The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-29

! from the land. The cold air from the mountains,
and that which accompanies the great ocsa2 7lr,
rent from the northwest, thus become united, and
vast banks of fog generated, which, when driven
by the wind, has a penetrating, or cutting, effect
on the human skin, much more uncomfortable
than would be felt in the humid atmosphere of the
| Atlantic, at much .o'ver temperature.
As the sun rises from day to day, week after
week, and month after month, in unclouded bright.
ness during the dry season, and pours down his
unbroken rays on the dry, unprotected surface Of
the country, the heat becomes 30 much greater in
land than it is the ocean, that an under ercurrent
of cold air, bringing tbs fog with it, rushes the
coast range of hills, ana through their numerous
passes, towards the interior.
Every day, the heat, inland, attains sufh-
cient temperature, the cold, dry wind from the
ocean commences to blow. This is usually from
eleven to one O'Clock; and the day advances the
wind increases and continues to blow till late at
night. When the vacuum is filed, or the equiibri-
um OF the atmosphere restored, the wind ceases;
perfect calm prevails until about the same hour the
following day, when the same process commences
and progresses as before, and these phenomena are
of daily occurrence, with few exceptions, through
out the dry season.
These cold winds and fogs render the climate at
San Francisco, and all along the coast of Califor
nia except the extreme southern portion of it, pro-
badly more uncomfortable, to those not accustomed
to It, in summer than in winter.
| few miles inland, where the heat of the
modifies and softens the wind from the ocean, the
climate is moderate and delightful. The heat in
the middle of the day is not great as to retard
Portable. The nights ,ol and pleasant. This
description of climate prevails in all the val
leys along the coast range, and extends through
out the country, north and south, as far eastward
the valley Of the Sacramento and San Joaquin.
In this vast plain the breeze loses its influence
and the degree of heat in the middle of the day,
during the summer months, is much greater than
is known on the Atlantic coast In the same latitudes
1t is dry however and probably not more oppressive.
On the foot hills of the Sierra Nevada, and espe-
caly in the deep ravines of the streams the ther
mometer frequently ranges from ll0o TO ll5o in the
shade, during three or four hours of the day, say
from eleven until three O'Clock. In the evening,
as the sun declines, the radiation of heat
The cool, dry atmosphere from the mountains
spreads over the whole country, and renders The
nights cool and invigorating.
I have been kindly furnished by Surgeon Gen
eral lawson, U. S. army, with thermometrical OBJ
servations taken the following places in Califor-
MIA, viz At San Francisco, by Assistant Surgeon
w. C. Parker, for six months, embracing the last
quarter Of lS47 and the first quarter OF lS4S. The
monthly mean temperature was as follows Octo-
Der, SO; November, 490; December, 500; jan
uary, 49o; February, SOP; March, 5l0.
At Monterey, in latitude 36o 3S north and lengi-
! tude l2l west, the coast, about degree and
half south of San Francisco, by Assistant Surgeon
w. S. King, for seven months, from May to No
vember inclusive. The monthly mean temperature
was: May, 560; June, 59o; July, 620; August, 59';
September, $50; October, Coz; Nqyembsr, 56o.
! At Los Angeles, latitude 3.o u longitude west
ten months-from June, iS47, t. March, is4s, in
elusive. The monthly mean temperature
75O; October, go; November, $50; December, coz;
January, $50; February, 55o; March, $50. This
place ia about forty miles from the coast.
At San Diego, latitude 800 as. longitude west
ll7o IL, by Assistant Surgeon J. d. Sunmers for
the following three months of lS49, viz July,
monthly mean temperature, 7l0; August, 750 !;
September, 70o.
3so 32 north, longitude west l2lo 34, by Assistant
Surgeon r. Murray, for the following months OF
1919 July, monthly mean temperature 73o; Au-
gust, 10 /; September, 650 October, 65o
These observations show a remarkably high tenn
perature at San Francisco during the six months
from October TO March inclusive; variation OF
only eight degrees in the monthly mean, and a
mean temperature for the six months Of 81 degrees.
At Monterey we find the mean monthly tempera-
ture from May TO November, inclusive, varying
only six degrees, and the mean temperature of
the seven months to have been $50. If we take
the three summer months, the mean heat was
60o. The mean OF the three winter months was a
little over 49o; showing a mean difference, that
part Of the coast, Of only ll0 between summer and
winter.
The mean temperature Of San Francisco, for the
three winter months, was precisely the same as at
. Monterey little 49o.
As these cities are only about one degree and a
half distant from each other and both situated
the ocean, the temperature at both, in summer,
may very reasonably be supposed 20 be nearly
similar as the thermometer shows IL 10 be in win
J ter.
: The mean temperature Of July, August, and Sep
tember, at San Diego, only % So south Of Monte
rey, was 72o. The mean temperature Of the same
months at Monterey was little over 590; showing
a mean difference Of l3o.
, This would seem TO indicate that the cold ocean
current is thrown of from the southern part of the
coast by Point Conception, and the islands south OF
Il; and consequently its influence the climate OF
San Diego 10 much less than at Monterey and San
: Francisco.
At Los Angeles, 40 miles distant from the coast.
the mean temperature Of the three months I4o;
~
months 57e
, Al suttersville, about one hundred and thirty
! miles from the ocean, and four degrees north OF
Los Angeles, the mean temperature Of August,
September and October, was 61o The mean tenn
perature Of the same months at Monterey was 59o;
showing difference Of - between the sea- coast
and the interior nearly the parallel Of lat
itude much greater difference would undoubt-
edly appear II we had observation for the spring
and summer months at suttersville and the gold
, mines.
| These variations in the climate Of California ac-
count for the various and conflicting opinions and
statements respecting IL.
A stranger arriving at San Francisco in sum-
mer IL annoyed by the cold winds and logs, and
I pronounces the climate intolersble. few months
will modify IL not banish his dislike, and he will
not fail 10 appreciate the beneficial effects Of cool,
bracing atmosphere Thcse who approach Cali
fornia overland, through the passes Of the noun.
tains, find the heat Of summer in the middle Of the
day, greater than they have been accustomed TO,
and therefore many complain Of II.
Those who take up their residence IN the valleys
which situated between the great plain Of the
Sacramento and San Joaquin and the coast nnge
Of hills, find the CLIMATE especially in the dry sea
con, healthful and pleasant II is possible for
any climate 20 be which possesses sufficient heat
10 mature the cereal grains and edible roots Of te
temperate zone.
The division Of the year into two distinct sea-
sons-dry and wet-impresses those VIII ave been
accustomed 20 the variable climate Of the A.antic
States unfavorsbly. The dry appearance Of the
country in summer, and the difficulty o. ng
about In winter 10 impose serious difficulties
in the way Of agricultural prosperity, while the
many and decided advantages resulting from he
mildness Of winter, and the bright, clear weather
Of summer, not appreciated. Tbesc viii ap-
pear when come 10 speak Of the productions Of
California. We ought not 20 be u,prised at the
dislike which the immigrants frequently express 10
the climate. II is 40 unlike that from which they
come, that they cannot readily appreciate ts adj.
vantages, become reconsilcd TO lie extremes Of
dry and wet.
n a native Of California we're TO &c 10 New Eng.
land in winter and sec the ground frozen and
covered with snow, the streams with ice, and 6nd
doo tban