THE CLIMATOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES. 



With especial reference to the difference existing between the climate of the 



Pacific slope and that of the country lying between the Rocky 



mountains and the Atlantic coast. 1 



[From a lecture delivered by FRA.NK R. KIMBALL in the rooms of the Essex 

 Institute, January 18, 1886.] 



THIS subject, owing to its comprehensiveness, can be 

 treated only in a superficial way. The details and the 

 differences existing between minor districts must be 

 omitted. These of necessity would be included in a dis- 

 course devoted to the consideration of climate in regard 

 to health, but in the present case we shall merely examine 

 the chief characteristics from a meteorological point of 

 view. The climate of a country has a greater influence 

 upon the health and prosperity of the people than is geu- 

 eralty realized. Man needs sunlight to maintain life, and 

 air to breathe, food to eat and material for clothing. Next 

 in importance to these fundamental necessities comes cli- 

 mate and this is an important element in the progress of 

 mankind. None of the leading nations are situated in the 

 torrid or frigid zones and no nation has advanced to high 

 civilization without the concomitant advantages of a good 

 climate and the foremost nations of to-day are those pos- 



1 In regard to the technical character of the following it should be stated that, in 

 previous lectures on this subject, the speaker has omitted the elements of meteorol- 

 ogy, considering at greater length kindred topics including a more detailed descrip- 

 tion of the Pacific coast climate; but, HB questions which followed have shown a 

 misunderstanding of important facts, it was thought best to devote a portion to 

 these matters even though this should be done at the expense of a more popular 

 treatment of the subject. 



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