The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-28
TWEL PAGES
THE CUBAN CLIMATE.


Just at this time when the volunteer and
ihVaa'ng army IL being organized, it is en-.
tremely interesting 10 learn something M
thentlc as to the physical and climatic
conditions of Cuba. General Lee recently
declared that the wet season aud the fever
rarely commenced before June and did NOT
seem TO think there was any great danger
III throwing an army into tn, island at this
time.
IL an army were ready to move, now.
there would possibly be no danger. but 1t
VIII BIO the middle Of May before Uncle
Sans boys can be started to Cuba. In
May or June the army ought to be taken
ieit TO attend to the coasts aud ports,
otherwise there will undoubtedly he trouble
from the climate. The following from the
Encyclopedia Britannica will be read with
interest and enable the volunteers to Judge
OF THAT they may encounter. Fortunately
for the Texas and Louisiana troops the
heat and rainfall viii not be found greater
In Cuba than In Louisiana and South
Texas, tho climate there and here being
very similar as these extracts VIII show
The Encyclopedia says:
Situated within and near the border of tho
northern tropical zono. the climate OF the
low coastlands OF Cuba is that of the torrid
zone, nut the higher interior OF the island
enjoys more temperate atmosphere As In
other lands on the border OF the tropics, the
year ~ divided between the hotter and wpttcr
aehaons, corresponding To tho northern de-
clination Of the sun. and cooler aud drier
period. The months from the beginning Of
may 10 october are called the we. season,
though rain falls every month OF the year
with May, spring begins In the island rain
and thunder are almost of daily occurrences
ana the temperature rises high with daily va
riation. The neriod from November to April Is
called tho dry season by contrast ON a mean
OF seven years the rainfall Mt Havana In the
wet season has been observed To be rs
inches, OF tho dry months 1871. or io.5 for the
year
AZ Havana In the warmest months. those
OF July and August tho average ten,pera
lure III So degrees Fahrenheit, ffluctuating be-
tween ~ maximum Of 80 and n minimum Of
10 degrees; IN the colder montha of December
ana January the Thermometer avcraEes ~
degrees, the maximum being rs, the minimum
%, inc mean OF seven years Is u degrees
But the interior. Mt elevations OF 500 feet
above tho sea. the thermometer occasionally
ialls TO tho freezing point In winter, heavy
tros. IL not uncommon. and during north
winds thin ice may form, though enow ia
unknown In nny part Of the island
The prevailing wiud Ia tho castcrly trudo
breeze. but from November to February cool
north winds uos nortos ''northers'o rarely
lhhting more than forty-eisa; hours, are OK.
perieuccd In tho western portion OF the Is.
land, TO which they add u third snusonn,
change. From 10 to y o'clock nre the hottest
hours o. the day. After neon n refreshing
breeze ia siraxcn) sets In fran the sen. Hun,
neones may occur from August TO October
put are less frequent than In jamaica or
iayti, aud sometimes nyo or SIX years may
pas without such storm. Slight shocks Of
eartnquakeS are occasionally felt Their are
no ditcases encc'ally indigenous Ia the island:
thc yellow fever. which breaks out with ro
neweu viruinuca regularly With the wet sea-
son ~ the coastlnpds and scsports ~ cuba
annuaIly causing great loss OF life. is quite
unknown In the Interior