[ALASKA’S CLIMATE COMPARES FAVORABLY
WITH LARGE NUMBER OF STATES.
OUTSIDE PAPERS PLEASE COPY
The following article on Alaska weather conditions, appearing in
thi Soat,le ani1 "Vitten by M. B. Summers, former chief of the
•ather bureau in Alaska, is of general interest and is authoritative.
During the last week much has been said concerning the economic
sources of the Territory of Alaska. Attention has been focused on its
st deposits of coal, gold and copper; on its wealth of fisheries; eu its
Coldly growing fur farming industr
ts agricultural possibilities,
awaiting intelligent and supervised
The display of the products of these various industries by
Chamber of Commerce has been a revelation to thousands who
ve never given Alaska any serious thought, or who looked upon the
rritorv as being a vast but negligible unit of our national domain.
Even after seeing these examples of what Alaska has produced
th such prodigality, there an those who have difficulty in divorcing
eir minds of their preconceived notions concerning the climate
} t the Territory. For. were they not taught in their youth that
aska is a desolate waste of ice and snow, inhabited mostly by Eskimos
.id infested with polar bears? Eater, when gold was discovered in the
-called frozen wastes, did they not hear of the temperatures of SO and
» degrees below zero throughout the long Arctic winter and of men freez
ig to death in their search for the elusive yellow metal. Was not their
inception of the territory gleaned in large part from pictures of a dog
)t)am driven by a man clad in heavy furs and plodding after a sled; or of
pship fast in the ice; or of huge glaciers composed of the snows of centur
«. slowly descending the mountain passes?
Remove False Impressions
But were all these earlier descriptions or impress!.ms of the tor
tory in error? Is not Alaska the coldest part of the United States, and
he the extremely low temperatures that have been reported a myth?
vre dog teams the exception rather than the rule, and are not icebergs
,nd glaciers s.. numerous as the pictures would lead us to believe?
ranting that the territory has produced
ealth since the American occupation, is
iy but the hardiest miner or woodsman?
billion dollar
it her questions
it to be expected in the process of the education of th. public concerning
jjp great land to the northward, to which Seattle is the gateway.
3 The early pictures and stories descriptive of Alaska were in error
j,i that they emphasized only one phase of the climate, and this generally
• ith considerable exaggeration. Ever since the discovery of gold, the
•rritorv has suffered much injury through the reports of temperatures
aat were frigid to a degree that never existed in recent times.
Taking Alaska as a whole, it is of course the coldest part of the
inited States. But what of it? Does this necessarily mean that it is
ot adapted to human habitation? The mercury in Montana has drop
ed to 64 degrees below zero, which is within IS degrees of the lowest
uthentic record in Alaska, and the whole northern tier of states from
iontana eastward is subjected to lower temperatures each winter than
re experienced by a majority of the whole people of Alaska.
Above Zero Most of the Tim**
Even in the interior. where the coldest weather of the territory is
o be found, temperatures do not hover around the BO-below mark
hroughout the winter, as is sometimes reported, but. on the contrary,
eadings above zero are usually recorded on more days during the four
vinter months than are readings below zero.
Yes. dog teams are used in winter in the interior in those Iocali
ies where railroads or horses, or automobiles, are not available, but to ■
learly half of the white population of the territory a do-; team would'be *
is much of a novelty as it would be in Seattle, and much more so than j
n many parts of the United States. Glaciers, yes. and what marvelous j
manifestations of nature’s forces they are! But they are confined to
inly a very small percentage of the area of the territory, and are really
the only portion that is covered with snow the year around, except, of
•ottrse. the higher mountain peaks.
Even in ihe interior of the Arctic slope the winter's snow cover dis
appears ordinarily in the latter part of May and does not begin to accumu
late until September. In the Tanana and Matanuska valleys, where the
largest areas of agricultural lands are found, the snow disappears con
siderably earlier in the spring and conies later in the fall, while at sea
level elevations in the southeastern portion, where the density of popula
tion is greatest by. reason of more highly developed resources, there is
ordinarily little snow until November or after March.
Juneau and Chicago C'ompared
To those who are wont to think of Alaska as a land of perennial
ice a-nd snow it may come as a surprise to be told that the mean January
temperature of Anchorage the chief city of the Government railroad, is
the same as that of Bismarck. X. D.; that the January mean at Ketchikan
Is only one degree lower than that of New York, and that the January
mean at Juneau is three degrees higher than the mean at Chicago. If
eastern business houses were conversant with these conditions, merchants
in the southeastern. Pacific Coast and Government railroad districts would
not receive letters reading like this:
“Receipt of your order is acknowledged. Shipment will be made
as soon as navigation opens in the spring."
The merchant who has been expecting to receive a notice of the j
prompt filling of his order cannot be blamed for muttering something |
about the sublime ignorance of the people of the East in terms that would ;
not look well in print.
Anchorage has ar. "erage of 59 days a year with zero tempera- j
tures; Nome has 87 and Fairbanks 114; as against 52 such days a year
at Bismarck and 9 at Chicago. These coldest days in the interior are
not so unpleasant as they might seem, for they are usually clear and de
void of wind. Children of all ages attend school the sumo as in cities in
the States where zero temperatures are not so frequent. At Juneau
there have been only 53 zero days in 29 years <*f record, which is an aver
age of less than two a year. Sitka and Kodiak have an average of only
one a year, while at Ketchikan, the average is less than one-half.
Warmer Thau Eastern Cities
BIsnmrek, Chicago and New York have each broken the records
of Alaskan towns on the immediate Pacific Coast when it comes to low
temperatures. Bismarck has a record of 45 below. Chicago 23 belo-w.
and New York 13 below, while the minimum readings on the immediate
Pacific Coast range from 5 degrees above zero at Dutch Harbor t" 13
below at Kodiak. At Sitka the record covering a period of 39 years, is
4 below, and at Ketchikan. S below. Fairbanks can be said to be fairly
representative of the interior, and at that station in IS years of record
temperatures of HO below have been recorded in only a few winters, and
then only in the month .if January. There have been years when the
mercury did not reach 40 below at Fairbanks.
So much for the cold weather in Alaska. Now. how about the
summer temperatures? That th*- summers are delightfully pleasant is
indicated by the fact that the temperatures are similar to those of May at
Chicago. New York and "thor cities of that latitude, and to those of the
month of June at Seattl- . Throughout Southern Alaska the summers
are very much like the weather, in Seattle in May. except that there is
more rain than is normally experienced ii Seattle in that month. While
temperatures of 9i» decrees are recorded in the interior nearly every
summer, oppressively hot days are rare.
Kvery Know fail a :*l>th
Hut. someone says.. how about rh<* excessive snowfall for which
Alaska is noted? Here, again, the popular conception of the climate is
in error. Except in a few places aloug the coast and at elevations in the
mountains, the ''excessive" snowfall is more of a myth than a reality.
Throughout the interior the snow depth is quit, moderate, and not nearly
so great as over a large part of the Lakes region of the States.
At Fairbanks, for instance, the annual total is only 47 inches and
at Mutanuska only 39 inches, as against 35 inches at Chicago. Nome
normally receives HO inches and Ketchikan only 40. At Juneau and
Cordova the totals of 114 and 150 inches, respectively, are not. nearly so
bad as they seem, for the reason that there is usually much melting of
snow by winter rains, thus preventing the aecumulation of depths that
would interfere with traffic.
In the mountains the snow is. of course, much heavier and some
times drifts to great depths, but this is also the case in the States under
similar topographical conditions.
Alaska has the distinction of having heavier precipitation than
is recorded anywhere in continental United States. At Ketchikan, the
normal annual amount is 157 inches of rain and melted snow, whereas
the highest record in the United States proper is 137 inches at Quinault.
in the Olympic Mountains of Washington. With recession from the
mountains fringing until at Juneau the annual amount is eighty inches
and at Skagway twenty three inches. The whole interior beyond the
coastal ranges has light to moderate precipitation. Anchorage receiving
sixteen inches. Matanuska fourteen inches and Fairbanks twelve inches.
Record of Prvcipitiit ion
In point of frequency of precipitation Ketchikan again beats the
record "f Continental United States, with an average of 229 days a year
on which 0.01 inch of rain or melted snow falls. These totals diminish
toward the interior Juneau having 208 such days. Shagway 114. Anchor
age 119 and Matanuska and Fairbanks eighty three each. At Seattle
the number of such days in a year averages 151. while New York and Chi
cago each have 125. The fall months receive the most precipitation in
nearly all parts of Alaska and the late spring and early summer months
the least.
Contrary to a popular impression, thunderstorms are by no means
unknown to Alaska, hut occur several times each summer iu the interior
valleys and have been noted in practically all other sections of the terri
tory. even as far north as Barrow, on the northern Arctic coast. They
art c arly always mild in character and of short duration, however,
though in the interior they are sometimes attended by hail. They are
rare along the coast, and as a result of the maximum rate of rainfall per
hour, despite the heavy annual precipitation, is much less than in thoso
parts of the United States that are subject to thunder showers.
In conclusion, it may be said that, with the maximum development
of the fisheries, mineral and forest resources of the territory taking place
in the region having the greatest precipitation, and the finest farm pro
ducts being produced in the section having approximately the coldest win
ter weather, the retardation of Alaska's development cannot be justly laid
to climatic conditions. The low death rate of the white population, es
pecially children, should be conclusive evidence that the climate is health
ful and that it offers no real obstacles to the building of a mighty empire.
It is no longer necessaryfor anyone to migrate to the territory In
ignorance of the climatic conditions that .are likely to be encountered,
for the Weather Bureau has more than sixty stations at which observa
tions have been made for a sufficient period to give a conservative and
reliable index of the climate of the many different localities. This In
formation can be had upon request from the Chief of the Weather Bureau.
Washington. D. C., or the W'eather Bureau offices at Seattle or Juneau.
Alaska.
FIRE RUfiM SIGNALS'
BOX 1XKATIOX |
JO.Standard Oil Company j
J*>.Cold Storage plant. East j
| J.Alaska Lighterage Co. |
J "j.Opposite Recorders Office I
.Cor. Steadman. 2nd aves.
•>4.Cor. B st. and 1st ave. |
O^.. Catholic Church |
O J. Polet’s Residence
gO...». Fire Station!
4 J.Opposite Webb's Market j
40. Methodist Mission
...Shut Down
Turn on Water
FOR SALE.
Now and uptodafe legal forma for
Proof of Annual Assessment Wort |
also Oil Location blanks. Deed blanks
for general use. Special and General
Power of Attorney forms. Placer and
Quartz Location forms now on sale
at Nugget Office. Price 15 cents each
| or $1.00 per dozan.
NOTICE OF FORFEITURE.
To Cabell Whitehead. E. E. Ailes,
C. G. Oowden. Chas. Thompson.
A. Schneider. S K. Rocks, and
John Burns, your and each of
your heir*, executors, administra
tors and assigns:
You are hereby notified that Che!
undersigned has expended dnrinc|
earh of the vears of 1907. 1910.!
1911. 1912. 1914. 1915. 1916, 1920.1
1921 and 1922. the sum of One j
Hundred Dollars, in Ivnbor and Im-!
prove men. trf upon that certain pla-1
oer mlninc claim known as and I
be‘ng BENCH NO. 5. BELOW!
GOODLUCK. situated on the left
limit of Anvil Creek, opposite plaoer
claim No. 1. below, on said creek.'
in the Cape Nome Mining District !
end Precinct. Territory of AJaska:!
the location certifienie or notice of I
which said claim is of record in the I
office of the recorder of said mining I
district and precinct, in Vol. 2. at
Page 221. of the record* of loca-j
tions of said mining district and j
precinct.
That said labor and improvements j
were performed and made upon j
said miojng claim daring each of ]
said years for the purpose of hold
ing the same under the provision*
I of the laws of the United States aud
of the Territory of Alaska, concern
ioU annual labor upon mining
And if within ninety days? after
?he serv re of this notice unon you
by the publication hereof for ‘lie
p«*triod of ninety days, you or either
of you fall. refuse or neglect to
contribute your proportion of such !
expenditure as a co-owner with the!
under* Is tied, your interest in said !
! mining claim will become the pro- j
i party of the subscriber, your co- j
j owner, who has made tne required!
! expenditure necoasury to hold said
i claim under said laws.
; Dated at Nome. Alaska, this 3rd
• day of November. 1923.
Pioneer Mining and D!tch
Com puny. Co-Owner,
j By K. I. GORMAN, Agent.
• Publish Nov. 3. 10. 17. 24. Dec 1. 8.
j IB. 22. 29. 1923. and Jan. 5. 12.
l **’m4‘
i FORFEIT!.' R* NOTICE
I To JOHN A. DEXTER. and to his'
I executor*. adnuuJiat’* ifors. heirs, |
i and ass]({ns:
I You are hereby notified that the I
I undersigned has expended one hun
j dred dollars ($10<*.00> Itt work. I
i Labor, and improvement.* upon “No. j
J 4 SPECIMEN GULCH." or the
"KBSTBR” Placer Mbit Sir Claim.!
I the location certificate of which is
recorded i» VoL 3. Pace 41. of the
Records of the Cape Nome Record
ing Precinct, Territory of Alaska,
the recording precinct in which sarid
claim is situated, tor each of tile
years 1310, 1911. 1912. 1913, 1914.
1915, 1917. 1920-21. 1921-22. 1922
-23. in order to hold said claim un
der the provisions of Section 2324.
Revised Statutes of the United
States of America; this being the
amount required to hold said claim
for each of the years above enum
erated. And if within ninety (90)
days from the service of this notice
upon you, you fall or refuse to con
tribute your proportion of such ex
penditure as co-owner, your inter
est in said claim will become the
property V>f the subscriber under
said Section 2324.
Dated at Nome, Alaska, this 3rd
day of November, 1923.
Pioneer Mining and Ditch
Company, Co-Owner.
Bv E. J. GORMAN. Agent.
Publish Nov. 3. 10, 17. 24. Dec. 1. S.
15. 22. 29. 1923. and Jan. 5. 12.
19. 26. 1924.
NOTICE OP FORFEITURE.
To Guy B. Brubaker and Blanche
McGrath, you and each of your
heirs, executors, administrators
and assigns:
I You. and each of you. are hereby
i notified that the undersigned, as
co-owner therein, has expended the
sum of One Hundred ($100.00)
dollars during the year ending July
1. 1923, for labor and improvements
on and for the benefit of the JAITN
ITA BENCH PLACER MINING
CLAIM, situated on the Left Limit
of Dry Creek, opposite No. 13 Be
low Discovery, in the Cape Nome
Mining and Recording iDstrict,
Territory of Alaska, notice "f loca
tion whereof is accorded 1n Book
91. at page 42*. in the records of
said recording district.
That said work was performed as
provided by Sac. 2324, of the Re
vised Statute* of the United State*
and supplemental legislation, for
the purpose of holding said claim.
And you are severally required to
contribute your proportion of sue*
expenditure according to your sever
al interests in said claim, to the un
dersigned co-owner with you there
in. within ninety days after the ser
vice of this notice on you by publi
cation thereof, or your interest hi
said claim will become forfeited and
vest in the undersigned, as provided
by said statutes.
Dated at Nome. Alaska, this 3rd
day of November. 1923.
F. S. Powell and Geo. *W. Dutton.
Trustees for Nome Dredging Trust.
Co-Owner.
By K J. GOP MAN. Agent.
Publish Nov. 3. 10. 17. 24, Dec. 1. 8,
15. 22. 29. 1923. and Jan. 5, 12,
NOTICE OF FORFEITURE.
To Nels Sexolson. P. V. Davis. Wm.
A. Gilmore, you and each of your
heirs, executors, administrators
and assigns: •
You and each of you are hereby
notified that t/he undersigned, as
co-owner therein, has expended the
sum of One Hundred ($100.09- dol
lars during the year ending July t,
1923. for labor and improvement*
on and for the benefit of GOLD
DUST BENCH Placer Mining Claim,
situated on the I^eft Limit of Dry
Creek, in the Cape Nome Mining
and Recording District. Territory of
Alaska, notice of location whereof
is recorded in Book 19, at Page 86,
of the records of said Recording
District.
That said work wm performed as
provided by Sec. 23 24. of ttoe Re
vised Statutes of the United States
and supplemental legislation, for
the purpose of holding said claim.
And you are severally required bo
contribute your proportion of such
expenditure according to your sev
eral interests in said claim, to the
undersigned, co-owner with you
therein, within ninety days after the
service of this notice on you by pub
lication thereof, or your interest in
laid claim will become forfeited
md vest in the undersigned, as pro
vided by said statutes.
Dated at Nome. Alaska, this 3rd
lay of November. 1923.
F. S. Powell and Geo. W. Dutton,
Frustees for Nome Dredging Trust,
Co-Owner.
By E. J. GORMAN. Agent.
Publish Nov. 3. 10. 17. 24. Dec. 1. 8.
15. 22. 29. 1923. and Jan 5. l'B,
NOTICE OF FORFEITURE.
To Mary R. Senrl. C. O. Cowdfn a-nd
Win. A. Gilmore, you and each of
your heirs, executors, administra
tors and assigns:
You and each of you a.re hereby
notified that too undersigned, as
no-owner therein. Iras expended the
sum of One Hundred ($100.00- dol
lars during *he year coding July 1,
192.1. for labor and improvement#
onand for the benefit of 1<TCKT
TWO BENCH Placer Mining Claim,
situated on the Left Limit of I>ry
C'repk. second te.Hr. in the Capt
Nome Mining and recording diatrict.,
Territory of Alaska., not ire of loca
tion whereof is recorded in Book 86,
at page 14. of the records of said
Recording Distrlet.
That said work was performed ns
provided hy Sec. 2124. of t3ie Re
vised Statutes of the United State#
and supplemental legislation, for
the purpose of holding said claim.
And you are seremlly required to
contribute your proportion of such
expenditure according to your sev
eral interests tn said claim, to the
undersigned. co-owner with you
therein, within ninety days after the
service of this notice on you by pub
lication thereof, or your interest la
said claim will become forfeited
and vast in the undersigned, as pro
vided said statutes.
Dated at Nome. Alanka. this Ird
day of November. 1921.
F. S. Powell and Geo. W. Dutton,
Trustees for Nome Dredgfng Trust,
Co-Owner.
Bv K. J. GORMAN. Agent.
Publish Nov. 3. 10. 17. 24. Dec. 1. 8,
15. 22. 29, 1921. and Jan. 5. 12,
19, 26, 19-24.
NOTICE OF FORFEITURE.
To Peter Johnson. B. Ongmau, ▼.
A. Graffdm. Mary Newcomer and
Dan Kelly, your and each of your
heirs, administrators, successor*
and Mdlgns:
You and each of you are hereby
notified that the undersigned, am
oo-owner therein, has expended the
sum of One Hundred ($100.06- dol
lars during the year ending July 1,
1923. for labor and improvements
upon and for the benefit of the
BONANZA ASSOCIATION Placer
Mining Claim, situated immediately
North of the shore of Bering Sea,
and tn the East end of the city or
town of Nome, tn the Cape Nome
Recording District and Precinct,
Territory of Alaska. The original
location of which claim is recorded
in tol. 111. at Page 339. of the
records of locations in the office of
the recorder of said precinct.
That said labor and improvements
were made and performed in .the
development of said claim and. in
the performance of the annua! labor
required by Section 2324 Revised
Statutes of the United State* and
legislation supplemental thereto, in
order to hold said claim.
And you and each of you are
hereby required to contribute to the
undersigned co-owners youT propor
tion of such expenditure according
to your respective interests in said
mining claim, within ninety bays
after the service of this uetice upon
you by publication thereof, or your
'-nterest in said mining claim will
become forfeited to and vest in the
undersigned co-owners who have
made such expenditure.
Dated at Nome, Alaska, this 3rd
day of November. 1923.
~ ~ ~owell and Geo. W. Put tea.
TrnefceedVor Nome Dredgbig Tint,
Co-Owner.
J. GOltMAN, Agent.
Publish Nol
15, 22. 29J 1923.