HASH'S CLIMATE COMPARES FAVORABLY
WITH LARSE RUMBER OF STATES.
OUTSIDE PAPERS PLEASE COPY
| The following article on Alaska weather conditions, appearing in
Seattle Times, and written by M. 11. Summers, former chief of the
ther bureau in Alaska, is of general interest and is authoritative:
During the last week much has been said concerning the economic
•urces of the Territory of Alaska. Attention has been focused on i.ts
deposits of coal, gold and copper; on its wealth of fisheries; <>n its
1 dlv growing fur farming industry; on its agricultural possibilities.
on its great reserves of forests uwaitiug intelligent and supervised
loitation. The display of the products of these various industries by
Seattle Chamber of Commerce has been a revelation to thousands who
e never given Alaska any serious thought. or who looked upon the
•itory as bei-ng a vast but negligible unit of our national domain.
Even after seeing these examples of what Alaska has produced j
h such prodigality, there are those who have difficulty in divorcing
ir minds of their preconceived notions concerning the climate
the Territory. For. were they uot taught in their youth that
ska is a desolate waste of ire and snow, inhabited mostly by Eskimos
*1 infested with polar bears? T.ater, when gold was discovered in the
railed frozen wastes, did they not hear of the temperatures ot art and
degrees below zero throughout the long Arctic winter and of men free/.
to death in their search for the elusive yellow metal. Was not their
eeption of the territory gleaned in large part from pictures of a dog
m driven by a man clad in heavy furs and plodding after a sled; or of
hip fast in the ice; or of huge glaciers composed of the snows of centur
. slowly descending the mountain passes?
lU’inovr False Impression*.
But were all these earlier descriptions or impressions of the ter
i3ry in error? Is not Alaska the coldest part of the United States, aud
I- the extremely low temperatures that have been reported a myth?
^ dop teams the exception rather than the rule, and are not icebergs
id glaciers so numerous as the pictures would lead us to believe?
anting that the territory has produced more than a billion dollars ot
altb since the American occupation, is it really a fit place to live for
v but the hardiest miner or woodsman? These and other questions are
t to be expected in the process of the education of the public concerning
» great land to the northward, to which Seattle is the gateway.
The early pictures and stories descriptive of Alaska were in error
that they emphasized only one phase of the climate, and this generally
th considerable exaggeration. Ever since the discovery of gold, the
rritory has suffered much injury through the reports of temperatures
at 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
lited States. But what of it? Does this -necessarily mean that it is
t adapted to human habitation? The mercury in Montana has drop
d to 6 4 degrees below zero, which is within 13 degrees of the lowest
thentic record in Alaska, and the whole northern tier of states from
m i an a eastward is subjected to lower temperatures each winter than
p experienced by a majority of the whole people of Alaska.
Above Zero Most of the Time
Even in the interior, where the coldest weather of the territory is
be found, temperatures do not hover around the 6h-below mark
iroughout the winter, as is sometimes reported, but. on the contrary,
ladings above zero are usually recorded on more days during the four
inter months than arp readings below zero.
Yes, dog teams are used in winter In the interior in those locat
es where railroads or horses, or automobiles, are not available, hut to ^
early half of the white population of the territory a dog team would be
s much of a novelty as it would he in Seattle, and much more so than
1 many parts of the United States. Glaciers, yes. and what marvelous
lanifestatlons of nature’s forces they are! But they are confined to
nly a very small percentage of the area of the territory, and are really
he only portion that is covered with snow the year around, except, of
ourse. the higher mountain peaks.
Even in the interior of the Arctic slope the winter’s snow cover dis- ;
ppears ordinarily in the latter part of May and does not b*>gin to accumu
ate until September. In the Tanana and Matanuska valleys, where the
argest areas of agricultural lands are found, the snow disappears con
siderably earlier in the spring and comes later in the fall, while at sea
evel elevations in the southeastern portion, where the density of popula
ion I* greatest by reason of more highly developed resources, there is
>rdinarily little snow until November or after March.
Juneau and Chicago Compared
To those who are wont to think of Alaska as a land of perennial
ice and 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, N. I).: that the January mean at Ketchikan
ia 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
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 an “‘•erage of 59 days a year with zero tempera
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 th<> same as in cities in
the States where zero temperatures are not so frequent. At Juneau
there have been only 53 zero days in 2!) years of record, which Is aa aver
age of less than two a year, Sitka and Kodiak have an nvarftge of only
oae a year, while at Ketchikan, the average is leas than one-half.
Wanner Than Pastern Cities
Bismarck, 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 below,
and New York 13 below, while the. minimum readings on the immediate
Pacific Coast range from 5 degrees above zero at Dutch Harbor to 12
below at Kodiuk. 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 18 yeafs of record
temperatures of GO below have been recorded in only' a few winters, and
then only ip the month of 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 , the summers are'delightfully pleasant is
indicated by the fact that the temperatures are similar to those of May at
Chicago, New York and other cities of that latitude, and to those of the
month of June at Seattle 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 in Seattle in that month. While
temperatures of 90 degrees are recorded in thp interior nearly every
summer, oppressively hot days are rare.
Kvery Snowfall a Myth .
But. *om**one says, how about the excessive snowfall for which
Alaska is noted? Here, again, the popular conception of the-riimate is;
in error. Except in a few places along 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 quite 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 Matanuska only 39 inches, as against 35 inches at Chicago. Nome
normally receives GO inches nnd Ketchikan only 40. At Juneau and 1
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 th*- accumulation of depths that]
would interfere with traffic.
In the mountains the snow is. of course, much heavier and some-j
times drifts to great depths, but this is also the case in the States under j
similar topographical conditions.
Alaska has the distinction of having heavier precipitation than i
is recorded anywhere in continental United States. At Ketchikan, the !
normal annual amount is 157 inches of rain and melted snow, whereaa
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 fnches and Fairbanks twelve inches.
Record of rn^ lpiUlion
Tn point of frequency of precipitation Ketchikan again heats the
record of 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. Skagway 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. Tbe 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 in the interior
valleys and have been noted in practically all other sections of the terri
tory. even as far north as Barrow, on tbe northern Arctic coast. They
ai» nearly always mild in character and of short duration, however,
though in tbe 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 thos?
parts of the United States that are subject to thunder showers.
In conclusion, it may he 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 n mighty empire.
It la no longer neceesaryfor anyone to migrate to the territory In
ignorance of tbe climatic conditions that are likely to be encountered,
for tbe 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 Weather Bureau offices at Seattle or Juneau.
FIRE Mill SIGNALS
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LOCATION
.Standard Oil Company
... CoM Storoce plant, East
.Alaska Lighterage Co.
. . Opposite Recorders Office
. .Cor. Steadman. 2nd aves.
Cor. 3rd. Ave. & Lanes Way
.Cor. B st. and 1st ave.
. Catholic Church
. Polet's Residence
.,.Fire Station
Sear Belmont Point Bridge
...Opposite Webb's Market
......... Methodist, Mission
({ Bella.
.Fire - Out
. . .Shut Down
Turn on Water
NOTICE
Any items of Interest to the com
munity if given or telephone* te the
Nugget will be given publicity and
will be appreciated at all times.
U«»h»cr1b* NOW fot Hu* Nome Nugget
NOTICE OF FORFEITURE.
To Cabell Whitehead. E. E. Alles,
C. G. Cowden. (’has. Thom peon,
A. Sf*hni*id»*r. S.. K. Rocks, and
John Burns,- your and each of
your heiTK. executors, adminlstra
You are hereby notified that the j
undersigned ham expended durine j
each of the years of 1907. 1910. >
1911. 1912. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1920.!
1921 and 1922. the gum of One j
Hundred Hollars, in tabor and Ini-1
prnrements upon that certain pla
cer mining claim known as and !
beng BENCH NO. 5. BELOW
OOODLUCK. situated on the left )
limit, of Anvil Creek, opposite placer
claim No. 1. below, on said creek,
in the Cap*- Nome Mining Eh strict
:inri Precinct. Territory of Alaska;
the fora flan certificate or notice of
which saii-d claim is of record in the
office of the recorder of said mining i
district and precinct, In Vol. 2. at j
Page 224. of the records of loca
tions of said nutting district and
precinct.
That said labor a»nd improvements
were performed and made upon
said mining claim during each of
said years for the purpose of hold
ing the same under the provision
of the laws of the United States Bud
of the Territory of Alaska, concern
ing annual labor upon mining
claims.
And tf within ninet y days a ft *r
the service of this notice upon you
by the publication be-reof for the
period of ninety days, you or either
of you faij. rtfcfuse or neglect to
contribute your proportion of such
expenditure as a ro-o-wner with the
undersigned, your interest in said
raining claim will become the pro
perty of the subscriber. your co
owner. who has made tne required
expenditure necessary to hold said
otalm under sa.id laws
Duted at Nome. Alaska, this 3rd
day of November. 1923.
Pioneer Mining and Ditch
Company. Co-Owner.
By K. J. GORMAN. Agent.
Pubfish Nov. 3. 19. 17. 24. Dec 1. 8.
15. 22. 29. 1923. and Jan. 5. 12.
FORFEITURE NOTICE
To JOHN A DEXTER, and to his
executors, admlnlst»*»tors. heirs.
arnd assigns:
You am hereby notified that the
undersigned has expended one hun
dred dollars ($100.00 in wort,
labor, and improvements upon “No.
14 SPECIMEN GULCH," or the
“KESTER" Placer MhUag Claim.
1 the location certificate of which la
recorded in Vol. 3, Page 4$. of the
Records of the Cape Nome Record
ing Precinct, Territory of Alaska,
the recording precinct in which mfd
claim la situated, for each of the
years 1910, 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 wttbin ninety (90)
days from the service of this notice
upon you. you fail or refuse to con
tribute your proportion of such ex
penditure as co-owner, your inter
est in said claim will become the
property Vrf the subscriber under
said Section 2324.
Gated at Nome. Alaska, this 3rd
day of November, 1923.
Pioneer Mining and Ditch
Company. Co-Owner.
By E. J. GORMAN, Agent.
Publish Nov. 3. 10. 17, 24. Dec. 1. 8.
15. 22. 29. 1923. and Jan. 5, 12.
19. 26. 1924.
NOTICE OF FORFEITURE.
To Guy B. Brubaker and Blanche
McGrath, you and each of your
heirs, executors, administrators
and assigns;
You. and each of you. are hereby
•’notified that the undersigned, as
co-owner therein, has expended the
sum of One Hundred (1100.001
dollars during the year ending July
1, 192?.. for labor and improvements
on rfhd for the benefit of the JATTN
ITA BENCH PLACER MINING
CLAIM, situated on the Left Limit
of Dry Creek, opposite No. 13 Be
low Discovery, In the Qape Nome
Mining, and Recording iDstrfct,
Territory of Alaska, notice of loca
tion whereof Is accorded on Book
91. ai page 428. tn the records of
said rewarding district.
That said-work was.performed at
provided by Sec. 2324. of the Re
vised Statutes of the United Statee
and supplemental legislation, for
the purpose of holding said claim.
And you are severally required to
contribute your proportion of each
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 nor*
vice of thia notice on you by publi
cation thereof, or your interest to
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 E. GOP MAN, Agent.
Publish Nov.‘3. 10. 17. 24. Dec. 1. 8.
15. 22. 29. 1923. and Jan. 5. 12.
NOTIC E OF PdttFMTl'RK.
Jo Nels S£srolson>*P. V; Davis. Wn».
A. Gilmore, you and each of your
hjeirs,-executors. administrators
and Assigns;
You acid each of you are.hereby
notified that the undersigned, as
co-owner therein, has expended the
sum of One Hundred ($100.09- dol
lars during the year ending July 1,
1923. for labor and improvements
on and for the benefit of GOLD
DUST BENCH Placer Mining Claim,
situated on the Left Limit of Dry
Creek, in the Cape Nome Mining
and Recording District. Territory of
Alaska, notice of location whereof
is recorded in Book 19. at Page 96,
of the. records of said Recording
That said work was performed as
provided by Sec. 2324. of the Re
vised Statutes of the United Staten
and supplemental legislation, for
the purpose of holding said claim.
And you are severally required to
contribute your proportion of such
expenditure accord mg to your sev
eral interests in said claim, to the
undersigned, co-owner with you
therein, within ninety days after the
service of this ryot lee on you by pub
lication thereof, or your interest In
said claim will become forfeited
and vest Hi the undersigned, as pro
vided by said statutes.
Dated at Nome, Alaska, this 3rd
day of November. 1923.
F. Powell and Geo. W. Dutton,
Trust*** for Nom*> Dredging Trust,
Co-Owner.
Bv E. ,1. GORMAN. Agent.
Publish Nov. 3. 10. 17. 24. Dec. 1. 8,
15. 22. 29. 1922. and Jan. 5. 12,
NOTICE OF FORFEITURE
To Mary E. Swarl. C. G. Cowrten and
Wm. A. Gilmore, you and each of
your heirs, executors, administra
tors and assigns:
You ajtd each of you are hereby
notified that Che unde reigned, ha
co-owner therein, has expended the
sum of One Hundred ($ 100.00* dol
lars during the year ending July 1,
1923, for labor and Improvement*
nnand for the benefit of LUCKY
TWO BENCH Placflr M;*mg Claim,
situated on the Left. Limit of Dry
Creek, second teir. in thp Capt
Nome Mining and recording ttoi^ct.
Territory of Alaska, notice of loca
tion whereof Is recorded in Book, 86,
at page 34. of the records of said
Recording District.
Thai said work was performed a*
provided by Sec. 2324. of lb* Re
vised StoJutes of the United States
and supplemental legislation, for
the purpose of holding said claim.
And you are severally required to
contribtiti; your proportion of such
expenditure according to your sev
eral ittteres.ts in sard claim, to tha
undersigned, oo-ownrr with yon
therein, within ninety days after the
service of this notice on you by pute
lle ai ion thereof, or your interest In
said ctaim will become forfaited
and vest Hi the undersigned, ns pro
vided by said statutes.
Dated at Nome. Alaska, this 3rd
day of November, $923.
F. 3. Powell and Geo. W. Dutton,
Trustees for Nome Dredging Treat;
Cs-Owasr.
By E. J. GORMAN. Agent.
Publish Nov. 3. 16. T7. 24. Dec. 1, 8,
16. 22. 29. 1923. and Jan. 5. 12.
19. 29, 1934.
NOTICK OP PORFKmrm.
To Peter Johnson. E. Ongmaa. ▼.
A. Graffam. Mary Newcomer and
Dan Kelly, your and each of your
heirs, administrators. siieeemoni
and aaatgns:
You and each of you are hereby
notified that the undersigned, ae
co-owner therein, has expended the
sum of One Hundred ($100.W- dol
lars during the year ending July 1,
1923. tor labor and improvements
upon and tor the benefit of Che
BONANZA ASSOCIATION Plneor
Mining Claim, situated immediately
North of the shore of Better Sea,
and in the Bast end of the city or
town of Nome, in the Cape Noroo
Recording District and Precinct.
Territory of Alaska. The original
location of which claim 1s recorded
in Vol. 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 annual labor
required bv Section 2324 Revised
Statutes of the United States and
legislation supplemental thereto, la
order to hold said claim.
And you and each of you are
hereby required to contribute to the
undersigned co-owners your propor
tion of such expenditure according
to your respective interests In said
mining claim, within ninety days
alter the service of this netlce upon,
you by publication thereof, or your
interest in said miuMg claim will
become forfeited to and vest in the
undersidaed co-owners who hate
made aimh expenditure. j-jfc
Dated ft* Nome. Alaska, tMa »*•
day of November. 1923.
F. S. PoWOll and Geo. W. Dutttott,
Trustees for ^ Noroe Dredgbig Trust.
PuMkh Nov. 3.
15. 22. 29. 192!
19, 26, 1924.