The record-union., 1897-08-11
TEMPERATURE IN KLONDIKE.
WHAT MINERS MAY EXPECT
WHO GO THERE.
Interesting Circular Issued by Or
der of Secretary of Agricult-
ure Wilson.

| under direction of Secretary of Agrl-
culture, James Wilson. 1t will give
| intending Klondikers an idea of the
country they wish to visit:
THE CLIMATE OF ALASKA.
: United States Department of Agri-
culture, Weather Bureau, Washington,
D. c. July %, 1S97.-The general con-
ception of Alaskan climate is largely
due to those who follow the sea, and
| this is not strange when We consider
the vast extent of shore line (over 10
900 miles) possessed by that territory.
| The climates of the coast and the IN
terror are unlike in many respects, ana
the differences are intensified in this
| as perhaps in few other countries by
exceptional physical conditions. The
natural contrast between land and sea
is here tremendously increased by the
| current of warm water that impinges
on the coast of British Columbia, one
branch flowing northward TO Sitka, and
| thence westward to the Kadiak and
Shumagin Islands. The fringe of is
lands that separates the mainland from
the Pacific Ocean from Dixon Sound
| northward, and 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 north
westward to the western extremity of
Alaska, form a distinct climatic divi-
sion which may be termed temperate
Alaska.
The temperature rarely falls to zero;
winter does not set in until about De-
cernber lst, and by the last of May the
snow has disappeared except on the
| int tAI
ture of Sitka is $50 degrees, but lit
tie less than that Of Washington, d. c.
While Sitka is fully exposed to the
sea influences, places farther inland,
but not over the coast range of noun
tains, as Killisnoo and Juneau, have
also mild temperature throughout the
winter months. The temperature
changes from month to month in tenn
perate Alaska are small, not exceeding
% degrees from midwinter to midsum-
mer. The average temperature of July,
the warmest month of summer rarely
reaches 30 degrees, and the highest
temperature for a single day seldom
reaches IS degrees.
The rainfall of temperate Alaska is
notorious the world over not only as
regards the quantity that falls, but also
|
long and incessant rains and drizzles.
Cloud and fog naturally abound, there
being on an average but sixty-six clear
days in the year
Alaska is a land of striking contrasts
both in climate as we'll as topography.
When the sun shines, the atmosphere
is remarkably clear, the scenic effects
are magnificent, all nature seems to be
in holiday attire. But the scene may
change very quickly; the sky be-
comes overcast; the winds increase in
force: rain begins to fall; the ever
greens sigh ominously, and utter desc
lation and loneliness prevail.
North of the Aleutian Islands the
coast climate becomes more rigorous in
winter, but in summer the difference is
much less marked. Thus, at ST. Mi
chaels a short distance above the
mouth of the Yukon, the mean summer
temperature is 80 degrees but 40 de-
grees cooler than Sitka. The mean
summer temperature of Point Barrow,
the most northerly point in the United
States, is 36S degrees, but four -tenths
of a degree less than the temperature
of the air flowing across the summit
of Pixies Peak, Colorado.
The rainfall of the coast region of
the Yukon delta is small, diminishing
to less than 10 inches within the Arctic
circle.
The climate of the interior including
in that designation practically all of the
country except a narrow fringe OF
coastal margin and the territory be-
fore referred to as temperate Alaska,
is one of extreme rigor in winter, with
brief but relatively hot summer, es-
pecially when the sky is free from
cloud.
In the Klondike region in midwinter
the sun rises from 9:30 to 10 a. M, and
sets from 2 to 3 p. m. the total length
of daylight being about four hours.
Remembering that the sun rises but a
few degrees above the horizon and that
it is wholly obscured on a great many
days, the character of the winter
months may be easily imagined.
We are indebted to the United States
Coast and Geodetic Survey for a series
of six months observations on the Yo-
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
L.
1889, to April, 1890, both inclusive, are
as follows: October, 33 degrees (above
zero); November, S degrees (above
zero) December, IL degrees (below
zero); January, IT degrees CbeIow
zero); February, Is degrees Cbelow
zero); March, 6 degrees (above zero); F.;
April 20 degrees (above zero). The
daily mean temperature fell and re-
fr,oI I0fo he
degrees) from November 4, 1889. to
April 81, 1890 thus giving 16S days as
the length of the closed season 1SS9-90,
assuming that outdoor operations are
controlled by temperature only, being
suspended when the daily mean falls
TO or below the freezing point.
The lowest temperatures registered
during the winter are: 81 degrees be-
low zero in November, AZ degrees be.
low zero in December, 50 degrees below
zero ir- January, 30 degrees below zero
in February. As degrees below zero in
March and 26 degrees below zero in
April.
The greatest continuous cold occurred
in February, 1890, when the daily mean
for FIVE consecutive days was Al de-
grees below zero. The weather mod
Grated slightly about the 1st of March,
but the temperature still remained be-
low the freezing point. Generally
cloudy weather prevailed. 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 less
number in the early spring and late
fall months.
Greater cold than here noted has been