The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-31
CITY OF WASHINGTON, SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 81. 1850


The following day. when the same process commences
and progresses before; and these phenomena are
of daily occurrence, with few exceptions throughout the
These cold winds and ogs render the climate at San
Francisco and all along the OF California except
the extreme southern portion OF T. probably more un
comfortable, to those not accustomed 10 II, IN summer
| than in winter. Esssas 1865
few miles inland, where the heat OF the sun
climate is moderate and delightful The heat in
the middle OF the day is not great as 10 reard
labor render exercise in the open air uncomfortable
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 San
Joaquin In this vast plain the breeze loses its IN
uence and the degree OF heat in the middle Of the day,
during the summer months, is much greater than IS
known the Atlantic coast in the lattudes. is
hs foot hills Il the the Sierra Nevada and especially in the
deep ravnes OF the streams the thermometer frequently
ranges from no deg to ll5 deg. in the shade, during
three o'clock In the evening, the sun Declines the
radiation OF heat The cool, dry atmosphere from
the m6ctans spreads over the whole country and rem
ders the nights cool and invigoratng.
have been kindly furnished by Surgeon General Law
son, United States army with thermometfca observa
tions taken ct the following places in California,
for six months, embracing the last quarter OF 1s47 and
the first quarter Of ls4s. The monthly mean temperature
was follows: OCTOBER 81 deg; November 40 deg. |;
December, SO deg January 40 deg February, SO deg;
AT Monterey. in latitude SO deg IS min. NORTH and
longitude l2l west on the coast about one degree and
half south of San Francisco by Assistant Surgeon w D.
King, for seven months, from May to Novembe inclu-
sive. The monthly mean temperature was May, So
deg; June, So deg, July, 50 deg; August 90 deg !;
September, So deg; October, go deg; November, So
AT Los Angeles, ttude "a deg. min longitude west
ls deg min BY Assistant Surgeon John 8 Griffin for
ten monthsfrom June, ls4T, to March, 1S4S inclusive
The monthly mean temperature was June, % DEG. !;
July, "a deg August, rs deg September. IS deg Oc-
January. s. deg. February, IS deg. March. IS deg,
This place is about forty miles from the coast
At San Diego, latitude 80 deg As min. Longitude west
lit deg IL min, by Assistant Surgeon J. D. Summers,
for the following three months OF ls49, viz: July.
monthly mean temperature, ~ deg; August 7o deg;
At Sattersviile on the Sacramento river latitude 3s
deg. 80 min north, longitude west l2l deg 81 min, by
Assistant Surgeon r Murray for the following months
Of lS4g july monthly mean smpeatISIs 7s dssg Au
These observations show remarkably high tempera-
tue at San Francisco during the six months from Octo
Der 70 March inclusive; variation Of only eight degrees
months OF hfty-one degrees.
At Monterey we find the mean monthly temperature
May e % e. ySayg VA only h as
have been 5S deg. II take the three summer months
the heat go deg. The of the three win
ter months little 40 deg; showing mean diff
ference that part Of the coast OF only IL deg between
summer and winter
The mean temperature OF San Francisco for the three
winter months was precisely the same as at Monteeya
AS these cities are only about one degree and half dis
ant from each other, and both situated near the ocean,
the temperature both summer, may very reasonably
be supposed 10 be as nearly similar as the thermometer
shows il to be in winter. ss sa9@5 r
The mean temperature OF July. August, and Sep
ember al San Diego, only deg SO min south OF Monte
rey, was ~ deg The mean temperature of the same
months at Monterey little over 50 deg; showing
mean difference Of 10 deg.
This would seem to indicate that the cold ocean
is thrown of from the southern part Of the coast BY
Point Conception, and the islands south OF and conse
quenty its influence on the climate OF San Diego is much
less than at Monterey and San Francisco.
AT Los Angeles, 40 miles distant from the coast the
mean temperature OF the three months was "a deg OF
the three autumn months 81 deg; of the three winter
At Sutiersvlle, about one hundred and thirty miles
from the ocean, and four degrees north OF Los Angeles,
he mean temperature OF August. september, and uc.
months at Monterey was SO deg. showing difference
Of deg between the seaeoast and the interior.
ly the same parallel OF latitude much greater differ
ence would undoubtedly appear we had observation for
the spring and sumner months at Suttersvlle and the
gold mines,
These variations in the climate Of California account
for the various and conflicting opinions and statements
respecting IT,
stranger arriving at San Francisco in summer is an
noyed by the cold winds and fogs and pronounces the
climate intolerable A few months will modify il not
Danish his dislike, and he will not fail TO appreciate the
beneficial effects Of cool, bacng atmosphere Those
who approach California overland through the passes OF
the mountains find the heat OF summer, in the middle OF
the day. greater than they have been accustomed TO, and
therefore many complain of IT,
Those who take up their residence in the valleys
which are situated between the great plain OF the Sacra
mento and San Joaquin and the coast range OF hills nd
the climate especially the dry season, as healthfu and
pleasant II is possible for any climate TO be which pos
sesses sufficient heat mature the cereal grains and edi
bic roots OF the temperate zone
The division OF the year into two distinct seasons, dry
and wei impresses those who have been accustomed to
the variable climate Of the Atlantic States unfavoraby
The dry appearance OF the country in summer, and the
difficulty OF moving about in winter to impose ser
difficulties in the way OF agricultural prosperity; while
the many and decided advantages resulting from the
mildness Of winter and the bright clear weather OF sum
mer, are not appreciated These will appear when
come to speak Of the productions OF California. We
ought not 10 be surprised the dislike which the immi
grants frequently express TO the climate II is so unlike
that from which they come, that they cannot readily ap
preciae its advantages, become reconced TO It's ex
iremes OF dry and wet
II native OF California were to 90 10 New England in
winter and see the ground frozen and covered with
snow, the streams with ice, and find himself in temper
ature many degrees colder than he had ever felt before
he would probably be much surprised that people
could or would live in inhospitabe region, As any
California.
So much our opinions influenced by early impress
sions the vcissudes OF the with which we are
familiar, love Of country, home, and kindred, that we
ought never 10 hazard hasty opinion when we come
in contact with circumstances entirely different iron
those TO which have all our lives been accustomed
The valleys which are situated parallel 10 the coast
range and those which extend eastwardy in all directions
among the hills towards the great plain OF the Sacra
mento, OF unsurpassed fertility