45 



night of Deceraber 31 ; but they were not properly sheltered. Sheep crowded 

 into sheds, and the snow drifting upon them, they piled up, and some 

 smothered, and others froze — Foster. 



Muscatine, loiva. — Last night (December 31) was, I think, the worst night 

 I ever saw; thermometer from 20° to 22° below zero, and the wind blowing 

 a gale. — Walton. 



Prospect Sill, Floyd County, Iowa. — The steadiness of cold from the eve of 

 December 30 to the morning of the 10th of January has not been equalled in 

 seven years and two months, the period my register covers. There was no 

 visible increase of snow here, in the woods, on the 31st of December; still, 

 on the prairie, the position of the sun was not apparent, except faintly, at 

 9 a. m., on account of blowing snow. — James Coley. 



Fort Madison, loica. — The last day of 1863 was the most severe storm we 

 have had here since this county was settled, and the year 1864 was ushered 

 in by said storm. The night before New Year's day was most particularly 

 severe, with high wind from the northwest and drifting snow; some stock 

 was frozen to death, and a number of chickens. Nine and a quarter 

 inches of snow fell on the 27th of December; none fell again until the 2d of 

 January, when there was half an inch, and three and a half inches fell on 

 the 4th. 



Iowa City, Iowa. — On the last day of the year (mean temperature — 21°) 

 commenced the most violent snowstorm known in this region of country; 

 snowing all day and night, and wind blowing violently ail the time. 



Pleasant Plain, Iowa. — December 31, a strong gale blew from the north- 

 west all day and night, drifting the snow (six inches of which fell on the 

 27th and 28th) in such a manner as to fill roads (particularly north and 

 south roads) so full as to entirel}^ stop them, compelling everybody to take' 

 to the fields; all communication was stopped for several days. The first 

 snow after the 28th of December was on the 4th of January, when one 

 inch fell. 



loica Falls, Iowa. — On the 30th of December, the sun rose bright and 

 clear; sun set behind clouds slightly tinged with red; at *! p. m. a snow- 

 storm commenced, which continued all night and all next day, the wind 

 blowing a-liurricane from the northwest; the snow as fine as flour, and sn 

 dense the most of the time that I could not see two rods. This is the 

 hardest storm we have had here for several years. December 31, 9 p. in., 

 the storm still continues as severe as ever. Januar}' 1, commenced to abate 

 about four o'clock this morning; at 1 a. m. it is down to a fresh breeze, with 

 the mercury at 24° below zero. The sun rose bright and clear; all the after 

 part of the day there were mock suns and a bow above the sun with 

 pale colors. 



Lyons, Iowa. — December 31, commenced snowing at 5 a. m., with a north- 

 west wind, and thermometer — 4°; at t p. m. thermometer — 4°; at 12 p. m. 

 — 20°; wind still blowing a gale. It is the coldest day, to be out, I ever ex- 

 perienced; have often seen a Canadian winter day of lower degree, but 

 seldom with such a wind. It is impossible to go into the country on the 

 prairie on account of drifts and cold; continued snowing until 10 p. m. ; the 

 wind has so scattered it that the depth can only be guessed — supposed to be 

 about six inches. January 1. — This is the coldest da}" there has been here 

 for seven years; solar halo at 9 a. m., with parhelia north and south. 



Saint Paul, Minnesota. — Snowed from 8| a. ra. on December 23 to 8 a.m. 

 December 24; from 2 p. ni. 25th to 9 a. m. 26th, and from 2 p. m. 27th io 5 

 p. m. 28th; no snow or rain afterwards until the 19th of January. The 

 strongest wind was northwest on the 31st of December. 



Forest City, Minnesota. — No snow from the 25th of December until the 

 11th of January. The cold during the first ten days of January and the 



