The Moon,
The Tides, and the Seasons
The powerful influence exerted upon
our earth it its solid as well as its liquid
parts by our satellite, the moon, is be
coming better known and its importance
better realized, says a writer in a cur
rent magazine. Some recent experi
ments and observations made by Pro
fessor llecker, the German astronomer,
in an underground chamber at Potsdam
Observatory, near Berlin, have demon
strated conclusively the truth of the
long-disputed contention that the appa
rently solid earth, responding to the in
fluence of the sun and moon, is subject
to dailp oscillations analagous to the
tides of the ocean. While these move
ments are not noticeable to the earth’s
inhabitants any more than is the action
of the tides to those on board a ship at
sea, they take place beyond a doubt.
Professor Hecker has demonstrated that
these land tides rise and fall during
twenty-four hours to the extent of some
twenty centimeters, or approximately
eight inches. The French astronomer,
Camille Flammarion, contends that
some fixed relation can be demonstrated
between this periodic land tide and the
violent oscillations of the earth’s bed,
known as earthquakes.
ear ueorge xx. uarwin, in a recent
noteworthy speed 1 before a scientific
congress in London, commenting upon
the observations of Professor Hecker,
called attention to the fact that in all
tidal motion, particularly that of the
ocean, there is friction,—very slight and
yet sufficient to act as a slow brake on
the earth’s rotation. This friction, due
principally to the action of the moon,
must have a reaction on the satellite,
the effect of the reaction being to drive
the moon farther and farther from the
earth. Arguing backward and forward,
then, Sir George went on to say that
there was a time when, science believes,
the moon was very close to the earth’s
surface and, at a still earlier peiiod, act
ually a part of the earth’s body. The
combined mass spun around so fast that
it broke in two and the smaller body,
the moon, was driven off by tidal fric
tion to where we now see it. Referring
with respect, but without comment, to
the suggestion of the French astronomer
that the Pacific ocean may be the hole
left by the moon, Sir Charles declared
that the tidal friction will, in the distant
future, cause the earth to spin more and
more slowly and the moon to recede
farther and farther until it, perhaps,
comes within the compelling gravitation
attraction of some larger planet. Then
t will permanently leave our skies.
These are interesting astronomical
speculations, which, perhaps, are not
possible of scientific demonstration.
They indicate, however, how much more
extensive and definite is our modern
knowledge of the relations between the
earth and its satellite.
A further interesting evidence of the
now general recognition that the moon
exercises a highly important influence
upon our climate and seasons is found
in the oft-repeated attempts to reform
the'ealendar and bring our scheme of
the measurement of time down to its
only really rational basis, the lunar
month. An interesting project for re
forming the Gregorian calendar, which
is observed by all the western nations,
was submitted to the recent Pan-Amer
ican Scientific Congress held at Santiago,
Chile. The originator of the scheme,
Senor Hesse, one of the Peruvian dele
gates, states that the project met with
the unanimous approval of the section
of mathematics at the congress. In
brief, the project calls fora year consist
ing, not of twelve months of varying
number of days, as at present, but of
thirteen months of exactly twenty-eight
days each,—the lunar month of exactly
four weeks,—each day of the week inva
riably falling on the same day of each
month. A page of the reformed calen
dar would be like this:
Mon.
1
8
15
99
Tue.
2
9
10
23
Wed.
3
10
17
24
Thu.
4
11
IS
25
Fri.
5
12
19
26
Sat.
6
12
20
27
Sun.
7
14 I
21
28
The-thirteen lunar months calculated j
on this basis would aggregate 304 days, i
The 365tli day would come between the I
last day of the thirteenth month (which
it is proposed to call Trecember—thir
teenth) and the first day of the first
i
month of the new year. This inter
calary day would be a world-recognized
holiday, not counting for dating pur- j
poses either with scientists or business |
men. Leap year, moreover, would add
a second holiday immediately following
the first.
Arctic Brewing Co.’s (Fairbanks) Beer on
tap at the Gibbon Bar.
* POLITICAL.
The Texas Brewers’ Association in
convention at Galveston last week ap
propriated $100,000 to be given to char
ities if it fails to prove that more liquor
is sold in prohibition states than in wet
states.
Congressman Tawney of Minnesota
introduced a bill in congress providing
for the establishment of a government
fund for making bonds for public offi
cials. Then the twelve largest compa
nies accepting that class of business an
nounced that they will reduce the rate
if the bill is withdrawn.
Gov. Albert W. Gilchrist of Floridr, in i
a Fourth of July oration in New York,
predicted the downfall of the Republican
party and declared that the party is al
ready entering into its dusk. He said
that for this the Republican party could
thank themselves to a great extent for
their inconsistency and failure to keep
their promises on the tariff. When
once the disintegration of the party has
begun, he said, it can never be saved
from wreck.
The income-tax amendment to the
Payne-Alurich tariff bill was passed by
unanimous vote of the senate. Senator
Stone of Missouri, utilized the occasion
to congratulate the country on the
change which has come about during
the last ten or fifteen years, lie said it
was a wonderful tribute to the Demo
cratic party and, a complete vindication
of the teachings of William Jennings
Bryan. Fifteen years, ago, he said, the
Republican party opposed the very sug
gestion of a federal income tax, and
condemned the Democratic party and
its leader for advocating such a measure.
The change since that time has been
truly wonderful, and he, for one, had
no doubt that that the change was due
to the persistent campaign of education
which the Democratic party undertook
i at that time and has continued ever
I since.
Special Sunday Dinner
At the Kentucky Restaurant.
• MRS. M. E. COOPER, Proprietor.
Three new saloons in contemplation
in Fairbanks will make the total in
crease in saloons in that city for the
summer number six.
3
Watch for the Announcement of the
Tanana Bakery ut Restaurant
Next Week Onen All Nierht
Open All Night
Local and General Notes
Fishermen report the run of king sal- i
mon over and the silvers beginning to ■
arrive.
Mrs. Burns came down from Rampart
and is helping Mrs. Swanson at the new
laundry. They are busy.
A. B. Culp left for Fairbanks on the
St. Michael in obedience to a summon
to serve on the grand jury.
Johnny Higgins and Pete Snyder, of
llot Springs-Ram part district, are pros
pecting about Melozikakit.
Two condemned horses and one mule
are to be sold at the post stables, Fort
Gibbon, July 19, at 10 a. m.
Tom Antonson, when ready to leave
Rampart for a prospecting trip, was
nipped by Deputy Marshal Irons and
summoned as a trial juror in the district
court. Fie is now at Fairbanks.
Mr. and Mrs. FI. Chadwick, of Ram
part, are guests of Mr. and Mrs. John
Clinton on Second avenue. Mrs. Chad
wick will remain in Tanana while Mr.
Chadwick attends court at Fairbanks.
Charley Coloumbe’s dam on Mason
creek broke July 3 and knocked out his
groundsluicing operations. The brake
was caused by the thawing of the under
ground glacier. He came up to town
for a few days.
Jim McGavin, a well-known pros
pector who got a Kuskokwim hunch
early in the spring, changed his mind on
the lower Yukon and returned on the
Julia B last week. He has not decided
on his next-winter prospecting ground
John Fitt departed on the Hannah
Sunday evening for the mouth of Ray
river, where he goes with a crew of men
to bring down a raft of logs. The raft
contains about 30,000 feet, and it is
hoped to commence cutting them at the
mill this week.
A 54-pound king salmon was taken in
Si Simpson’s fish wheel Thursday night.
When the big fellow was dumped from
the chute into the side box lie kicked
up such a racket that the eighty dogs at
the camp set up a howl in token of
some extraordinary occurrence. It was
perhaps the largest salmon ever taken
here.
Eckengreen Party
Homeward Bound
Victor Eckengreen, C. B. Allen and
Clement Anderson expect to leave up
the Yukon in Mr. Anderson’s launch
this evening. Mr. Allen will stop off at
Rampart. Mr. Anderson will convey
Mr. Eckengreen to his home at that
particular point in the Yukon Flats
usually designated as Victor’s.
They were experiencing difficulty in
getting fuel for the launch.
The Gibbon Bar bandies the best brands of
bottled goods, including whiskies in half
pints, pints and quaffs.
The Tauana Bakery and Restaurant keeps
open all night. It also keeps good grub.
if you can’t get what you want elsewhere
you will surely find it at
I carry one of the best and largest stocks
in town.
JOE ANIC1CH, Proprietor
PAUL WILLIAMS,
Interpreter in the Local or
District Courts.
Address: The Mission of Our Savior,
XANANA, ALASKA
Rampart Notes.
S. E. Heeter is logging on Mi nook
creek.
Frank Elliot, long associated with the
telegraph office, has been ordered to
Fort Gibbon.
Mrs. Swanson, three miles below
town, lias the finest looking garden in
the Yukon Valley. It promises to be a
hummer.
“The Pambernickle Dutchman” Ed
Biederman is the leader in fishing up
our way.
The speedy launch Messenger paid us
a visit last Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Sundborg came
in from 4 Little Minook for a couple of
days last week.
“Sunny” Abe Collins has moved bis
saloon into the old Mirror building and
is ready to hand ’em out 57 variety.
New Launch
Marie Karstina
The Marie Karstina, the handsome
launch built bv “French John” Langley
for Joe Anicich, was launched Thursday
evening and rides tlie water as grace
fully as a gull.
The Marie is 25 feet over all with a
5- foot-6 beam. She is equipped with a
6- horsepower Gray motor. It is a pity
that shortage of fuel enforces her idle
| ness at present.
In a trial trip last night she developed
unexpected speed, considering the light
horsepower, and when she gets down to
business her owner believes she will be
able to beat the Hem part flyer belong
ing to Clem Anderson.
Waiter—The lady passenger in Room
13 asks if she can get some cow’s milk.
She knows there is a preacher in this
town and that he owns a cow.
Purser — Tell the lady there is a
preacher here all right, but he left his
cow outside.