Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-08-07

reQutrementsf we would answer
smphatically, yes; in almost the
area Of the territories Of
New Mexico and Arizona, in por-
tions Of Colorado, and the noun
famous districts 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 MS follows:
GOO square miles. 81. .....4noo feet OF less.
"a i01 square miles H.. ..f,u0O to 3 o10 feet
%. 5n3 square mites ..........b,O TO 1000 feet.
22,a90 square nules..-..... 900 leet and over.
isi, 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 compare
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.
4 glance at the map of New
Mexico viii show that it is about
midway between the oceans, and
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 thus
permits a large amount Of moisture
to be lost by the winds as they
sweep over the continent, becom-
ing quite dry by the time New
Mexico is reached Thus the fall
and winter winds which, laden
with vapor from the Pacific, make
those seasons in California and
Arizona exceedingly disagreenble
lose much Of their moisture in the
latter territory on the western
slopes of the continental divide
and do not reach New MezicC
until January, when rain is pre-.
cipated only over scattered loca.
areas.
The rainy season of New Mexico
comes at the time that it is mosf
desired by the invalid resident-in
midsummer, when over 20 pei
cent of the total annual rainfall
occurs, thus clearing the air Of i'm.
purities that arc most likely 10 ID
damage ut this season, and adding
greatly TO the general GOODNESS o.
the weather. This advantage alone
would give superiority to tn,
climate Of New Mexico over tha.
OF California. Even in the rainy
season the rain falls during only
two or three hours Of the day; II
Silver City, for instance, TIA,
clouds gathering about noon ant
precipating at 2 or 3 o'clock.
The climatic conditions referred
to as necessary for t~uberculoui
patients, us hns been said, an,
found throughout the Territorl
with the exception Of the highes
peaks.
Reports from the following sii
New Mexican towns lave been Sc
lectod for comparison: Santa ~
7,026 feet; Las Vegas, 6.03S feet
/ Albuquerque, 1850 feet; Socorro
1866 feet; Silver City, 6,0O0 feet
and4s Cruces 1000 feet The
are arranged ia order accord
ing to latitude, Santa Fe (lat 3.
deg. Al min.) being farthost nortl
and Los Cruceg (lat 81 deg. j
MINI fnrthest south. Albuquer
que, Socorro and Las Cruces an.
ia the valley Of the Rio Grande
which flows directly southwar,
through the middle Of tho Terri
tory. Souta Fe, Las Vega
and Silver City are ia mountain
Gus districts. the two former il
The northern anl the latter ID thI
southwestern portion of the Terri
tory
Mean temperature and pFecipi
liftion Of eix chief New Mexicai
towns computed hy Seasons io.