TEMPERATURE OP PRAIRIE STATES. 249 



subject, the thermometrical observations already taken do 

 not authorize the conclusion that the difference is so great. I 

 have picked out the following examples of the annual mean 

 heat at such points in Texas, on the Mississippi, and on the 

 Pacific, as came nearest to the regions I wished to compare in 

 this particular, from the multifarious tables contained in the 

 Report of "The Results of Meteorological Observations 

 made under the direction of the United States Patent Office 

 and the Smithsonian Institution from 1854 to 1859 inclusive."* 



Latitude. 1854. 1855. 1856. 1857. 1858. 1859. 



New Braunfols,t Texas, 29.42 / 64.61 68.85 70.07 



Austin, Texas, 30.20 64.43 65.84 64.64 65.85 67.53 68.08 



San Francisco, California, 38.00 55.28 57.43 56.23 



Sacramento, California, 38.34 59.51 60.03 60.01 59.58 58.74 



St. Louis, Missouri, 38.37 58.37 53.42 53.42 56.69 55.45 



Ottawa, Illinois, 41.20 51.69 48.94 48.15 45.88 49.01 48.37 



It will be observed that while the mean heat of St. Louis 

 and Sacramento, in almost identically the same latitude, varies, 

 on the average, 4.22 degrees, there is a much greater propor- 

 tionable difference in the mean heat of Sacramento and 

 Ottawa, which for six years averages 11.02 deg. J These 

 facts render it obvious that the seasons of pasturage must be 

 materially longer on our Pacific coast, than in corresponding 

 latitudes on the Mississippi. 



In all the newer States there are lands covered by natural 

 pastures which are exceedingly cheap. In most of them it can 

 be purchased in any quantities for $1.25 an acre. In the older 

 prairie States, like Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin, desirable 

 tracts would cost considerably more but still very greatly 

 less than grazing lands of half their fertility in the old North 

 and North-eastern States. 



But, in reality, it is not necessary for the wool grower now, 

 nor will it be for many years to come in most of the above 

 States either to own or pay rent on a great proportion of the 

 lands depastured by his sheep. We have no redundant popu- 

 lation ready to take up with lands which are destitute of any 

 of the essential requisites demanded by the settler. The 

 comparative lack of wood and of running water in the in- 

 terior of these vast western plains, prevents them from being 



* Published by order of the Senate, 1861. 



t New Braunfels is about twenty-five miles by a direct line north-east of San 

 Antonio, and lies on the southern border of the sheep growing region proper, of 

 Western Texas. It was rather the head-quarters of Mr. G. W. Kendall's difl'erent 

 Sheep establishments. 



% To facilitate other comparisons I will here give the mean temperature of several 

 Of the points named in the table : Austin, 66.39 mean of 6 years ; Sacramento, 59.09 

 jiean of 6 years ; St. Louis, 55.47 mean of 5 years ; Ottawa, 48.67 mean of 6 years. 

 11* 



