Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-04-03
West her.
WINTER ALONG THE NORTHERN PAClF
&c RAILROAD.

Weather.
WINTER ALONG THE NORTHERN pAClF-
&c RAILROAD.
Mr.. W. Minor Roberts, Chief Engi-
neer Of the Northern Pacific Railroad,
makes tho following authentic State
mcnt:
On the finished line across MiDncso-
tn, from Duluth to Fargo, the road has
been run all winter with remarkable
regularity and freedom from snow diff
cuIties. There has been less necessary
delay on the Northern Pacific road this
winter tl.an upon the roads east Of it to
Chicago aud New York. Considerable
snow has fallen in eastern Minnesota
this winter, but there has not been an
unusual amount in tile western part Of
tn. State and across Dakota. Tho &C.
casional snow fences opposite tho exca-
vations have served their purpose we'll.
In common with the rest OF the
country and with Europe, Minnesota,
Wisconsin, iowa and the entire North
west have had most unusual winter
season. There have been some days Of
very severe weather, but it was quite
as cold about tho same period in most
Of tho Eastern States.
In January, at Duluth, the thermoul-
eter ranged US follows during the mid
die Of tho day: Average 12o above
zero i; lowest on the 9th, when it was
70 below zero; the highest, 20 above,
On the Goth absolute lowest carly in
the morning Of the 18th, 250 below
zero. At Duluth, in February, to the
10Th, average, 2O0 above; lowest, 10
below highest, 80 above zero ; abso-
lutte lowest, earliest in the morning Of
tho I'd, TO below.
At Fargo, on the western border Of
Minnesota, i'll the open prairie Of the
Red River valley, the range of the
thermometer in January was as follows !:
Average 60 above; lowest, l60 below ;
highest, 80 above zero; absolute low
est, early in the morning Of the 9th,
800 below zero. At Fargo, in Febru.
airy, to the 18th, the average was Ito
above; lowest, 100 below; hi shest, 33o
above; absolute lowest, on tho LIST, 100
below zero.
In the Rocky Mountains, east Of the
main divide, at Bozeman, near he high
est elevation OF the Northern Pacific
route, from tue 9Th. to the 25th Of
January inclusive, the average temper
allure was $50 above zero; lowest, 220
above; hi chest, 40 above; absolute
lowest, early in the 23d, l6o above zero.
1t is noticeable how much milder the
weather has been at Bohemian, near
Fort Ellis. and about 5000 tcet above
the sea, than in Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin, near the level Of the lakes. The
farmers of western Montana began
their spring blowing in the latter part
Of january, the winter in that section
being considered over and the roads
more dry and dusty.
% the eastern slope Of the Rocky
Mountains, in eastern Washington Ter.
ritory. the local papers state that the
farmers OF Walla Walla valley were
ploughing their fields on the 2Gth Of
January, though the early par: Of the
winter had been. as elsewhere, unusu-
ally cold tor that region.
The winter climate along the Pacific
division Of our road, between the Col.
uu.bia river and Puget Sound, which
is in regular daily operation, may be
Inferred from the fact that at Portland
Oregon, the average temperature 70,
January was 450 ovez-ro; the high
est was $50 above. Snow fell one day
the I'd, to depth OF two and halt
inches Grass has been green through
out the winter about Puget Sound, ant
aud several varieties OF flowers were il
bloom out Vi doors in January and Feb
ruary.
Our experience on the finished line
and authentic reports from the remain
| der Of the route, satisfy NE that the
Northern Pacific road, if completed
from Lake Superior to Puget Sound
would have been kept in regular oper
alton the entire distance tue last winter
without difficulty.