The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-03-01
FLATHEAD WEATHER.
James Harbert Shows Wherein 1t Is
exceptionally Good.

James Harbert Shows Wherein It Is
exceptionally Good.
Editor Bee:
With the assistance of Harvey b.
Dick, our genial and efficient weather
observer, / have been able to compile
few statistics relative to western
meteorological conditions which may
prove interesting to some who have
not taken the time or pains to look
the matter up. 1t is the belief of the
writer that most people residing in
Flahead are loyal to her climate but
there are few at least who are con-
stantly kicking on our climatic con-
ditiOns. At the outset desire to say
that this valley has not only a good
climate, but the very best without
exception west of the Rocky noun
tains and | will present figures later
on which will conclusively prove to
the most incredulOus that such is the
case. Mere heresay amounts to little
and carries very little weight with
the person seeking reliable infOrma-
ton, but facts and figures from the
highest authority in all the land
must be respected and believed. by
all. There may be some people in
this world where they have JOY and
sunshine year in and year out, if SO,
it must be either at the north or
south pole or in some of the unex-
plored regions of Darkest Africa, but
to the best knowledge of our wealth
err bureau at Washington certainly no
such place exists in our fair land.
There is at least eight months in
~ eou xx,nofhnr in E1nfhna1
Our winters are not long and rarely
ever cover period to exceed four
months. Our spring months are as
rule most propititious. Buds COM
mence to swell by March 1 and by
April l foliage Of all kinds is well
advanced. Our wind movement dur
ing the spring months is small when
compared with that of other locali-
ties around us. | think that we are
all agreed that it is the high winds
SO prevalent at this season of the
year in most parts of the country
that makes the early spring months
SO disagreeable. Our wind movement
for the year past was about $4,000
miles, which seems small when COM
pared with Chicago, with her wind
movement of 100000 miles per an
mum. There is no place in the west,
outside Of the sound country that has
as little wind as Flathead. Farmers
can go forth in hope and sow their
seed the first week in April and l
may add that they most always reap
an abundant harvest. We do not claim
to be in the corn belt. although we
do raise some very nice corn; neither
do we claim to be in the banana belt,
and we positively cannot raise cocoa
nuts here, not even on the east shore
of Flathead lake, but we can beat the
whole world on a great many pro-
ducts, such as cereals of all kinds,
apples and smaller fruits, potatoes
and garden truck generally. The soil
is so productive and our temperature
SO even that we can raise most every
thing without irrigating, nOtwith-
standing that we have an annual rain
fail of about seventeen inches, but it
comes at season of the year when
it is most needed. July and August are
usually our dry months, as the rain
fall rarely exceeds one or two inches
for this period, however, at this sea-
son rain is not needed. The crops by
this time are well along and only the
sunshine is needed to ripen them
Our summer months are particularly
delightful and even the balmy elm.
ate of Puget sound cannot compare
with ours during the midsummer
months. We are not subject to the
extremes experienced elsewhere.
During the existence of the weather
bureau here the thermometer has new
err reached 100 degrees above zero.
SunstrOke is something unheard Of
consequently one may work out OF
doors during the hottest days with
no fear of being Frustrated or over
powered by the heat. We have very
little extremely cold weather, anG
there have been winters here the
thermometer did not touch the zero
mark. Last winter the mercury sliC
down to 10 degrees below, but this il
an exception. Contrary to the belief
of many people in our midst (especi
ally several former Missoulians) WI
have an abundance of sunshine ant
clear weather. The yaer just past gave
us over 100 clear days, while in Spo
kane they had only 66, in Seattle "A
in Missoula about 80. so it can bt
readily seen that We are not lacking IL
sunshine. November and December
are our cloudiest months. The bal
ance are trimming ever with lots O
clear weather.
The following is a brief summar!
of the meteorological existing in 19O'
for Kalispell, Spokane, Havre, Helena
Missoula and Seattle.
i Kalispell-Total wind movement
52,324 miles; rainfall II inches; clea
days 1O2; average temperature A.
Spokane-TOtal wind movement
52,324 miles, rainfall IS ga inches
clear days &c; average Temperature
so.
Kavre-Total wind movement
1926 miles; rain fall IL inches
clear days 14S; average temperatur
"A.
Helena Total wind movemen
67,2S2 miles; rain fall IL IL inches
: clear days 90; average temperatur
as.