The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-31
WEATHER on THE CLoxDYKE.


WASHINGTON. July 3O.--Under the d.
rection Of Secretary Of Agriculture VIII
son. Chief Moore. OF the weather bureau.
has made public a statement in regard to
the climate of Alaska. Mr. Moore says:
The climate Of the coast and the in
terror OF Alaska are unlike In many re-
spects. and the differences are Intensified
in this. as perhaps in few other countries,
by exceptional physical conditions.
The mean temperature Of Sitka In 62 ).
but little less than that OK Washington,
u. C.. The rainfall of temperate Alaska
Is notorious the world over. not only as
regards the quantity that falls. but also
as 10 the manner OF It's falling. viz. In
long and incessant rains and drzzles.
Cloud and fog naturally abound. there
being on an average but sixty clear days
In the year. North of the A!eutian ISL
ands the climate becomes rigorous IL.
winter. but in summer the difference Is
much less marked.
The climate OF the interior. including in
that designation practically all OF the new
country except narrow fringe OF coastal
margin. is one of extreme r!gor In win
ter. with a brief but relatively hot sum
mer. especially when the sky is free from
cloud.
In the Clondyke region in midwintel. the
sun rises from $50 to 10 n m. and sets
from to p. m. the total length of day
ukDt, DtiIS hDput Iuur hours. hefIiC M
berins that the sun rises but a few de-
grees above the horizon and that II is
wholly ohscured on a great many days.
the character 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 mean temperatures Of
he 81 he f~1-
lsSs both inclusive. are as follows:
October, q degrees: November, s: Decenn-
Der, IL degrees below zero March above:
April - above The daily mean ;srnpera-
ture fell and remained below the freezing
point C3s oegreesl from November 1, 1889
TO April Il. 1855. thus giving lgs DAYS as the
length 81 closed season Of 1880. assprr-
Ing that outdoor operations are controlled
by temperature only.
The lowest temperatures registered dur
ing the winter were: Thlrty-two degrees
below zero in November T. Below I'm De-
eembsr, - below in January 80 below in
February. ts below in March. and 2s below
IL April Tie greatest continuous cold was
In February, lsso when the daily mean FIR
I'VE consecutive days was A. degrees below
zero Crater cola than that here no.sa
has been experienced in the United States
Tor very short time, bat never has n con.
iinued so very cold for so long time
In the interior OF Alaska winter sets IN
as early as September. when snow storms
may DC expected in the mountains ard
passes Headway during one OF theae
storms is Impossible, and the ,ravorc-
vho Is overtasen by one of them fs indeed
fortunate IL he escapes with his use
The changes OF temperature from winter
70 summer are rapid, owing to the graat
increase IN the length OF the azv The
mean summer temperature In the interior
DOUBTLESS ranges from 50 to - degrees. ac-
cordins 70 elevation, being highest in the
middle and lower IN che ys,1.o,, 80 49,. ~