The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-08-23
LAKE SUPERIOR
TOWN NEVER
SWELTERS
Residents Of Lake City Now
and Then Wish for Less
Frigid Weather.
By. JOHN d. MUELLER.
International News service.

SUPERIOR, Wis, Aug. 23.-F'olks
here shrugged their shoulders,
grinned a bit and wondered why
they couldn't have just wee bit
Of the excess heat other sections Of
the country sweltered under during
the June heat wave. For Superior
sometimes shivered with cold while
the rest of the nation suffered from
unbearable heat.
Not once during the two weeks of
hot weather did the mercury reach
the 9O-degree mark here. Most OF
the time it lowered around so
degrees. Once it slumped down to
only Ia points above freezing.
Never does this city suffer to
any extent from heat. Nestled
close to mighty Lake Superior, the
lake that never gets warm, !"
Superiorites not infrequently find it
uncomfortably cool to drive in open
motor cars. even during July and
August.
Warmth Is Near.
No less unusual than the alb
sence from this city of really hot
weather is the phenomena found in
the sudden changes of tempera-
ture experienced only few miles
from the limits or the city. The
cool belt" does not include the en-
tire county of Douglas, wherein
Superior is located. It covers little
more than the area occupied by
this city. When Superior is so
chilly as to make an overcoat feel
comfortable, q at a distance OF fIrs
teen miles from the heart Of the
city chances are the heat is in.
tense. s..a
The change in, temperaturs &C
ours suddenly and unexp ectedly II
one direction it may be met fif-
teen miles from the heart of the
city; in another direction it may
be encountered ten miles away.
The motorist suddenly feels the hot
breath of a land breeze. A mo.
ment later he better appreciates
the kindness OF nature to those
who live here.
AS remarkable as is the sudden.
ness with which temperature
changes are encountered is the. diff
ference between the Respective
temperatures Not infrequently a
change as great as 40 degrees is
experienced.
Due To Location.
The reason for, the remarkable
differences in climatic conditions
here and in surrounding territory
lies in the fact that the city Is
built in a cup-like area, formed by
a series Of ranges of hills. The
chilly winds off the lake are large
ly arrested by these hills and shut
off from territory only. few miles
away.
The mountain ranges of Mime.
sofa, in which are located some of
the most famous of the country's
iron ore fields, form one Of the nat
ural barriers which keep from
those who live there the cool
breezes of Lake Superior. Sepa-
rated from the Minnesota hills by
only small river are linked Sc
ries of ranges on the Wisconsin
side, which circle about the city
down to the lake. It is upon reach
ing the crest of these hills that the
changes in temperature, are met
with.
Another remarkable feature of
weather conditions found here is
the almost unbelievable difference
in temperatures here and in Du-
luth. Mimi. just across the harbor
-aDout Two miles at the widest
point. :
1t is not uncommon to, leave this
city when the weather is uncom-
fortably cool, with a cold WHY'D
sweeping in from the lake, and find
the weather lust right" at Du-
luth. The difference between tenn
peratures Of the two cities some
times Is as great as fifteen degrees.
This is explained by the fact
that Duluth is built, in greater
part, parallel to Lake Superior.
The winds off the lake sweep along
in a southwesterly direction. Du-
luth, built north and northwest Of
the lake, though it borders the lake
shore, frequently basks in summer
weather. while Superior, separated
from Duluth only by a narrow ex-
panse of water, but lying directly