Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-07-24

W WhA AhNn VI hN4Ns
3. Rarefaction as opposed to
sea-level pressure.
T. Sunshine as opposed to
cloudiness.
8. Variability Of temperature as
opposed to equability.
CoNFIRMATORY PROPOSITIONS.
6. Marked diathermacy of the
air to be preferred to the smoky |
atmosphere of cities Of the dense
air strata of moist currents.
z. Radiation and absorption Of |
heat by rocks and sandy loans
better than latent absorption by
water and damp clay soils.
8. Mountainous confguration
of country (quick drainage) con-
trasted with the Aatness, ETC., of
level sections.
9. Frequent electrical changes
of atmosphere, also moderate
winds (except in quite cold wealth
er), preferable to continuous still
ness Of the air.
10. Inland attitudes contrasted
with sea air (total absence of land
inAuence): but in certain cases
sea voyages and island resorts to
be preferred as compromise sub
stitutes for high attitudes.
In answer to the question, is
there any portion of our country
that combines all of these various
requirements? we would answer
emphatically, yes; in almost the
whole area of the territories of
New Mexico and Arizona, in por-
tions Of Colorado, and the noun
famous dis tricts of California,
may be found climates that con-
form to the foregoing require
ments. But New Mexico possesses
them to a greater degree and over
a larger surface of country than
of the others.
New Mexico covers an area of
| 12l, 200 square miles, with an ele-
above the sea as follows:
5000 square miles .........400O feet or less.
"a 40T square miles. ....- 900 to 5000 feet.
57,5o3 square miles...... 1000 20 1000 feet
22,s0O square miles.....-....EoOO leet ana over
Iai. 200 square miles.
AS the requisite conditions of
climate are not marked under an
altitude of 5000 feet, and as no
portion Of the Territory is lower
than $500 feet, it behooves Us to
compare the different resorts and
examine into their relative merits.
There are a number of places in
New Mexico with elevations of
/
over 1000 feet which are compara-
lively dry, but as many are in
mountainous districts they are apt
to have too much PRECIPITATION, and
are therefore to be avoided by the
invalid.
A glance at the map of New
Mexico will show that it is about
: midway between the oceans, anc
contains on its western border
running its whole length from
north to south, the great contin-
entail divide, separating the waters
that flow into the Pacific from
those that flow into the Atlantic
It's distance from the oceans thu
, permits large amount Of moistur,
, to be lost by the winds as the!
sweep over the continent, becom
: ing quite dry by the time New
{ Mexico is reached Thus the fal
a and winter winds which, ladel
with vapor from the Pacific, max
q those seasons in California AM
! Arizonn exceedingly disagreeablC
lose much Of their moisture in th
latter territory on the western
+ slopes of the continental divide
! and do not reach New Mexic
q until January, when rain is pre-
= cipated only over scattered loca
] areas.
f The rainy season Of New Mexic
/ comes at the time that it is mos
y desired by the invalid resident-iI
> midsummer, when over 20 pc
@ cent of the total annual rainfa'
+ occurs, thus clearing the air Of in
purities that are most likely to d
n damage at this season, and addin
d greatly to the general coolness {
d the weather This advantage alon
d would give superiority to th
% climate Of New Mexico over thl
D. Of California. Even in the rain
a season the rain falls during onl
N. fvvo or three hours of the daV: