Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-06-19

the Washington State Board Of Trade
by Mr.. William Bell, Observer Signal
Corps, Walla Walla. Eastern Wash
lngton's topography is such that it has
a somewhat diversified climate. The
highest temperature on record was 1000
at Walla Walla in July, 1890, and the
lowest was 30.5 at Spokane in January,
1888. Mean cloudiness is IL per cert.
for August and 65 per cent. for January
In ten years observation, the absolute
humidity for July was 4.5 grains OF
water to each cubic foot of air, and for
January 1.3 grains. The mean annual
precipitation at eight points in Eastern
Washington is as follows, the altitude
above sea-level being given in feet and
precipitation il inches: Spokane, l.
500, 1882; Colfax 100, 2531; Poute-
roy, 1000, 20.33; Walla Walla. 1000,
18; Dayton, 1850, 26.76; Almota, 700,
1859; Fort Colville, $500, 1915; Ellens-
lurgh, 1000, 8.97 The mean tempera-
ture of ten points is as follows: Fort
Colville, 400; Pasco, $40; Dayton, $50;
Colfax, $50; Ellensburgh, 400; Spokane,
47o; Fort Spokane, $50; Walla Walla $40;
Pomeroy, 500; Almota, $40. The mean
temperature at Walla Walla for eighteen
years for July is 1880, and for January,
$40.
Precipitation and temperature depend
somewhat on the direction of the slope
Of the country, trend of the mountains,
prevailing direction of winds, altitude
and exposure. Rainfall on the west ard
southwest up slope generally IS in
abundance, while the down slope on the
opposite side gets but little of the
moisture of the wind Thus ElIens-
burgh, in the shadows of the Cascades.
with twice the altitude of Walla Walla,
has but half the rainfall, while Dayton,
only thirty miles distant, but on the up
slope toward the Rockies, has nearly
nine inches more rain than Walla Walla.
The small oval-shaped Walla Walla
valley has a higher temperature than
any other part of the state and gardens
and orchards thrive peculiarly. North
easterly a few miles, the elevation is
greater, the temperature lower and the
rainfall more abundant, as shown by
figures from Dayton This is a native
bunch grass country, rapidly being
turned into one vast wheat field. On
the northwest across the Tukannon di-
vide is another belt of slightly higher
temperature and less rainfall, of which
Pomeroy is the center-a great wheat
country. The Snake river country, of
sandy soil, with an elevation of from $50
to $50 feet, an average temperature of
$40 and a rainfall of from 9 to Is inches,
is known as the peach belt of the state,
and with irrigation will produce any
thing not strictly tropical. The Palouse
ountry, another great wheat-raislng
district, of which Colfax is the principal
city, has an altitude of 1900 to 1000
feet, and is fertile, well watered coun-
try. Spring frosts are later and au-
tumnal frosts earlier than in the Walla
Walla and Snake river valleys. North
Of this are the Spokane and Cmur d
Alene districts of higher altitude and a
| degree or two lower temperature Still
further north is the Colville region with
an altitude of $500 feet whose climate
is similar to that of Fort Colville. lhe
Big Bend country IN the center Of the
state has a climate suited to the ra1sin 9
OF all cereals and is attracting a large
share Of the farmer immigrants. North
of this is the Okanogan district, OF
greater altitude, but containing rich,
fertile valleys. Its climate is we'll adapt
ed to stock raising. This is also the
fact in the Yakima valley.