The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-19
Result Of the Winter Work Of
Weather Observer Ball.
INTERESTING DATA oArheRsD.
sosthern Coast Enjoys Comparative
Interior 10 Subject 20 Truly Arctic
HigorD-WeatheP Of Juneaa and
Ska9way COnpares Fav0Fably
with That Of Northern states.

Doubtless there Is no part OF the earth
the climate Of which y n little UNDERSTOOD
By the average man or woman as that OF
Alaska Most OF the people OF the United
States, especially those east OF the Rockies.
have only a haxy recollection Of Alaska or
Russia in America" as described IN their
chciidhoods geography: and the modern
'kiondIke' has only disgipated that haze
sufficiently 10 allow their vision to be con-
centrated on that one point. To them
whatever happens in ''kiond:ke" of course
happens n all other parts Of Alaska They
forget that the klondike and the Yukon
country is separated from the southern
coast by a range OF great mountains. and
tina; consequently the coast line has
vastly different climate from that OF the
interior They forget that the proximity
OF the Pacific. and the prevailing westerly
winds over that ocean. give the southern
coastal region Of Alaska a climate having
comparatively small range OF tempera-
ture, While the interior. shut on from ,aese
modifying influences, IL subject TO truly
Arctic r7gors in winter which scarcely at
feet the southern sections 1t - safe TO
say that before the discovery OF gold in
the k!cndike scareay one person in ten
knew the length and breadth Of the dis
es made are ludicrous In the extreme.
Suddenly all the world was asking for
information-for all kinds OF Information
supposed to lie under deep snow and ice
the year round. Hence IN the spring OF
1885 Prof. Wills l.. Moore. the chief OF the
observer. Mr.. II. L. Ban. 10 organize q
weather service in the district. the head
quarters OF the service to be a. Sitka.
Establishing Stations.
The greater part of the summer Of 1888
was passed in visiting important points
along the coast from Wrangel 10 Kadiak
and Cook inlet for the purpose OF select
nd -
servers. Sub stations were established at
Jackson. Juneau. Skagway, Kadiak, Tyoo-
nok and kenai, and nsw instruments were
furnished the observers at kiilisnoo and
stations at Cnalaska and Nutchek as soon
as communication Is opened In the COM
Ing spring. With the establishment OF
these two stations the southern coas, line
VIII be excellently represented and cli-
matte data Will be obtained that viii be
of great value in the development OF the
resources OF the country.
There is at least one well equipped and
regularly reporting station in the Yukon,
from which reports are expected by the
The following tables give a summary OF
the data from all the stations from which
reports have been received during the pres
ports VIII show tina, Southeastern Alaska.
at least as far as temperature conditions
are concerned. has a climate that many
OF the states may envy. remembering the
severity of the cold waves that have swep.
the country from Montana 10 Florida. II
Is true that Southeastern Alaska has a
considerably greater amount OF precipita-
ton and more rainy or snowy DAYS than
mos. OF the states OF the Union: however.
the absence OF cold waves and dlsastrousy
sudden changes in temperature will go far
on the credt. side OF the Southern Alaska
ledger. The Interior. deprived In a great
measure OF the soothing effect OF the
ocean. OF course has rigid climate in win
ter, yet the summer months are warm
often oppressive.
An Official Table