The times., 1897-07-30

the air flowing across the summit OF
Pixies Peak. Colo
The rainfall of the coast region norti
OF the Yukon Delta is small. diminishing
to less than ten inches within the a rctic
circle
The climate of the interior, including
in that designation practically all OF the
country except a narrow fringe of coasta
margin and the territory before referred
10 as temperate Alaska, is one of ex-
treme rigor in winter, with a brief but
relatively hot summer, especially when the
sky is free from, cloud
In the Klondike region, In winter, the
sun rises from $50 to 10 a. m, and
Sets from 2 to p. M, the total length
OF daylight being about four hours Re.
membering that the sun rises but a few
degrees above the horizon, and that II
is wholly obscured on great many days,
the chsr racter of the winter months may
easily be imagined
We are indebted to the United States
Coast and Geodetic Survey for series of
six months observations on the Yukon,
not far from the site of the present gold
discoveries. The observations We're made
reliable. The mean temperature of the
months, October, / $50, to November, 1890,
both inclusive, are as follows: October,
33 degrees; November, 6 degrees; Deem
ber, II degrees below zero; January, II
degrees below zero; February, 1 3 degrees
below zero; March, 6 degrees above; April
2odegreesabove. Thedailymean tempera-
ture fell and remained below the freezing
point t?2 degrees) from November, 1889,
to April 81, 1890, thus giving 16s days
Is the length of the closed season, 1889 80,
assuming that outdoor operations are con-
trolled by temperature only.
Thelowt stUemperatures registered during
the winter were: 32 degrees below zero in
November; At degrees below zero in Decem-
Der; 59 degrees below zero in January; 55
degrees below zero in February: 40 de-
grees below zero In March, and 20 degrees
below zero in April. !
The greatest continuous cold ocurred in
February, 1890, when the daily mean for
five consecutive days was AZ degrees be-
low zero. The weather moderated slightly
about the first of March, but the tempera-
ture still remained below the freezing
point. Generally cloudy weather pre-
vailed, there being but three consecutive
days in any month with clear weather
during the whole winter. Snow fell on
about one-third Of the days in winter and
a less number in the early spring and late
fall months.
Greater cold than that here noted has
been experienced in the United States for
a very short time, but never has 1t con-
tinued so very cold for SO long a time. In
the interior of Alaska the winter sets in as
early as September, when snowstorIns may
be expected in the mountains and passes.
Headway during one OF these storms is
impossible, and the Traveller who is over
taken by one OF them is indeed fortunate
If he escapes with his life. Snowstorms of
great severity may occur in any month
from September to May, inclusive.
The changes OF temperature from winter
to summer are rapid, owing to the great
increase in the length of the day. In May
the sun rises at about 3 a. m and sets
about 8 p. m. In June it rises about 1 80
in the morning and sets at 1880. giving
about twenty hours Of daylight, and diff
fusing twilight the remainder of the time.
The mean summer temperature of the
interior DOUBTLESS ranges between 60 and
20 degrees, according to elevation, being
highestin the middle and low er Yukon VAL
leys. WILLIS L. MOORE