New-York tribune., 1908-06-21
A HEALTHFUL REGION
SO SAYS DIR. W. II. ROSS.
Has Studied Climatic Conditions on
Long Island for Many Years.

The healthfuIness Of Long Island ia not widely
known in medical circles. according to DR.. william
H Ross. OF Brentwood. Long Island. who has unads
careful study OF the climatic features OF the ISL
and He says In article about climatic condi-
tions written by him that the opinion prevails in
medical circles that the island abounds In marshes.
and therefore Is greatly troubled with mosquitoes
But exactly opposite conditions exist the island
is for the greater part dry. sandy plain. rising
gently from the South Shore to the North and
terminating in a bluff with beautiful bits OF
scenery land and magnificent views at sea"
Through the centre OF the island is a range OF hills
from 100 to 900 feet in height Between the bluff
and the central hills is elevated plain OF fertile
soil. supporting vigorous growth of trees South
of the central hills. sloping to the water. with
fall OF about twenty feet mile. is an almost un-
broken sandy plain covered by pine forest Along
the South Shore lies the Great South Bay. from
two 10 five miles wide and one hundred miles long.
and separated from the ocean by a sandy bar aver
aging one-half mile wide. There two navigable
rivers on the island and number Of small inland
lakes fresh water especially IN the eastern half.
and of these lakes have visible inlet or OUT
let.
DR.. Ross also says:
Long Island lies about twenty miles of the New
England coast. separated by that inland sea- Long
Island Sound 1t is approximately 10 miles Woe
and yet with only 16S2 square miles OF territory
1t can be shown by study Of its geology that The
island is made up mainly OF sand ana gFaVel% % ana
thin strata of clay. dipping from north to sogtn.
Its ground water currents must therefore now
from north 10 south and its drainage in the same
direction. The character Of the soil modifes the
cliunate in respect TO fogs- They are more fIsI
quent over vet Gay sou tlah Over 3 ~ ~, Vs. 1si
drained soil such as The sandy SOL OF LoRs & Islz
additionally healthy and this region is so TO-DAY
years ago found no Judgement in Greenwich This
has always been attributed to the fact that the
pure sand and provides excellent drainage the
same condition prevails on Long Island with me me
deep it is several hundred feet deep
Of the cbarac}er M Of the soil it is freer Of orsa
and inorganic material than wells of other regions
great many never falling springs coming up from
the sand along the shores and IN tne o {; 1
year around. ana even in the htghlands and IN me
shady forests are numerous ponds. all OF them
sending forth streams OF clear. cold sparkling
water.
The existence of the fresh water lakes referred
to having inlet or outlet depends on the
Tatn fae fnaf b sei9 PasP fas a6 Ren TRsI e s iii
from the ground water and remain pure because
F6r 5re s1y Years Dr. Ross has made daily OBJ
servations of Temperature. wind direction. precip-
I9 a sbass bas r9 % e foIloine dedctions from his
+ins ne mas .F5e mean simmer terparattIre OF
the island is 20 degrees The mean winter tenn-
ture is SIS degrees. For comparison. may add
the mean yearly temperature Of The entire Slats t
is IS degrees, OF Nantucket go degreS SeE E 1oss
City 81 degrees, and Atlantic city 81 degrees,
is 50 degrees while annual range for the whole
country is from 81 degrees TO q. degrees IL. IL IS
eTn en5 T III The average Temperatures of the island
for the month on Juiv is degrees warmer than
there is difference in relative humidity OF -
per cent IN the m hermometr5 readings is practicay
ebiiterated because OF the dryer atn1osphere IRE
s 1P dsIad avsrages in summer degrees cooler
than New York City. The temperature Of this
par {et OF ~ Norqbern New York and New England
while its temperature in winter is about that oI
suffoik County is higher by 16 degrees than the
\ 81 Navy orb dlrTerenCe
doubtedlv due the modifying effect Of the ocean
giving heat during the winter ana cooLneSs duIlS
ar soT+hUest the eastern and southern parts OF
long island NAV be affected by the influence OF
tITTa or Y degrees can Communicate the coast
heat sufficient to modify the climate ... -.
Long Island is the retardation OF the seasons,
amounting to about three Weehs 1,,5h ne fastSs
for the debtated. for the more gradual the
change from season to Sc season son t 6ns iesT n fros Is
fully three weeks later on the eastern than on the
Anotber striking feature Of the climate Of Long
Island is its low relative humidity, especlaLy N
during the cold months. the reverse of that which
occurs inland This popularity is due 70 the more
moderate HEAT and. and cold % 1T 59e iSano ana 10 'n'
Probably the most valuable feature or any i cH-
a4Tact leads 70 sr increased vitality The amount
OF sunshine on Island Is srea1esI d IN s6Isn ge pn9
shore The average number of clear days IS sew
tbag Nantucket and one hundred and twenty more
than the western part or me s1ats e IncIaGIng az
tb dsI, s,irrient TO permit exercise in the open
air the eastern half of the island has an average
Sitv. sixty more than Narragansett Pier. one bin
dred and four more than Nantucket only twelve
tTiz Fi Paso. Tex. and Los Angeles Cal Long
Island. in surprising way ranks high A., a4lons Ff
Urs Of climate which has perhaps the greatest in
Auence of all upon the invalid