The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-20

att3 observations carried on hourly since l8i7
by Russiau officers a. regularly appointed ob.
servatories estabhs he'd throughout Eurooe the
United : a'es, Canada, parts of ASIA, at the Cape
of Good HOPE ST. Helena, and even in Aus
uala. The results are accepted throughout
the scientific world and personal eXamiua-
tion of the observatory and ob.erv
at Sitka satisfied us of the trustworthy quality
OF the results. They may, however, aopear
delusive TO the non.scenunc mind until the
deeper laws are made Plain. II the rigor of the
Climate was as great as that OF the same latitude
oil the eastern coast of nero or IN the interior
OF the continent, the value OF the territory would
be very prOblematical except in its political
aspects; and therefore it seems essential to FIRST
demonstrate the causes producing such q COM
parauveiy warm sea-coast climate in such high
laItudes.
There exists in tho Pacific q mighty ocean,
river Of warm water, remarkably analo Sous to
the Gulf Stream of the Atlantic, but OF greater
volume, greater velocity and higher tempera-
ture. The main body OF this japanese warm
stream stretches from the coast of Nphou in
latitude 30 deg, eastward and north ward
through the broad Pacific, thirty three hundred
nautical miles. TO about latitude 4S deg. and
longitude las deg, wnere IL is within eight or
nine hundred miles OF the American coast. 1t
there divides, and the greater part continues
towards the coast OF Queen Charlotte aud Van
couver's Islands, and thence down the coast of
Washington, Oregon, and California stamping
well-known pecnllarltes upon that coast
cIIma.e. The emaller part continues to the
coast of the Alexander Al chipeago; is thence
UeUGCkGu W lU0 UOIlDWHTu huu westward along
the shores OF the q eat Gulf OF Alaska. undd.
embracing the Kadak group, it follows the
southeast shores of toe Alaska peninsula and
outlying islands, and thence continues south.
ward and westward past the eastern part of the
Aleuilan chain. Here IL joins the current
coming through the middle of the chain OF
islands from Behring Sea, and can be traced
southward until 1t strikes the northern edge
Of the great stream, forcing 1t south ward and
undermining it. Were observations wanting
TO sustain this deduction, the well.es stablished
fact of japanese junks having been carried by
the main stream between four and five
thousand miles to the coasts of Oregon
and Washington, aud there wrecked,
would demonstrate It, AS late as 1888 japanese
junk was wrecked near Cape Flattery, in at!-
tude 4S deg, on the coast of Washington; aud
about 1854 Junk was relieved in mid ocean in
the centre OF this great stream, being slowly
but irTesistbly carried TO the American coast
This great Japan stream, i'll longitude l65 deg.
West, or nearly fourteen hundred nautical miles
from our coast has a breadth of over twelve
hundred miles, and temperature of 7S deg. on
lis southern limit in latitude % deg aud ID deg.
on its northern edge IN latitude AZ deg, beng
IL to Is deg. warmer than the variable returning
currents north OF it, Oh the Alaska coast, in
latitude 81 deg, the temperature of the surface
water was observed on this expedition TO be fron
80 to 81 deg. in August and September, while the
average temperature OF the air was almost
uniiormly three degrees higher. In the Gulf
of Alaska, the current of the northern branch
has, at times, velocity as high as thirty-siK
miles per day; near the Sannakh Island we
found an exceptionally strong current running
three or lour knots per hour part Of which may,
however, have been tidal current towards the
Unimak Strait into Behrlng Sea.
When the great Japan stream leaves the coast
of Niphon, small branch called the 'Kam-
sChatka current" continues along the AsIatlc
coast, through the western part of Behring Sea
ana Beh1ing Strait, to the Arctic Ocean, with
velocity at times OF one aud half miles per
hour through the strait. Part OF this mass of
inct batn h-in fraii ia
DETECTED eastward by the islands south or 1t,
sweeps round the American coast, receives the
waters of the great rivers Kvlchpak, Kuskovm,
ETC., and circles south ward and westward
through the middle OF the Aleutian chain,
affecting their climate remarkably. AT the
island OF st. Lawrence, in latitude 63 deg, the
temperature of this warm stream is AZ deg;
north OF the Aleutians, AZ deg; near these
islands and south of them, 40 deg. At
the head Of Unalaska Bay we observed
the temperature OF the surface.water
to he 453 deg. In the middle of Sep-
tember. Between this current and the AsiatIc
coast polar current works its way southward,
exactly as the polar current follows our eastern
coast inside the Cult Stream. Two out OF many
remarkable proofs in the cumulative obserVa-
tions leading to the above deductions are, that,
north of the coast of NIPPON, Japanese woods
and disabled vessels are never throw upon the
Asatic shores, but upon the Westernmostsot the
Aleutians, upon the American coast north of the
Alaska peninsula, and even into the Arctic
Ocean; and that icebergs are never carried by
the current from the ArcCic Ocean to Behrlng
Sea.
The influence of these great volumes of warm
water upon the coast climate of Alaska, as well
as that further south, Is perhaps even more
arked thar the influence or the Gulf Stream Of
the Atlantic upon the coast of Europe. The
results of the condensation of the warm vapor-
laden air, and the consequent precipitation of
ran, by the colder and drier airs OF the c0nti-
nent, are exhibited In the enormous and quick
growth of the timber; the rapid development of
and nIaOtS: the CARPET OF moss that
covers the sea-coast region as far south as Van
couver Island; the high thermal condition of
the air; the very small difference between the
temperatures OF the wet aud dry bulO thermome-
ters, indicating slow evaporation; the nom
formation AT Sitka, in latitude 81 deg. min., of
ice clear and solid enough for the California
market; the existence of timber deg. further
north than on our eastern coast; the gay
howersn and "the rarest and most beautiful
plants along the Arctic Shore" that make even
Cape LlsbuIne, in latitude 5S deg. 81 min., look
like garden" etc. etc.
GoDEY's LADY's Book for November has, as
usual, an attractive miscellany of stories,
sketches, poetry, household receipts, patterns,
etc. fine steel engraving, entitled "Nothing
this Morning, Miss" representing young
lady having sly conference with the post
man, is given as a frontispiece. The fashion
plates are numerous, and the magazine as
whole is up to its usual standard of excellence.
DPODOCAJC