Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-07-31

Washington, July SO.-Under the al
rection Of Secretary Of Agriculture VII
son, Chief Moore, of the Weather Bu-
reau. has made public statement IN
regard 10 the climate Of Alaska. In
this statement Mr.. Moore says;
The climates Of the coast and the IN
terror Of Alaska are unlike in many
respects, and the differences are IN
tensifed in this as perhaps in few other
countries by exceptional physical con-
6itions The fringe Of islands that
separates the mainland from the Ia
cine ocean from Dixon Sound north
ward. ana also a strip Of mainland ror
possibly twenty miles back from the
sea following the sweep OF the coast
as il curves to the nOrthWestward TO
the western extremity Of Alaska. The
Temperature rarely falls to zero; win
Ter does not set in until December i,
and By the last of May the snow mas
disappeared except in the mountains.
The mean winter temperature OF
Sitka is $50, but little less ,lan that OF
Washington, d. &.
The rainfall Of temperate Alaska Is
notorious the world over not only a.
regards the quantity that falls, but also
IS to the manner Of its falling, viz; in
long and incessant rains and drlZZles.
Cloud and fog naturally abound, there
being on an average but SO clear days
in the year.
North Of the Aleutian Islands, the
coast climate becomes more rigorous
in winter, but in summer the dinerence
is much less marked.
The climate Of the interior, including
in that designation practically all OF
the country, except narrow fringe Oh
coastal margin ana the territory before
retired to as temperate Alaska, is one
Of extreme rigOr in winter with a BRIEF
but relatively hot summer, especially
when the sky is free from cloud.
In the Klondyke region midwinteT
the sun rises from $3.50 to 10 a. m, ano
sets from 2 to 3 p. m, the total length
OF daylight being about four hours
Remembering that the sun rises but
few degrees above the horizon and thai
II is wholly Obscured on a great many
0avs. the character Of the winter
months may easily be imagined. We
are indebted to the United states coas
and geodetic survey for a series OF SD
months observation on the Yukon, no
q Far from the site Of the present golC
discoveries. The mean temperature O
the months October, 1883, 70 April
1890 both inclusive, are as follows
October. SO degrees; November, de
qrees: December, IL degrees below
zero. March, above; April, 20 above
The daily mean temperature Tell am
remained below the freezing point 10
degrees) from November 4, 1889, q
April q. 1890, thus giving l6S days a
the length of the closed season O
1S89-9O. assuming that outdoor opera
lions are controlled by temperatur
UesrvUs UvlUw zerU IN Ivutetut...
below in December, 90 below in =
uary, % below in February 40 belJy
IN March, and below in April Tn
greatest continuous cold occurred il
February, $780, when the dai1y~Sneal
,or five consecutive DAYS was II de
yrees below zero.
Greater cold than that here note,
has been experienced I'm the Unitet
states Tor a very short time, out neve
has it continued 50 very cold for S
long a time. In the interior of Alaska
the winter sets in as early as Septem
ber when snow storms may be ex
pected in the mountains and passes
Headway during one of these storms
Is impossible, and the traveller who i,
0vertaken by one of them is indeed
fortunate if he escapes with his life
Snow storms of great severity may
occur in any month from September
70 May, inclusive.
The changes Of temperature from
winter to summer are rapid. owing L
the great increase in the length Of the
day In May the sun rises at about
a. m. and sets about p. m. In
June it rises about half-past one in
the morning and sets about half-past
ten, giving about 20 hours of daylight
and di6use twilight the remainder OF
the time. The mean summer temper
allure in the interior doubtless ranges
between 60 and 20 degrees. according
to elevation, being highest in the mid
die and the lower Yukon valleys.