Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-07-08
ELKO COUNTY.
Its Location and Size.
TOPOGRAPHY AND HEIGHT ABOVE
THE SEA LEVEL.
Its Mining and Agricultural Re-
sources.
A Full Description of the County.
A Full Description of the County.
t.(COMMCNICATED.)

The agricultural lands in the coun-
ty lie mostly on the table lands be-
tween the streams from the foot of
the mountains, sloping down towards
the rivers and lowest parts of the
main valleys. These table lands are
generally at an elevation Of $500 to
5000 feet. In almost all cases at u
lower elevation it Is too cold to raise
anything but native grasses; while
even higher than 5000 feet the tem
perature is milder, and most of the
fruits and vegetables of the temperate
zone can be easily raised; even grapes
doing we'll in many localities.
CLIMATE.
The reason for the higher attitudes
having the mildest climate, is found
in the fact that the cold air being the
heavier and having the faculty of
flowing even more freely than water
seeks the lowest levels, crowding out
the warmer air, that in turn mounts
upwards to take the place of the cold
descending air. We're there no
winds the cold air could always
be found flowing down in the
the ravines and valleys, while the
warm air would flow upwards along
the bench lands and ridges; but the
counter currents Of air caused by the
prevailing Winds above often change
the currents great deal. Still they
do not do 40 enough to create much
change in the cold and warm currents
Of air, and the results are that the
bench lands are so much warmer
than the ravines and lower valleys.
In the broader valleys and river bot
toms these different currents of air
are not often strong enough 10 be
distinguished; but in the narrow can
yops in the mountains they show very
strongly, and it has been noted by
everyone living in those canyons or
camping in them few days, that
every evening ard night, utter the
heavier upper currents have died
away, u steady cool breeze will blow
down the canyon. While travellers
after nightfall, crossing the noun
tain ranges, by ascending one canyon
and descending another on the oppo-
site side, find a breeze blowing down
each canyon. II person should
have thermometer and note the
temperature in the canyon, and then
go upon the ridge between he will
find another breeze flowing up TIE
ridge, and it's temperature far warmer
than that flowing down.
VALLEY OF THE HUMBoLDT.
In the valley OF the Humboldt
through the county this local current
or cool air can be readily distin-
guished by noting the direction of
the smoke from the houses, and then
looking TO the clouds and noting
their direction. Day after day the
writer has seen this local wind
flowing steadily south west
erly, following the river bot
tom while tho clouds at all
elevations overhead were travelling at
right angles and to the south east.
This characteristic of our winds, or
local currents of air, must be fully
Understood before an Intelligent idea
Of the climatic changes, and their
causes Can be had. That tender vege-
tables and fruits can be easily raised
at an elevation of 5000 feet, or over,
while within a few miles, and far
lower elevation, the same fruits and
vegetables can only be raised in a
hot-house and by great care, is ono of
the many anomalies Of this country
that may seem Incredible 10 those
who have not made study Of it.