The Portland daily press., 1889-01-25
DAKOTA.
The Land In which the Blizzard is
Born.
TP. s. Mcclure in Harper's Magazine.l

IL ). Mcclure in Harper's Magazne.]
Inc notoriety of the Territory abroad has
peen established mainly, it would appear, on
the iame OF her wheat crop, and as being the
birthplace OF the blizzard" Dakota is sat-
isied with, and feels that she has fairly won,
the title of the grain field of America; but
the testimony of her inhabitants and the
proof OF weather observations (as recorded
py the United States Signal Service Bureau,
army surgeons, and voluntary observers,
covering In all period of fifteen years. COM
pletely refute the standard Eastern idea of
Dakota's climate.
The mean annual temperature of the en-
tire stretch Of country extending north from
the northern boundary line of Nebraska
more than 400 mlles-to the southern boun-
dary OF Canada is 4l.50, an average higher
than that Of either the State of Minnesota
or New Hampshire. In the section of the
Territory situated south of a line extended
westward through Huron, on the James
River, north to Fort Sully, on the Missouri
River, and thence to Deadwood. in the Black
Hills. the mean annual temperature is 45o, or
about that of Nebraska. Iowa, northern ILL
nois, southern Michigan Pennsylvania and
New York. The coolest month of the year
is January. the thermometer indicating in
that month an average te mperatnre covering
the whole area of the country of 70 above
zero The mean temperature for July, the
warmest month, is 72o The average tenn
perature Of the three winter months Is 1I.8o /:
| OF the spring, ALI and of the summer, 80 10.
Der, October and November) is 441o, or
three degrees higher than sduring the three
months of spring. There are really but two
seasons in Dakota, summer and winter; the
transition from snow to rain, from the cold
Of winter to the heat of summer, occurring
with remarkable suddenness, generally in
March, though sometimes as early as Febru-
airy. During the month of January the Their
mometer frequently registers very low tenn
perature, occasionally going 400 or more be-
low zero and yet. contrary TO general opin-
ion, these days Of extreme cold are not the
most trying. When 1t is the coolest the sky
Is cloudless and the sun shines with mid
summer splendor, the atmosphere is at per-
feet rest, and the cracking of the frost, the
crunching iof the trodden snow, together
with the Intoxicating effect of each breath of
| dry, frozen air, create an exhilaration almost
indescTibable. An actual inspection of the
t6st Is to convince
almost absolutely devoid of humidity, never
penetrates and chills with that cold one feels
IN the damp. saturated AIR Of the seaboari
States. The most disagreeable storms Of the
winter occur when the temperature is but
few degrees below zero, and are accompa-
MED. by strong winds. blowing almost a
hurricane, generally from the northwest.
which swirl the dry powdered snow in whirl-
pools through the air, bewildering stock and
traffic Is impeded, trains are halted, the far
mer makes no attempt to feed his fiocks, the
wayfarer remains housed, or, If unfortunate
~ caught out upon the prairie land he is
wise), he protects himself as well as possible,
but stlrs not step until the storm has pass
ed, Neither man nor beast can long with
stand the facing of the keen, penetrating
blasts or OF the binding particles of snow
All ideas of distance or of direction are lost
In the confusion of the winds and the OBJ
scured atmosphere, and without these to
guide him the traveller on prairies is as
ship without a compass. s
Fortunately storms of such severity are
neither OF long duration nor of frequent oc-
currence.. The most disastrous one on rec
ord was the storm which swept over the Ter
ritory on the 18th of January, 1888, and the
one concerning " hich the most woful ex.
aggerations and distortions were circulated
abroad.
The depth of snow upon the ground is light
when compared with the snowfall of the
New England States, of New York, of Mich
igan, or Minnesota; and even though the
season may be one of extraordinary severity,
the total snowfall Of winter is less than
Aouh tCCes 1ldtCls utcIlduu OF Dy rail-. Is
maintained during the winter months. with
but an occasional interruption from drifts of
snow deposited by high winds in the depres-
sions Of the road
The summer days are warm, made Excess
sively so at times by the Chinook winds''-
that remnant of the Japan curreut which.
blowing through the mountain passes OF
Montana, aud distributed by the great valley
OF the Missouri over the plains Of Dakota.
so materially reduces the cold of winter and
adds to the heat of July. But whatever
the unusual heat of the day, the temperature
invariably falls at night to degree insuring
rest and refreshing slumber.
From the report of the Chief Signal Officer
for 1886 the only report availablel it is learn
ed that in Dakota three hundred and two
days of the year were classed as either fair
or clear, leaving sixty-three days, or an
average OF only five cloudy or stormy days to
month.
The warmth of summer fingers through the
months of September and October, and it is
not until late in December usually that win
ter assumes the mastery. f ne.ssg5-iH
For pulmonary or bronchial troubles the
rare, dry, and pure air is especially beneficial.
No breath OF masma taints the atmosphere,
and fearful scoHrges or depopulating cpl
denies ale unknown.