The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-07-31
ALASKA WEATHER
Some Official Information as to
the Climate of Our North.
ern Possessions.
The Winters Are Long and Cold
and the Summers Short
and Hot.
Lowest Officially Recorded Tenn
perature in 1889-9O Was
50 Degrees.

WASHINGTON, July 31.-Under direc-
&ion Of Secretary of Agriculture Wilson,
|hief Moore of the weather bureau has
made public statement in regard to
the climate of Alaska. In this state
ment Mr.. Moore says:
''The climate of the coast and interior
Of Alaska are unlike in many respects,
and the differences are intensified in
this as perhaps in few other countries
by exceptional physical conditions. The
fringe of islands that separate the main.
land from the Pacific ocean from Dixon
sound north, and also a strip Of the
mainland for possibly 20 miles back
from the sea, following the sweep Of the
coast as it curves to the northwestward
to the western extremity of Alaska,
form distinct climatic division, which
may be termed temperate Alaska. The
temperature rarely falls to zero: winter
does not set in until Dec. l, end by the
last Of May the SHOW has disappeared
except on the mountains. The mean
winter temperature of Sitka is 1915, but
little less than that of Washington, D. g.
Different in the Interior.
'North of the Aleutian islands the
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 a
narrow fringe Of coastal margin and the
territory before referred to as temperate
Alaska, is one of extreme rigor in Win
ter, with brief but hot summer, espe-
cially when the sky is free from cloud.
"In the Klondyke region in midwin-
ter the sun rises from 0:30 to 10 a. m.,
and sets from to 81 m, the total
length of daylight being about four
hours. Remembering that the sun
rises but a few degrees above the hori-
zon and that it is wholly obscured on a
great many days the character of the
winter months may easily be imagined.
"The observations were made with
standard instruments and are wholly re.
liable. The mean temperature of the
months October, 1899, to April, 1890,
both inclusive, are as follows: October,
33 degrees; November, degrees; De-
cenber II degrees below zero; January,
II below; February, Is below; March, q
above; April, 20 above. The daily mean
temperature fell and remained below
the freezing point (32 degrees) from
Nov. 4, 1889. to April 2l, 1880, thus Civ.
ing 1863 days as the length OF the closed
season of l8S9-90, assuming that out
door operations are controlled by tenn
perature only.
Lowest Temperature Of That Year.
"The lowest temperatures registered
during the cold were 81 degrees below
. zero in November; AZ below in Decem.
\ ber; 50 below in January; 55 below il
February; As below in March and rs be
low in April.
''The greatest continuous cold oc
Cured in February, 1890. when thu
daily mean for five consecutive day
was AZ degs. below zero.
"Greater cold than that here noted
has been experienced in the Unitet
States for very short time, but neve
has it continued SO very cold SO long ;
time. In the interior of Alaska tn
winter sets in as early as September
when snow storms may be expected il
the mountains and passes. Headwa.
during one Of these storms is impossibl
and the traveller who is overtaken b,
one of them is indeed fortunate if b
escapes with his life.