The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-02-06
The Mean Temperature OF chicago
and 50. Paul Compared.

The Mean Temperature OF CnAcASO
aud 81. Paul Compared.
Tina Y seem paradoxical, but it is neverthc
less n fact, that for nine months of the year
the average mean temperature or mean heat
of st. Paul, in latitude Al deg. SO min, is
greater than at Chicago, in latitude 43 deg
Oh min. And that for the six months Of the
wear, beginning with the month Of April
which are SO important, and all important to
the farmer, the average mean temperature
or average heat at 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 sett
in Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas, when, In
truth, the same crops can be cultivated sue
cessfully in Minnesota than can be in Penn
syirania.
AS the climate of Chicago, which city is
better known i'll the East than any other
Western city or town, is pretty we'll under
stood by Eastern people, we have been led
to examine BLoDGETr's ClimatOlQgy and the
.irmy 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 al
Chicago-St. Paul averaging l6 deg min
above zero, and Chicago % deg. 9 min
above-whch difference is compensated to
st. Paul in part, however, by much less
amount of snoao, rain and arind.
The average Of the remaining nine months
is greater at St. Paul than at Chicago, by
about one degree, and the average of the sia
months beginning with April and ending
with September, which season includes "both
seed time and harvest" is about tro aiad a
Aaf degrees greater at the former than at the
latter place.
Taking the thermometrcal observations
made at both places, for the same period Of
fre years, we find them as follows:
St. Paul, ~ AZ ~ rs sMy 1@g 5 ssss
Chicago, As SO 81 30 s.. 6S $50
1t will be perceived that the average mean
monthly temperature, or heat, of erery month
of the sig excepting September, is greater at
st. Paul than at Chicago. The month Of
September is an important month to the ag.
riculturist; as in that month he gathers in a
large proportion of his matured crops, which
may be blighted and blasted by one heavy
frost, and the labor of a year dissipated 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
freeing point, and for the remaining year.
only ne observation where the cold indicat-
ed was under the freezing point, and then il
was only two degrees below, in the latter
part of the month possibly, and not suf
ficicntly cold to injure any crops exposed te
it.
1t is we'll known fact that IndiGn Corr
can be successfully cultivated in any climate
where the average mean temperature of the
Month Of T,y,, GS will no M
ticel that not only the average mean temper
ature at Saint Paul, and by that we mean =.
Fort Smelling 1.-TWO miles south and three We,
of St. Paul. where the observations L;-;i
been made, is grecter than G0 . for the month
Of July, but also greater for the month 0
August, and that the average of June onl,
falls one half degree below 60. So there
could not be any doubt-without even ou
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 Pau
with that Of Chicago, as above, and that i
the great difference in temperature in favor 9
St. Paul, for the months Of April, May AM
June, during which months vegetation s.
much needs warmth. This difference in TEN
perature, between the two places very wei
accounts for the statements sometimes mad
that "the season in st. Paul is two weeks ear
lier than at Chicago"
In making these remarks and enterin!
upon this contrast with Chicago, to the dis
advantage in one sense of the latter, our oh
ject is not to depreciate Chicago, so much a.
to avail ourselves of her conceded ability t
raise in her vicinity corn and all the cereal.
successfully, in order the better to convinc
| those doubters in the east of their error VIII,
still labor under the misrepresentation 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 month
it is ararner and this with the warm natur
Of our soil, accounts for our not only bein|
able to cultivate corn successfully, but for tn
immense quantity of fine melons of every
variety that are SO easily and plentifully pro
duced
An Irish Legislator.