The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-11-23
HHeDNTANA'B CLTaaAEE.
S0mae Em6erestEng Facts La Reference
90 eEaa saaae.
T: ers.

The following extract from the Wool
Manufacturers Bulletin was handed us by
Mr., W. H. Todd and we find space for it in
our columns with pleasure. The facts stated
are interesting and show upon scientific
principles why it is that Montana, although
so far north, has m1lder climate than many
of the States and Territories further south.
Benton and vicinity is even more favored
than any other part Of Montana as the alti-
tude here is only 2,614 feet while the other
towns Of the Territory range from 1900 to
5000 feet. The effect Of this difference is
shown by the superior crops raised in our
valleys The extract is as follows and is
worth clipping for your scrap book:
AS bearing upon the question Of climate,
it IS important to consider the comparative
altitude Of the arabIe valleys and grazing
lands in Montana We remember hearing the
distinguished Agassiz remark that three hun
dred feet of altitude, in its elimatir Influence,
is equal TO one degree Of latitude This must
be borne ii mind il the following compari-
sons
Even the passes over the highest ranges in
about 5000 feet above the sea-level-n0
greater than the. plains Of Cheyenne, Wy
oming. Nearly all the arabic Montana val
leys average from soc to 1900 feet lower
than the most fertile ones of Colorado and
Utah. Montanas highest peak would hardly
reach timber line in Colorado. The tables
compiled by Porfesso1a a1anaet Of the Hayden
Survey, show that $1,000 square miles Of
Montana's area are less than 4, 900 feet above
the sea, while only 5000 square miles Of
Colorado's area and none of Utah's are at a
less latitude than 900 feet. Montana also
possesses valleys and hsnch lands covering
an area Of 40, 700 square miles, at less lati-
tude than 5000 while neither Colorado, New
Mexico, Utah, nor Wyoming contains an
acre of surface as low rs 5000 feet. The
official reports referred 70 make the mean or
average height of Montana above the sea, g.
900 feet; that of Nevada, $500 Of New
Mexico, 5000; OF Wyoming, 6,400; and Of
Colorado, 1000; Montana possessing an av-
erage altitude of 1880 feet less than the gen.
eral average Of the before named States and
Territories, equal to more than seven degrees
Of lower latitude, and thus, compared with
them, the lower altitude OF the grszing lands
more than compensate for their higher lati
tude.
coming UlOIG u}AcCt " tu6 uucatlOu Ul Cll-
mate, we find that the isothermal line Of SO
deg. Fahrenheit, which passee through the
wheat growing districts of southern Russia,
through southern France, and westward
through Harrisburg, Cleveland and Chicago,
in our own country rises north Of Montana,
into the British possessions. This apparent-
II extraordinary phenomenon 10 readily eI-
planned by the influence OF the CREST Japan
ocean curraat flowing northwara from the
equasor with Q temperature Of So degrees,
which pouTs its heated breath against the low
coast lines Of Oregon and Washington, and
thence inland, oVa- plaias snd 1nountaiz, topa
even eaat Of nonsanas eastern border. This
warra Wind from the Pacific knosEa as the
'tCAisooE," efsan causes the daapasa snovza
on the baachse aa5 valleys CT Montana to
disappear il single night. Tbs westerly
Winda are more prevalent in winter than
thoaa from the cold nershegss quaxsog, and
therefore the country, as vss frat Observed
By Gov. ssoveas, il his survey, although so
far inland, rtaasaEas Of tao Well-lnoWa mild
OF climate OF the Pacific coast.
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