The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-02-06
The Mean Temperature OF Chicago
and st. Paul Compared.

1
aud 50. Paul Compared.
It NAV seem paradoxical, but it is neverthe
less fact, that for nine months Of the year
the average mean temperature or mean heat
of St. Paul, in latitude A deg. So min, is
greater than at Chicago, in latitude 43 deg.
Oh min. And that for the six months Of the
year, beginning with the month of April,
which are SO important, and all important to
the farmer, the average mean temperature
or average heat ut St. Paul is decidedly great
err than at Chicago The general opinion in
the Northern, Eastern and Middle States, is
that Minnesota is too cold country for sue
cessful farming; that but limited variety OF
crops can be raised here; and therefore many
persons who otherwise would make their
home in this Territory, are tempted to settle
in Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas, when, In
truth, the same crops can be cultivated sue
cessfully in Minnesota than can be in Penn
| sylcania.
As the climate of Chicago, which city is
better known in the East than any other
Western city or town, is pretty well under
stood by Eastern people, we have been led
to examine BLoDGErr's GimatolQgy and the
Army meteorological Register, to ascertain
from the careful observations there compiled,
what the exact difference is, in The tempera-
ture of the two places.
| The average winter temperature at St.
Paul we find to be ten degrees colder than at
Chicago-St- Paul averaging 16 deg. l min.
above zero, and Chicago Is deg. Q min.
above-which difference is compensated to
st. Paul in part, however, by much less
amount of snoao, rain and aCind.
The average of the remaining nine months
is greater at st. Paul than at Chicago, by
about one degree, and the average of the sic
months beginning with April and ending
with September, which season includes "both
seed time and harvest" is about two and u
ha!f degrees greater at the former than at the
latter place.
Taking the thermometrical observations
made at both places, for the same period of
fue years, we find them as follows:
St. Paul. 4ss T@g 81 Sr s Sg ..s SsH
Chicago, as SO g.. 80 TO Sos $50
1t will be perceived that the average mean
monthly temperature, or heat, of every month
of the sic, excepting September, is greater at
st. Paul than at Chicago. The month of
September is an important month to the az
riculturist; as in that month he gathers in
large proportion of his matured crops, which
may be blighted and blasted by one heavy
frost, and the labor of year dssipated. To
ascertain the liability of crops being injured
in this region by frost, in September, we
have examined the observations made at
Fort Smelling, during eleven years, for the
month of September, and find that for ten
years out of eleven, the thermometer did not
indicate so low degree of temperature as the
freezing point, and for the remaining year,
only one observation where the cold indicat-
ed was under the freezing point, and then it
was only two degrees below, in the latter
part Of the month possibly, and not suf-
iciently cold to injure any crops exposed to
it,
1t is a well known fact that Indian Corn
can be successfully cultivated in any climate
where the average mean temperature of the
month Of July exceeds G. 1t will be no.
ticed that not only the average mean temper
ature at Saint Paul, and by that we mean 1T
Fort Smelling 1.-TWO miles south and three west
of st. Paul. where the observations hare
been made, is greater than g. for the month
Of July, but also greater for the month of
August, and that the average of June only
falls one half degree below .. So there
could not be any doubt-without even our
successful experience on the subject for years
and judging from theory only, and the eli
mate during the growing months-that Corn
can be raised with great success in this re-
gion of country. We would also call the atten-
ton of eastern people contemplating moving
westward to one very important fact, shown,
by contrasting the temperature at Saint Paul
with that of Chicago, as above, and that is
the great difference in temperature in favor of
st. Paul. for the months of April, May and
June, during which months vegetation SO
much needs warmth. This difference in tenn
perature, between the two places very we'll
accounts for the statements sometimes made
that "the season in st. Paul is two weeks ear
lier than at Chicago"
In making these remarks and entering
upon this contrast with Chicago, to the dis
advantage in one sense of the latter, our OBJ
ject is not to depreciate Chicago, SO much as
to avail ourselves of her conceded ability to
raise in her vicinity corn and all the cereals
successfully, in order the better to convince
those doubters in the east of their error who
still labor under the misapprehension that be-
cause here at ST. Paul we are nearly two de-
grees farther north, our climate is necessari-
ly proportionably colder throughout the year.
The figures show that in the growing months
it is rarmer and this with the warm nature
of our soil, accounts for our not only being
able to cultivate corn successfully, but for the
immense quantity Of fine melons of every
variety that are so easily and plentifully pro-
duced.
An Irish Legislator.
A lauphahle incident noon rro1 II, tho Houoo