43 



tinned to snow, more or less, nearl}^ all day; the wind blew very hard, and 

 the snow drifted so much that it was very difficult to tell the average depth; 

 it was a ver}' severe storm; I remember but one equal to it since I have 

 resided in Aug-usta, from 1833 to the present time. 



Waverly, Illinois. — A severe snow-storm began at 10 p. m. on the 30th 

 December, and continued over the 31st, the wind blowing almost a gale 

 some of the time from the northwest, with the thermometer almost at zero; 

 about ten or twelve inches of snow fell, and it lays piled up in every con- 

 ceivable shape. The thermometer — 24° this morning, (January 1.) The 

 storm must have obstructed railroads and killed much stock for farmers. 



Canton, Missouri. — Snow from 9| p. m., December 30, to 4^ p. m., Decem- 

 ber 31, five inches. January 1, clear all day ; parhelia at sunrise and sun- 

 set. Snow again from d\ p. m. to 9^ p. m., January 2, and from 4 p. m., 

 January 3, to 9 p. m,, January 4 — two and a half inches. 



Harrisonville, Missouri. — No snow after the 2*Ith of December till the 2d 

 of January ; on the 2d three inches fell from t a. m. to 8 p. m. No high 

 wind is recorded. 



Athens, Missouri. — This month of January is the coldest weather that has 

 been experienced here for a number of years From the 23d of December to 

 the 23d of January the ground has been covered with snow to the depth of 

 seventeen inches on a level, and drifted to the height of the fences. Many 

 roads became impassable, the general depth of the drifts being six feet. 

 We have had as deep snows before, but not so cold, nor drifted so badly. 

 The timber was loaded down with snow, and much of it broken, especially 

 the pin oak and black jack, which had the leaves on. Great numbers of 

 cattle, sheep, hogs, and fowl have perished, and many persons have been 

 frozen to death. Twelve inches of snow fell on the 28th of December ; none 

 on the 29th or 30th ; one inch on the 31st ; one inch on the 1st of January; 

 an inch and a half on the 2d ; none on the 3d ; half an inch on the 4th. 



Manhattan, Kansas. — December 25th, rain, turning to snow, continued till 

 the 27th, making three inches of snow ; no snow or rain again till the 4th 

 of January, when three more inches fell, and none afterwards till the 28th. 

 The strongest wind recorded is 4 northwest on 30th and 31st of December. 



Lawrence, Kansas. — Rain on the 25tli and 26th of December, and six 

 inches of snow on the 27th. A very little snow, also, on the 2d and 4th of 

 January. No rain or snow again till the 28th, when there was a violent 

 thunder-storm. 



Fort Riley, Kansas. — Rain on tihe 24th and 25th December, and two inches 

 of snow on the 26th and 27th. No snow or rain after this till the last day 

 of January. High wind from the northwest on the 30th of December, and 

 strong gale on the 31st. 



Fontenelle, Nebraska. — December 31 is the coldest and most disagreeable 

 day experienced in this Territory by the oldest settlers. Ground frozen 

 eight inches deep. Two inches of snow on the 26th and 27th December. 



Richland, Nebraska. — December 31. High wind from the northwest the 

 most of last night, and a gale all this day. A thin fine snow or frost fall- 

 ing all night and day. Two inches of snow fell from the 24th to the 27th ; 

 none again sufficient to measure till the 4th of January, when an inch fell. 



Bellemie, Nebraska. — In common with other parts of the country, we have 

 felt the cold during the close of the last year and the beginning of this, the 

 thermometer being for eleven mornings below zero. The last day of Decem- 

 ber was unusually cold, the thermometer sinking most of the day near two 

 degrees an hour till dark. It had then fallen to — 20°, at which it remained 

 till near midnight ; but we seemed to have been only on the edge of the 

 snow-storm, as the snow in the air seemed to be from drift. An inch and a 



