Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-02-18

weather. While the mercury has been
at Great Falls for a month past. in Da-
kota. Minnesota and other Western and
northwestern states it has been as MANY
degrees below, and King Boreas has had
and still has absolute sway. At no time
this winter have the Manitoba or North
ern Pacific railways been blockaded IN
Montana, but for days and weeks at a
tune On both roads trains were stopped in
Dakota and Minnesota on account of
snow and intensely cold weather, a fact
that presents in the strongest possible
light the difference of climate.
The climate of Great Falls and North
ern Montana is modified by the warm
winds from the IAcific ocean. called the
Chinook winds, which shorten the win
ter, and gives us practically a climate
similar to that of Illinois, Indiana, ard
that tier of states, only it is more salubri-
Gus and invigorating, the dry atmosphere
Of this region being far preferable to that
of the states named. The following facts
from a recent report of the Helena board
of trade will be of interest in this CON
nection:
In order to correct misapprehensions
in regard to the climate of Montana, that
have gained general credence among peo-
pie who do not take into consideration
our comparatively low altitude, and who
believe because our latitude is high up
among the forties we must necessarially
have a climate of Arctic rigor, it is only
necessary to assign certain natural causes
and prove by comparison that Montana
possesses a more equable, pure, delightful
and health giving climate than an portion
Of the United States. No excessively hot
weather prevails at any time of the year,
and the nights are delightfully."- cool.
The chinook" a warm western breeze
from the Pacific ocean, comes to the re-
lief, infusing new life into every business
channel and unlocking the frozen grasses
50 thatthc cattle and sheep, without per-
lament injury, resume their feeding, and
90 through the winter without other shell
ter "r feed than that provided by the nu-
tritious bunch grass and the willows along
the streams.
1t may be positively stated that one
suffers far less from cold In Montana
when the thermometer indicates twenty
degrees below zero than in almost any
eastern locality when it only touches
zero.
The tables compiled by Prof. Cannot,
of the Hayden survey, show that $1,000
square miles of Montana's area are less
than 1000 feet above the sea, while only
5000 square miles of Colorado's area, and
none Of Utah's, are at a less altitude than
1000 feet.
Montana also contains valleys and bench
lands, covering an area of 47,700 square
miles, at a less altitude than 5000, while
neither Colorado, New Mexico, Utah nor
Wyoming, contain an area of surface as
low as 5000 feet.
Montana possesses an average altitude
of 1890 feet less than the general aver
age of the above named states and terri
tories, equal to more than seven degrees
of lower altitude. Compared with them,
the lower altitude of the grazing lands
more thar ~compensates for their latitude.
For commercial, mining, stock raising
and manufacturing purposes no climate
in the world possesses greater advanta-
ges: being better adapted to inspire the
energy, foster the ambition and promote
the health Of the people.
The season opens early enough for the
sowing of grain in April, the blowing for
which is sometimes done in February,
All grains soWn in the spring are fully
ripened for the harvest in August and
September, owing to the great amount of
daylight from the summer solstice until
the harvest is assured.