THE WEATHER 



131 



STe&t mountains, ribbed with veins of gold, silver and copper and crowned with 

 majestic forests, are but gigantic framework in which are set great picture valleys, 

 bench lands and foothills, fertile as the Valley of the Nile, and which have never 

 yet refused to yield bounteous harvests when touched by the hand of industry and 

 nourished with water." 



Randall J. Condon, superintendent of the public schools of Cincinnati, 

 Ohio, who for some years resided in Helena, has written for a geography 

 used in the public schools, a brief but coinprehensive description of Montana. 

 From personal knowledge, he discusses the climate as follows : 



"It is doubtful if there is another state in the Union where the climate, taken 

 the year round, is so delightful as that of Montana. Its northern latitude is more 

 than offset by the mild westerly winds, which temper the climate of the mountains 

 and plains and yet do not bring excessive moisture. 



"Fogs are almost unknown, and on the days when the temperature is low there 

 is not that penetrating chill which is felt in the more humid states. 



"As in any extreme northern state, the thermometer occasionally records a 

 low midwinter temperature, but the cold spells are short. "WTiile they remain there 

 is practically no wind; the air is dry and the sunshine clear. The ordinary outdoor 

 occupations may be carried on in winter with little inconvenience. On the other 

 hand, the summer temperatures are never oppressive, and heat prostrations are un- 

 known. The temperature in the middle of the long summer days may rise higher 

 than in the states farther south, but with the coming of night the cold mountain 

 breeze brings a delightful change." 



The following comparison of the monthly and annual mean temperatures 

 of the states of Ohio, New York, Wisconsin and Montana is of interest: 



An- 

 Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 

 55 45 31 24 

 59 48 32 19 

 61 49 37 27 

 65 53 41 31 



The United States weather bureau maintains a station in charge of a 

 section director in Helena, and Mr. R. F. Young, the director in dharge, has 

 very kindly submitted the following tables, together with chart shown below. 



Lines Pass Through Points of Equal Mean January Temperature. 



