San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-14
Government Figures Show
CALIFORNIA; Climate
Eclipsed.
REMARKABLE RECORD
Less Cold Weather Each
Year as Development
Progresses.


frosts which would prove injurious
TO the citrus industry in the Lower
Rio Grande valley are becoming more
rare as the country develops and
larged acreages are placed under cul-
tivation is the contention of many
old settlers in the valley.
REPORTS of the United States
Weather Bureau in Brownsville for
the past "a years substantiate this
claim to a great extent.
Whether the increasing rarity OF
severe frosts is due to the clearing
and cultivation of land, the extension
of the irrigation systems, or to causes
for which the work of man is not re-
sponsible, is left to the scientists to
determine, but the fact remains that
at no time since. development of the
irrigation system in the valley began
in 1904. have such low winter tenn
peratures been recorded as the rec
ords from 1880 to 1902 show.
Fewer Texas Frosts.
Statistics recently compiled by
County Agent Louis Alsmeyer of
Cameron county on valley winter tenn
peratures. has brought to light many
interesting facts in connection with
the superiority of the Lower Rio
Grande over the California section.
especially in regard to the valley 5
more mild winter climate.
Several weeks were devoted by Mr..
AlSmeyer TO the compilation of these
statistics. which were secured from
government records. and their au-
thenticity cannot be questioned.
Since 1906, the records show that
Mt Pasadena. Cal, the temperature
has dropped below freezing point II
times, and on twelve different occa-
sions temperatures below ~ degrees
the danger point for citrus under or
binary conditions-have been record.
ed. and temperatures between IS and
81 were recorded II times.
Record of Marks.
During the same period in the Rio
Grande valley. the government Their
mometers have registered below ~
only u times, and six times the tenn
perlturc dropped below the danger
point, ~ degrees.
These records prove that in the
California citrus section at least two
freezes occur TO every one IN the
Lower Rio Grande valley.
In three of these seventeen years
there was no sign of frosts in the
Lower Rio Grifnde valley, and ten OF
the years when the thermometers reg
istered below freezing the minimum
temperatures were 81, 81 or so de
grees.
The lowest during this period was
in January, 1911. when tempera-
turc of p degrees was recorded. Dur
ing the winter of 1911 thousands OF
citrus trees in California were de-
stroyed by the severe frosts.
Record Frost in 1899.
Old settlers of the Rio Grande val
ley still SILVER when any allusion is
made to the hard freeze which oc-
CURED in February. 1899. when the
thermometer registered i degrees
the coolest the valley has ever ex-
periencCd, according to the govern
ment records.
Again in December. 1901, and De
ccmber. 1902, minimum of 10 dc
grees was recorded by tEe govern
ment observer.
December, 1880, and January. 1881
were also months in which extraordi
nary cold spells occurred. minimum
of IS degrees being recorded in eacl
OF those months.
The winter Of 1SS0-S1 was unQues
tionably the coolest the valley ever cx
perienced. according TO the old resi-
dents. and government reports stat
that abnormal low temperatures wer'
1 tbo r,,lo IN, oIl stc Of fho Oitnf
| States.
occasions during that winter, inflict
ing great hardships and suffering
upon the population whose home
were not constructed TO withstand tn
rigors of such abnormal weather.
FrOsts Becoming Rare.
Practically all most important az
ricultural development in the Lowe
Rio Grande valley has been attaine
since 1911, and it is interesting {
note that the records show a decreaS
in freezing temperatures as the acre
age under cultivation increased.
In the years T/l3 to 1916, tn
minimum recorded was so degree
but in February and December. 191'
low temperatures of "a degrees wer
recorded.
The citrus acreage in the valley q
that time was not very extensive, an
little damage was done.
In. 1919 minimum of "a was agai
recorded. but the trees escaped ser
Gus damage.
In the past four years the record
at Brownsville show that at no tin
has temperature below 81 been r.
corded.
Growers Install Heaters.
The use of orchard heaters as
means of protecting the citrus tre'
during the rare cold spells is enC
year increasing in the Lower X
Grande valley. and there are few ci
rus growers who are not equipped
protect their groves in the event
, abnormally cold weather.