METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 585 



LETTER OF LIEUTENANT MULLAN, U. S. A., TO GOVERNOR I. I. STEVENS, TRANSMITTING METEOR 

 OLOGICAL REGISTER KEPT IN THE ST. MARY s VALLEY. 



OLYMPIA, W. T., December 17, 1854. 



SIR : I have the honor herewith to transmit a Meteorological Register kept in the St. Mary s 

 valley from the 8th of October, 1853, to 18th of September, 1854. I have, during the last year, 

 submitted for your perusal monthly registers from time to time, which have been transcripts from 

 this register. You will find the register full as to details, and which renders unnecessary my re 

 ferring to it except in a general manner. It was found in the St. Mary s valley that snow did 

 not fall during the last winter to a greater depth than from three to four inches, after several suc 

 cessive falls of snow. The winter, with the exception of a few days in December and January, 

 was remarkably mild. During those days, however, the cold was intense. The thermometer in 

 the St. Mary s valley ranged as low as twenty-eight degrees below zero. During my examina 

 tions through the mountains and I was travelling every month except February I did not find the 

 snow at any point deeper than fifteen inches, and this was on the summits of the Snake river 

 mountains on the south, in December and January, and the summits of the main divide of the 

 Rocky range in March. Though, I must say, I crossed at the most favorable points of the two 

 ranges, I am convinced that at other points the snow fell to much greater depths ; but, of course, 

 at points never travelled in the winter season. 



The points I refer to are the passes which I deem practicable for travelling with horses at all 

 seasons, even mid-winter. 



If the results of last winter are taken as data, I consider the problem of the snows of the 

 mountains solved. Still I deem it essentially necessary, in view of the great interests depending 

 upon this important problem, that further and minute observations should be made at different 

 points in the mountains. I might suggest, in addition to the St. Mary s valley, the Coeur d Alene 

 mission, the Upper Pend d Oreille mission, the Spokane prairie, at the ranche of Messrs. Owen 

 and Gibson, and also at Forts Benton and Wall ah -Wallah. The latter is not essentially neces 

 sary, but would afford a great facility and means of comparison with points in the mountains. A 

 thermometer, with a register, might be kept at Mr. Craig s, a man of sufficient intelligence, and 

 who, I have no doubt, would feel an interest in the matter ; together with the different Indian 

 agencies that may hereafter be established throughout the territory east of the Cascade range of 

 mountains. Having reported to you several times on the character of the winter and snows, I 

 deem any further details unnecessary. 



With respect, your obedient servant, 



J. MULLAN, 



Lieutenant U. S. Army. 



Governor ISAAC I. STEVENS. 



H/ 



