STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 277 



THE COLD WAVE OF JANUARY, 1888. 



The following notes on the cold wave of January, 1888, show that no 

 such a polar current has visited this coast since 1854, which appears from 

 the meager records obtainable, to have been, if anything, somewhat colder 

 than the cold wave of January, 1888. The minimum generally in the 

 Sacramento Valley was about 18°; and in the San Joaquin Valley, 12° to 

 18°. In the foothills, from 13° to 18°. South of Tehachapi,it ranged from 

 10° to 30°. It was also the coldest in Portland, Oregon, ever known; the 

 thermometer fell to 2° below zero, Signal Service records. The lowest before 

 this was 3° above zero, in January, 1875. 



[From the "Daily Evening Bee," January 14, 1888.] 



A Little Cold Weather, But None That Will do any Particular 

 Damage. — Dr. Logan's Recorded Minimum Temperature Again 

 Reached. — Southern California Has None the Best of Northern. 



On Thursday the sun came out bright and warm, and the streets were 

 thronged with pedestrians clad in summer attire. The peddlers were 

 abroad merrily calling out: " Oranges, sweet oranges, 15 cents a dozen," 

 and every one believed that the cold weather was over. Last evening, how- 

 ever, the "cold wave" returned, carried by a north wind fresh from the 

 snow-clad Sierras. The wind was quite a vigorous one, and shutters and 

 signs swung and banged during the night. The mercury took a dive 

 toward the bottom of the thermometer, and the result was that when morn- 

 ing came there was a wintry aspect quite unusual in the northern citrus 

 belt. 



The sun came out clear and warm, however, and the frigidity of the 

 atmosphere was soon modified, though pedestrians all during the day 

 showed a preference for the sunny side of the street. 



In the early morning there was ice on small ponds in the gutters and 

 streets, and small boys gathered about the " smooth article " and gazed in 

 wonder at the natural curiosity. 



Coming at this season of the year, the cold snap has done no damage. 

 In fact, judged from a hygienic standpoint, the desiccating north wind is a 

 blessing, serving, as it does, to dry up and obliterate the germs which pro- 

 duce disease. 



What the Signal Service Observer Says. — He Gives Some Valuable 



and Interesting Reading. 



It has been said by some doubting Californians that Dr. Logan's mini- 

 mum or lowest temperature of 19° during the cold winter of 1853-54 was 

 not correct; that they did not believe that such a low temperature was 

 recorded on that occasion. Let those persons hold their peace, for after a 

 lapse of thirty -four years a second occurrence of such a low minimum tem- 

 perature has made its appearance. 



THE EARLY MORNING. 



The Signal Service minimum thermometer at 4 o'clock this morning 

 was 24°, and between that time and sunrise it had fallen to 19°, or exactly 

 the same minimum temperature that Dr. Logan recorded in January, 1854. 



