greatest monthly average is for December, 6.52 inches. The yearly average is 20.44 inches.
LOCALS.
Colds.
Overcoats.
Urbane lawyers.
Room for the Preps.
Invitations for Freshman reception are out.
Earnest Himoe has left the University.
Robt. Ball started for Texas last week.
Class elections are over for this year.
Dining clubs are all the rage.
The first University prize was taken by Frank Finney. Lay in your winter fuel.
Did you see Dyche's possum?
Ask J. G. what sort of a dish "mash" is.
Saml. Seaton spent last Saturday and Sunday at home-
The I. C.'s have a Belle, but the K. A. T.'s have No. ble. This is not a lie-Belle.
Prof. Gleed is highly pleased with his new department.
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