Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-03-12
Correspondence OF The spy.l
THE CLIMATE OF MINNESOTA.
ST.. PAUL. M1N.. March 8, 1856

In my last letter l spoke of the climate of
Minnesota as being the best in the world for con-
sumptives, and, in this, propose to show why
it is so. 1t is well known, especially at the
East, that the one great cause of so much sick
ness and so many cases of consumption, is the
damp East winds which penetrate and waste
the constitution of even the most healthy citi-
zens. Physicians tell us that more cases of
consumption occur from colds taken from ex-
posure to the East wind, than in any other
way. Very few escape taking cold after an
exposure of but short time to the biting blast
of the great destroyer. Compare, then, the
climate of New England with that of Minneso-
Ia. Here the air is entirely free from every
particle of dampness during the entire Winter
months From November to April we scarcely
ever have any rain, and the air is clear, fresh,
and invigorating. 1t seems to brace you and
sustain you so that you feel like new crea-
ture. No mist or fog is ever seen, but the
clearest atmosphere you ever saw. AT any
hour, either by day or by night, per-
son may walk out and find no dampness UNI
der foot. You may spend an entire evening
or night out of DOORS and take no cold
The dews do not creep up around and
over you with that death-like stiffness, as
at the East. Nor is there the least chill in the
air. The weather during the winter months
is generally cold, but there being no dampness
in the wind, it makes great difference in the
degree,
| According to the theory of DIR. Kane, 36 de-
grees are allowed for difference between the
clear air and that affected by dampness in cold
weather So that should the thermometer
stand at 35 degrees below zero here, with our
dry atmosphere, it would be no colder than
at zero in Boston with the cutting east wind.
For this reason, consumptives who come here
find the greatest benefit. They can go out at
all times, no matter how cold, and suffer not
the least from the weather, because instead of
east wind they have exactly what is needed,
dry, clear, bracing climate. / know several
young men who came here last year and the
year before, who could not have lived had
they remained at the east, who are now as
strong and healthy as you ever saw any per-
son. Some of them have gained in health and
strength to a wonderful degree, and seemed to
feel restored TO health as soon as they reached
here. There are cases where young men
i, have died here of consumption, but they were
too far gone when they left home, to be bene-
fitted. Where there is one case of death there
are dozens of cases of restored health and new
constitutions Our Winters generally begin
in December. The Mississippi River closes
by freezing about the 18th of November but
we have little snow before Christmas, and then
we do not have the heavy snow storms of the
t East For the past two years the greatest
depth of snow at any one time has been about
eight inches The seighing is quite good the
greater part of the Winter Moccasins are
worn by almost every one through the Winter
which could not be done, were the streets wei
as they are always in all Eastern cities. We
t rarely have damp walking here. The ice ii
the river breaks up about the LIST of April and
in day or two passes off, and then we bid
goodbye to Winter, and Spring commences
For month or so our most nnnea sal ST sePeSnr
who has been here for one year. wbult
ever wish to live in any other place / d,
not hesitate in the least, in saying that a per
son who is a consumptive, by coming here
may be sure of finding relief, and being entire
j ly restored to perfect health, unless he is il
f the very last stages of consumption. Ofcourst
1 person in the last stage of disease can rarely
ever be helped. Let those suffering from this
complaint, or any other come here, and they
} will not regret their journey. We welcome
all to our healthy city, and promise that VIC
shall do all in our power to make your new
, home in the West one of health, happiness
2 and abundant prosperity. IRVINE.