Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1889-11-16
IDAHo-s MILD CLIMATE.

Reading oil the DeaNy SHOW stoIuis
and billiards. which have been pre-
vaiiing for the last fortnight south and
east of US. in Colorado and Wyoming,
and even in New Mexico, while here
all is rs serene as a spring morning.
and 90 bright and sunny that out
door work is a delight, has tendency
70 remind one OF our rare Idaho cir
mate. We don't believe q climate
with such equitable temperature and
as large an average Of sun-lighsed days
may be found elsewhere on this CONT
nent. In seeking immigration we
cannot do too much 70 advertise oar
peerless climate. With persons think
ing OF changing their homes, the
question OF climate il always one ni
prime consideration. II q man liveh
in malarial section, Or one subject
20 the ravages Of fever or consump-
ton, it is q duty which he owes 10
himself and family to remove pro
vided he possesses the means, TO a
piece where these baleful conditions
do not exist. Many portions Of the
Eastern and Middle States are cursed
with just such disease-producing
climatic conditions; and Nebraska
and Minnesota and the Dakotas and
Wyoming are swept with blizzards;
yet il Idaho were spoken Of as place
where freedom from ague-producing
dampness might be enjoyed, and
where billiards are unknown, and
storms very rare, its geographical situ-
alton would in the majority OF in
stances, suggest an almost polar
frigidity.
This erroneous idea is very common
and is quite natural where the cause
of difference in temperature in the
same ATTITUDES of the Atlantic and
Pacific Coasts OF the United States
are not known or are not taken into
proper consideration. II ia well
known that wide difference in tenn
perature exists in corresponding lati.
tudes on the Atlantic Coasts OF the
United States and OF Europe, aud the
cause has been well established.
While along the eastern shores OF our
own country courses the Attic Ocean
current, bearing down from the
Northern Sea its icy waters, the west
.ern countries of Europe are warmed
by the mighty Gulf stream, which
bears to their shores the thermal
waters of the Tropical Ocean.
Idaho is in the same latitude as
sunny France, Switzerland and por
tions OF Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Now, II il can be shown that Idaho is
subject to oceanic influences very
similar 10 those OF the countries men
toned, IL will not be so surptising il il
has q somewhat similar climate. And
this is not very difficult task. Idaho
in at no great distance from the Pacific
Ocean--quite near enough TO be very
markedly affected by its currents.
4hese ocean currents are set down, ],
will be seen that the great Japan cur
rent (Kuro Sival--lhat mighty stream
.oi warm water, bears directly against
the western shores of America. The
temperature OF the winds blowing
over it is Of course affected by its heat
and they carry their modifying in
fluences inland 10 Idaho. Meeting
the obstruction OF the great natural
wall OF the Bitter Root and Rocky
Mountains, these "Cbinook" wind,
are detected along their western bases
and pass southwark beyond the limit,
of the Territory.
In moderate and conservative ar
ticle on Idaho in Appleton's Encyclo
pedia, the following is found: "Ir
spring, summer and autumn, the eli
mate Is delightful; the days are never
sultry and the nights are cod. The
winters in the high mountains are &C
companied with extreme cold and
heavy snow. On the plains and lower
mountains they are generally less
severe than in northern Iowa, Mis-
souri, or Central Minnesota. The
valleys are mild, visited with it'll,
snow, and cattle winter in them with
out shelter. The average temperature
in the western part of the Territory IL
about the same as in Central Illinosi
Indiana, Ohio, and Southern Pennsyl
vania, while in the east IL is NOR,
nearly that Of Northern Massachusetts
and Southern Vermont and New
Hampshire. About the sources of tn,
rivers in the Bitter Root and Rocky
Mountains the fall OF rain and snow il
considerable, but in the lower valley,
il is much less, and agriculture is mo-
successful without irrigation"
The average annual temperature o
the Territory is many degrees higher
than in the same latitude east of the
Rocky Mountains. The snow line on
the eastern slope Is several thousand
feet lower than rs Idaho. AS high AZ
10000 feet spots are found covered
with luxuriant grass, and surrounded
by dense forests OF fir, spruce and pine
The sky is usually free from clouds
and sunsliney days are the rule.
Hurricanes and toFaadoes that ire
auently cause such destruction in
other portions OF the Union arc I'M
known to Idaho. A storm at any
season OF the year OF such violence as
70 command attention 10 very rare
- ~ ssnrRaE an ia.