The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-01-04
WASHINGTON rKnnIroRY.

We have received pamphlet cop,
OF the last annual report of E. P. Ferry
Governor of Washington Territory. e
Carl Schurz. Secretary Of the Interior
the date Of hich is October 10th. 1879
Not Including three tables, concerning
climate. population and taxable prop
erty. which have appeared in tbes<
columns before. the following 10 ih,
full report:
During the past year this Territory
has made material advances in the de-
velopmeut Of its agricultural. msnnfac-
turing. mining. and commercial r.
sources
Its isolated position. its distance from
the great centers Of population. the
large expenses which must bs incurred
by those coming hither. and the almos,
universal misconceptiou existing else
where in reference to its climate aod
productions. and particularly the
amount Of rainfall. have prevented ths
rapid growth which has been witnessed
in many other Territories. When VI
take into consideration those retardin9
influences, the progress made cannot b
other wise than satisfactory and graft.
flying.
IL appears to be almost impossible to
epligbten the public mind in regard to
the climate and agricultural produc-
tions Of this Territory. The eye is cast
upon the map. and when it 10 Uncovered
that the Territory IS situated between
the forty sixth aud forty ninth degrees
Of north Latitude. and it il recollected
that the northern portion OF the State
OF Maine 10 intarsectcd -hy the fIrty-
sixth parallel north. 1t il immediately
assumed that the cliwate Snd natural
productions of the two localities are
similar.
Il should, however, be also remem.
bered that all of E0glaod 10 situsted
north o! tho northern boundary line si
this Territory. and thse isothermal lines
do not correspond with lines Of latitude.
When the statement is made that ice
and snow are of rare occurrence aud al
most unknown in Western Washington.
it appears to be 90 incredible to thoss
residing many degrees south OF this on
the Atlantic seaboard. or in the West
ern States where the temperature is st
zero or below every wiutsr. that it ac-
tcslly makes no permanent impression
npon the mind. although q hsaitating
belief may be accorded to it at the mo-
ment.
have, therefore. deemed it proper
to present the result of recent accurate
aud reliable meteorological observations
taken at Port Blskely. on Puget Sound.
in latitude ~ deg. and 36 sec. north,
which will show clearly and definitely
the character If tbs climate throughout
the year.
1t will be seea that the lowest teln-
peraturc during this period "f twenty
six months wss Is dsgrso abose zero.
in J.nuary. 1879. and the next lowest
% degrees. in January. 1873. The
highest tenn perature in 1877 wss 80 de-
grses; In 1878. o. degrees, and In 1879,
Sc degrees The highest monthly Az
ersge Was san degrees in July, 1877.
and the lowest 40l. IN January. 1878.
It will also be seen that the annual av- :
erage rainfall il very little greater than
in the Eastern and Western States.
From June. 1877, to January. 1873, .
period Of nineteen months. embracing
all Of one wint~r and half OF another.
there VAS no snowfall. and In January.
February aud March, 1870. only IA
inches. which disappeared almost ~
rapidly ~ it fell. The greatest rain
fall 10 between the months Of October
and April. although. during this period
It will be seen that the cloudy days are
very little in excess OF the clear.
The climatic phsuonsos indicated By
these observations are readily sccount-
cd for. sas
A thermal current. known ~ the j..
pan Current. having its origin st the
equator near the one hundred and thir.
tisth degree Of east longitude. Green.
wich. flows n0rthwardly to the Aleu-.
tiaa Islauds. whore it separates. one
branch flowing eastwardly along the
peninsula OF Alaska, and then s0uthsr-
II along the coast of British Columbia,
Washington Territory aud Oregon.
This thermal stream. with ito concomi-
tant heated atmospheric current. strik-
ing the northwest coast OF America.
operates powerfully in mitigating =
climate which other wise would b oold
and rigorous in the extreme. The
effect Of these currents upon the western
portion Of our Territory, 10 the Same -
the effect Of the Calf Stream upou the
northwest coast Of Europe. Ia fact the
climate and natural productions OF
England ere essentially the nne -
those OF Western Washineton. In ad-
dition to this. the prevailing vinds iu
tho winter are from the southwest.
Thess warm atmospheric ousrsnte,
coming from the tropical regions Of the
Pacific. laden With moisture. meeting
the cooler currents from the Cra6t
Range and Cascade Mountains. prodsce
the winter rainfall. These southwest
winds also moderate the temperatufe
during the wintes. @
The prevailing winds in the sanmes
are from the northwest. which 10 the
caase Of the dry. cool weather during
that period. The following table sAows
the rainfall at the points mentioned for
the year snding June jCth. 1873:
rxcHxs:.
Albany. n Y.....,. 4k6O
Chicago, III. l5.oS
Charleston. 8 C.. 60 62
Boston. Nass. 81. SO
Erie. Ps. Ps.................. sooi