Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-03
CALIFORNIA.
REPORT OF HON. II. BUTLER KING.
(coNTINUED)
WASHINGTON, March %, 1850.
To the Hon. JOHN M. CLAYTON,
Secretary of Stake.

10 the lion. JOHN M. CLAYTON,
Secretary Of Stale.
CLIMATE.
Inow come to consider the climate. The climate of
California remarkable in its periodical changes,
and for the long continuance OF the wet and dry sea-
sons, dividing they do the year into about two equal
parts, which have most peculiar influence on the labor
applied agriculture and the products OF the SOIL and
in fact connect themselves nseparaby with all the
interests of the country that deem 1t proper briefly to
mention the which produce these changes and
which, it will seen as this report proceeds,
else controlling influence on the commercial prosperity
and resources of the country.
1t is well-established theory that the of air
under which the earth passes in its dlurna revolution
follow the line of the SUMS greatest attraction These
currents of air are drawn towards this line from greas
distances on each side OF it, and as the earth revoves
from west to east the blow from northeast and south
east meeting, and OF course causing calm on the
line.
Thus when the sun is directly, in common parlance
over the equator the month Of March, these currents
and south of the tropic of Capricorn an oblque di
recton towards this line OF the SUMS greatest attraction
and forming what known the northeast and south
east trade winds.
brings the line of attraction north, summer these
rentsot air carried ith it, that about the dde
of May the current from he northeast has extended
far the 38th 39th degree OF north latitude and by
the Goth of June the period of the suns greatest north
inclination, to the northern portions of California
and the southern section OF Oregon
These northeast WINDS IN tnelr progress across the
continent towards the Pacific Ocean, pass over the
snow-capped ridges of the Rocky Mountains end the
Sierra Nevada, and OF course deprived all the mos
ture which can be extracted from them by the low tenn
perature OF those regions OF eternal snow and conse
quently no moisture be reciptated from hem in
the form of dew rain, in higher temperature than
that to which they have been subjected They there
fore pass the hills and plains OF California, where
the temperature is very high in summer, very dry
state and far from being charged with moisture, they
absorb, like sponge, all that the atmosphere and
face of the earth can YIELD until both become, appa-
rently, perfectly dry.
This process commences as have said, when the
line of the suns greatest attraction comes north in
summer, bringing with it these vast atmospheric move
ments, and their approach produce the dry
in California which, governed by these laws continues
until time after the repasses the equator in Sep
TENDER, when, about the middle OF November, the eli
being relieved from these northes currents Of air,
the southwest winds SET from the ocean, charged with
moisture-the rains commence and continue to fall, not
constantly persons have represented but with
sufficient frequency to designate the period OF their con-
nuance, from about the middle OF November until the
middle of May, in the latitude OF San francisco, as the
| aret season.
1t follows as matter of course, that the dry
commences first and continues longest In the southern
portions of the Territory and that the climate OF the
northern part influenced IN much less degree by the
causes which have mentioned than any other section
| of the country. Consequently, we find that as low
down as latitude 80 deg, rains are sufficiently frequent
in summer to render irrigation quite unnecessary to the
perfect maturity of any crop which Is suited TO soil
and climate.
| There is an extensive current of cold water,
which comes from the northern regions OF the Pacific,
perhaps, from the Arctic, and flows along the coast
of California. 1t comes charged with, and emits IN its
progress which appears in the form OF log when it
| comes in contact with higher temperature on the
American coast the Gult-stream OF the Atlantic ex-
hales vapor when meets in any part OF its progress
lower temperature. This current has not been survey
ed and therefore. its source, temperature, velocity,
width and course have not been accurately ascertaned
1t is believed by Lieutenant Maury on what he con-
sders sufficient eydence-and no higher authority can
be cited-that this current comes from the coasts OF
China and Japan flows norhwardly to the peninsula
of Kamptschatka and, making circuit to the east,
ward, strikes the American coast in about latitude 4!
deg or AZ deg. 1t passes thence, southwardly, and
finally loses itself in the tropics.
Below latitude thirtynine, and west OF the foot hills
OF the Sierra Nevada the forests OF California are lmi
ted to scattering groves OF oak in the valleys and
along the borders of the streams and OF red wood
the ridges and in the gorges of the hills-somemes
tending into the plains Some OF the hills are covered
with dwarf shrubs which may be used as fuel. With
these exceptions, the whole territory presents surface
without shrubbery. IL is covered however, with
various species Of grass and for many miles from the
with wild oats, which, in the Valleys grow most
luxuriany These grasses and mature and ripen
early in the dry season. and cease to protect the soil
from the scorching rays OF the sun. AS the summer
advances the moisture in the atmosphere and the EARTH
to a considerable DEPTH soon becomes exhausted; and
the radiation OF heat, from the extensive naked plains
and hlll-sdes, IS very great.
The cold, dry Of air from the northeast after
descend to the Pacific and absorb the moisture of the
atmosphere to great distance from the land The cold
air from the mountains, and that which accompanies
the great current from the northwest, thus be-
come united and vast banks fog generated which,
when driven by the wind, has penetrating or cutting
effect on the human skin, much more uncomfortable
than would be felt in the humid atmosphere OF the At
lantc at much lower temperature.
As the sun rises from day to day, week after week
and month after month, in uncouded brightness during
the dry season. and pours down his unbroken rays
the dry unprotected surface of the country the heat be-
much greater inland than ii IS on the ocean,
thatan under-current OF cold air. bringing the fog with
it, rushes the coastrange OF hills and throug their
numerous passes, towards the interior.
Every day the heat inland attains sufficient tenn
perature the cold, dry wind from the
to blow This is usually from eleven to one o'clock
and the day advances the wind increases and cont
nues to blow till late at night. When the is
filed the equilibrium OF the atmosphere restored the
wind ceases a perfect calm prevails until about the
same hour the following day, when the process
and progresses as before and these pheno
mena are OF daily occurrence, with few exceptions,
throughout the dry season.
These cold winds and fogs render the climate at San
Francisco and all along the coast OF California, except
the extreme southern portion OF IT, probably more I'M
comfortable to those not accustomed TO it, in summer
than in winter.
es and softens the wind from the ocean, the climate is
moderate and delightful The heat in the middle of
the day is great to retard labor render
else in the open uncomfortable. The nights cool
and pleasant This description of climate prevails in
all the valleys along the coast range, and extends
throughout the country, north and SOUTH far eastward
the valley Of the Sacramento and the 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 in the same latitudes. 1t is dry, how
ever, and probably not more oppressive. On the foot
hills of the Sierra Nevada and especially in the deep
ravnes of the streams the thermometer frequently ranges
from ITO deg to lis deg in the shade during three
four hours of the day, say from eleven until three
o'clock In the evening" the declines, the radia
ton of heat ceases The cool dry atmosphere from the
mountains spreads the whole country and renders
the nights cool and invigorating.
have been kindly furnished Isl by surgeon General
tons taken at the following places in California viz
At San Francisco, by Assistant Surgeon W. G. Parker,
for six months embracing the last quarter of ls47 and
the first quarter of lS4s The monthly mean tempera-
ture was as follows: October, 81 deg; November. 40