The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-31


so Degrees Below zero-summsr Tenn
psrature 60 OTTO Degrees.
WASHINGTON, D, c,,July 3O,-under
the direction OF secretary Of agriculture
Wilson, chief Moore, OF the weather bu-
reau. has made public a statement In
regard to the climate OF Alaska,
Ia this statement Mr., Moore says.
The climates of the coast and the inter-
Tor of Alaska are unlike In many re-
spects and the differences are intensified
in this as perhaps in few other coun-
tries by exceptional physical conditions,
The fringe OF islands that separates the
mainland from the Pacific ocean from
Dixon Sound northward md also a strip
of the mainland for possibly twenty
miles back from the sea, following the
sweep Of the coast as It curves to the
northwestward 20 the western extrem-
ity Of Alaska form n distinct climatic
division which may be termed temper
ate Alaska The temperature rarely
falls to zero; winter does not set In
until December and by the last OF
May the snow has disappeared except
on the mountains,
The mean winter temperature OF Sit
ka is sch, but little less than that Of
Washington, ID, c.,
The rainfall Of temperate Alaska Is
notorious the world over, not only as re-
CARDS the quantity that falls, but also
as to the manner Of It's falling, viz: In
long and lncessnnt rains and dri2Zles,
Cloud and fog naturally abound, there
being on an average but siSty-slx clear
days IN the year.
North of the Aleutian islands, tbs
coast climate becomes more rigorous In
winter, but In summer the difference Is
much less marked
The climate Of the interior, including
In that designation practically all OF the
country except narrow, fclnge of coast
to as temperate Alaska, is one Of ex-
IRENE rigor In winter with a brief but
relatively hot summer especially when
the sky is free from cloud.
In the KlondylSe region mldwlnter, the
sun rises from $3.50 to 10 4. M, and sets
from to p. m,, the total length OF
daylight being about four hours Re-
memberlng that the sun rises but few
degrees above the horizon and that II
is wholly obscured on great many
days, the character OF the winter
months may easily be imagined.
We are indebted to the United States
coast and geOdetla survey for series
OF six months observations on the Yu-
kon not far from the site OF the pres
ent gold discoveries The observations
were made with standard instruments,
and are wholly reliable. The mean tenn
peratures OF the months October 1859,
TO April, 1880. both inclusive, nre as
follows: October, thirty-threa degrees;
November, eight degrees; December,
eleven degrees below zero; JanuaTy,sev-
enteen below zero; February, fifteen
below zero: March, six above; April.
twenty above. The daily mean temper
ature feH and remained below the freez,
ing point (thirty-two deErces) from
November 4, 1889 to April q, 1890, thus
giving one hundred and slNty-eIqht
days as the length Of the closing season
Of 1SS9-90. assuming that outdoor oper-
atoms are controlled by temperature
only.
The lowest temperature registered
during the winter were:
Thlrty-two degrees below zero in Mo-
vember; forty-seven below in Deem
her, nfty-nine below in January; fifty
1--WE below in February; forty-ive be-
low in March; and twenty-slx below In
April.
The greatest continuous cold occur.
red in February, 1890, when the daily
means for five consecutive days was
forty-seven degrees below zero.
Greater cold than that here noted has
been experienced In the United States
for n very short dime, but never has X
continued so very cold for SO long
time. In the interior Of Alaska the
winter sets in rs early as September,
when snow storms may be expected In
the mountains and passes. Headway
during one OF these storms Is impossible
and the traveller who is overtaken by
one OF them Is indeed fortunate IL he
escapes with his life Snow storms Of
great severity may occur IN any month
from September TO May, inclusive
The changes OF temperatures from
winter to summer are rapid owing to
the great Increase In the length OF the
day. In May the sun rises at about 2 q,
M, and sets about p. m. In June, II
rises at about a. m, and
sets at about hllf-pnst ten,giying about
twenty hours OF daylight and dtttuse
twilight the remainder Of the time.
The mean summer temperature In the
interior doubtless ranges between sixty
and seventy degrees, according to ele-
walton. being highest in the middle and
lower Yukon valleys.