The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-02-03


the belief that parallels Of latitude and ter
rsstrisl climates are eorrelstlves that We
might tell the temperature OF any unknown
country or region Of country, il we knew
its latitude.
HuABoLpr and DoyE exploded this idea
with their isothermal lines. For example.
they show that the mean annual tempera-
tare Of North Cape. lat. 20 deg. in Europe,
is the same rs that along the North shore OF
Lake Superior, in lat SO deg. Here is q
difference Of 70 deg. of lat. without any
difference in the average annual temperature
Of the two places.
There is difference 10 the length of day
and night at the two places, and so far as
Climate ia affected by difference in the length
OF day and night, climate is TO that extent,
aud DO farther, an affair of latitude. But
with differences in length Of day and night,
the relations between climate and latitude
cease. The thermometer and hygrometer
then become the true opponents OF climate.
Every region, indeed, tells the whole story
OF its climates by its fora.
Let Us get rid then Of our old notions
CT concerning the relations OF latitude 10 eli
mate and with unbiased minds, lay out
this north temperate zone, which we inhabit,
into thermal bands, and then study the
fora of these bands. After we shall have
done this, then think we will be able to
agree, at least among ourselves, as to the
necessity of two routes TO the Pacific.
Moreover, we can select those routes that
will be the best sgriculturally and CONNER
cially and when we shall finish with this
investigation, you will find that these two
routes lie exactly where the best plan OF
national defense requires them: The North
ern route, commencing at the Western
boundary Of Minnesota, and going TO Pu-
gets Sound, with branch, in the course
Of time, TO the mouth OF the Columbia the
Southern route commencing at FL Pas0 in
Texas, and going thence to San Diego and
San Francisco.
Ispeak Of these routes a. the routes which
commerce and agriculture az well as war
require. The elements indicate them. ]
place the climatology Of these, the agricu-
tural and commercial resources OF the regions
through which they pass in the same cate
CORY, because commerce is based on differ
ence OF agricultural productions, and differ
ence Of productions is an affair OF climate
altogether. Therefore 10 studying climates
and routes We study variety Of production
and cannot help looking at them in their
commercial aspects.
The Army Meteorological observations,
BLoDaErs' Climatology Of the United States,
and DOVES Isothermal maps, enable us to
divide that portion Of the Northern tenn
perate zone occupied by the United States
into two grand and Characteristic thermal
bands.
The fauna and the fora OF these two bands
differ. The people differ; their climates
differ the industrial pursuits in them differ ;
and therefore call them grand and striking
subdivisions.
Speaking in general way. the United
States lie between the mean annual iso-
therns Of IS deg. and 20 deg
Take q school map Of the world and let
rs draw with pencil these iso'herrns across
Europe. Asia. and Africa also
Beginning on tbe west coast. with the
pencil at Sitka. draw it with free hand
thence through the mouth OF the Red River
OF the North, touching the north shore Of
Lake Superior, crossing the st. Lawrence
below Quebec, aud thence 10 st. Johns.
Newfoundland. Now beginning in Eu-
rope near Cbristisna. draw your pen.
Gil up towards the Gulf Of Omega then
draw through Orenberg to kischta,
Msrghen and the mouth Of the Amoor.
You can now see sufficiently near Tor our
present purpose how the iso,herm Of 81
deg. runs. The mean temperature OF oil
places south OF this line IL more than IS
degrees.
ln like manner we sketch Of roughly the
annual isotherm OF 20 deg. through the new
world and the old. II starts from San
Diego, crossing the Colorado at its mouth,
and then passing down through chihuahua
TO Austin, in Texas, it goss by New Or
leans aud Pensacola to the sea. Striking
the African coast near Mogador, it goes
through Cairo, Ispshan, Delhi To Canton.
The mean temperature OF all places to the
north Of this line Is less than 20 deg.
Now let as divide the belt included b.
tween thee two iso,hsrms into two nearly
equal thermal bands. by tracing likewise
WIN q IIbf mana, Tue hDtHffW 0I ~ Ufy
the mean (nesrlyl between IS deg. and
20 deg.
Beginning near Cape Oxford on The
West Coast, this Isotbcrm passes up towards
the Dailes. then down little to the west Of
Salt Lake TO Santa r. then up to Scott .
Bluff. and then through ST. Louis and
Louisville 10 Baltimore. Taking it up 10
Epglsnd, it passes through Belgium towards
Z1rieb, then Mp towards Olmu'z, and 40 on
through Varns, Derbsst X oksn and Pekn.
THIS line divides this bel. ,herInally and
geographically into two bands Of nearly the
same SIZE They iuclud. the garden spots Of
the earth In them man laid kis frst
hear,h-s;cps. and from them the light Of
civilization sud christianity have sheh their
first and ,heir brightest rays.
LIT us, for the conyenience Of reference
call the Northcro band, the upper band ;
and the Southern one, the lower.
We are now prepared to cast the eye
over them, and TO generaline concerning the
.ar- Il a.rI q tie