810 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE .TERRITORIES. 



until Marcb, during which month more fell than in all the rest of the 

 winter, and the minimum temperature was — 27°. Stock did well enough 

 without any feed daring this winter. 



The latter half of the winter of 1865-66 was quite severe, snow lying- 

 in the valleys, while the lowest temperature was — 34°. ]So stock died, 

 however, although none were fed. 



The winter of 1866-'67 was very mild until the 24th of December, 

 with no snow, but from this time until April it was the worst winter 

 ever known in the Territory. Snow fell to a considerable depth in all 

 the valleys, and was accompanied by a very long spell of continued 

 cold, varying —10° to — 32°. The month of March, in particular, was 

 absolutely terrific, on twenty-eight out of thirty-one mornings the tem- 

 l^erature being below zero, being, I believe, without precedent in any 

 other country. Yet, strange and almost incredible as it may appear, 

 scarcely any cattle died, although few of them had any feed or any 

 shelter other than the willows along the streams. No horses died, 

 although they, too, had to subsist on the range all winter. 



The winter of 1867-'68 was comparatively mild, with but little snow; 

 coldest day, — 30° ; no sulfering among stock ; grass abundant and not 

 covered by snow ; no sleighing in Deer Lodge at any time during the 

 winter : valley dry and dusty ; the same being the case in nearly all 

 parts of the Territory. 



The winter of 1868-'69, as those of 1857-'58 and 1862-'63, was very 

 mild, being almost no winter at all, when the latitude and altitude are 

 taken into consideration. JSTo snow of any consequence. 



The winter of 1869-'70 was quite mild, with little snow in the valleys, 

 and little hay was used. 



The winter of 1870-'71 was also open and pleasant. Stock kept in 

 g >od condition on the range. 



The winter of 1871-'72 was a very severe one, commencing with a 

 terrific storm of wind and snow on the 23d of November. The greatest 

 depth of snow in Deer Lodge at any time was 12 inches. The depth, 

 however, on the mountains was very great. The loss in cattle could not, 

 however, have exceeded 2 per cent, of the number in the Territory, for 

 a large part of the hay-crops of the three i^revious years was on hand. 

 Hence there was but little suffering among stock, except in a few local- 

 ities and among herds of Texas cattle driven in during rhe fall, which, 

 being thin in flesh and not accustomed to snow and cold weather, suf- 

 fered severely. 



By using a little care and foresight in preserving the hay and straw 

 that can be accumulated with but little labor and expense during the 

 mild winters, all danger of loss of stock during severe seasons will be 

 avoided. 



It seems that our hard winters come exactly five years apart; for 

 instance, those of 1861-'62, lS67-'68, and 1871-'72 were all severe, while 

 the intermediate ones were all very mild. 



The snow-fall at Deer Lodge (latitude about 46° 27'; altitude above 

 sea, 4,768 feet) for the last five years has been as follows : 



In the winter of 1867-'68, 20^ inches, in seventeen storms, not including 

 what melted as it fell. Greatest depth at any one time, 2J inches. In 

 the winter of 1868-69, 16f inches, in fourteen storms. Greatest depth, 

 2 inches. In the winter of 1869-'70, 29j-^^ inches, in twenty-six storms. 

 Greatest depth at any time, 4 inches, and that for a few days only. In 

 the winter of 1870-'71, 45^^^^^ inches, in forty-seven storms. Greatest 

 depth at any time, 3 inches. In the winter of 1871-'72, 86j-Yo inches, in 

 forty-eight storms. Greatest de})th at any time, 12 inches. 



