Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-01-30
climate of the New N orfh-west..

Wcdesjre to call the attention of our readers
to the advertisement of the NewSNorth Pacific
I 80 Gold Bonds which appears 10 our columns,
and in connection Herewith publish the follow
ing interesting extract from late edition OF
Harper Weekly in regard to the remarkable
mildncss of climate and fertility OF soil which
characterize that vast region known rs the New
Northwest through which the Northern Paclt-
ic Railroad passes - -
The fact of the mi dness Of the climate which
prevails along the belt Of county tributary to
tabliShed. Nowhere between Lake Superior
Minnesota; and this great State is not surpassed
as wheat producing region, or in healthness
of atmosphere. Dakota is very similar to Min
ncsota and from Dakota westward the climate
steadily modifies, until, in Oregon and Wash
ington Territory, there is almost no winter at all
aside from a rainy season, as IN California.
Throughout Dakota, Montana and Northern
Idaho cattle and horses range out all the winter
and in the spring are fat and strong. Records
kept by government officers at the various mill
itary stations on the upper waters the Mlssou-
ri show that the average annual temperature tor
a series fyears has been warmer in Central
Montana than at Chicago or Albany. This re-
| markable modification OF climate, the existence
(which no well-iufornled person now questions,
is due to several natural causes. chief among
which are these: First, the country lying be
tween the 44th and 5Oth parallels is lower by
some 1000 feet than the belt lying immediate
ly south The highest point on the line OF the
Northern Pacific Road is $500 feet lower than
the corresponding summit of the Union and
Central line. Both the Rocky and the Cascade
ranges, where they are crossed by the Northern
Pacific route, are broken down to low elevations
compared with their height loo miles south
ward This difference in altitude would ac-
count for much of the difference in climate, as
four degrees Of temperaturc arc usually allowed
iol each 1000 feet Of elevation. But, second,
the warm winds from the South Pacific, which
prevail in winter and (aidcd by the warm ocean
currents corresponding to our Atlantic Gull
Stream), produce the genial climate ofour Pa
citic coast, pass over the low mountain ridges
to the north of latitude IA, and carry their sof
tcming effect lr inland, giving to Eastern
Washington the climate of Virginia, and TO
Montana the climate Of Ohio, without its damp
hess and chill.
The same cause.-the depression Of the
mountain ranges toward the north-accountS
for the abundant rainfall in nrar y all parts OF
this vast area. The southwest winds, sslturat-
cd by the evaporation OF the tropics. carry the
rain clouds eastward over the continental dl-
vide, and distribute their moisture over the
fertile belt stretching from the mountains
to the lakes. Further south the mountains,
with their greater altitude uct Us Il wall against
the warm. moist, west winds hence the colder
winters and the ardity OF portions Of the re-
yions south OF Montana and east Of the noun
tains That the climai of that new Northwest
which is now to be opened to settlement, travel
anu trade is such as TO make it il congenia
home for the migrating millions Of Central and
Northern Europe, and the crowded portions
Of or own land there is no doubt. ...