CLIMATE. , 303 



orecl by the frost, and vegetation, except the evergreens and grass, had 

 ceased to grow. 



From the equable temperature and pure air, the climate was found to 

 be remarkably healthy. Scarcely any one was sick in the whole command 

 during the time we remained in the Hills. 



The temperature of many springs of water issuing from the Carbonif- 

 erous limestone and the granite and metamorphic rocks in the central and 

 elevated portion of the Hills was found to average 42° Fahrenheit even in 

 midsummer. The springs bursting out among the foothills at the edge of 

 the plains were not tested with a thermometer, but apparently the water 

 was not as cold by several degrees. 



Col. Richard I. Dodge, commanding the escort of the expedition, a 

 close observer of nature, publishes the following article on the climate of the 

 Black Hills, which is so excellect, that I take pleasure in quoting it entire : 



The climate is sufficiently varied to suit the tastes of almost any person or class. 

 We have no knowledge of the winter climate, except from the reports of the miners 

 who built the stockade and passed several months of last winter on French Creek. 

 These unite in commendation. The winter was cold, but clear ; the temperature remark- 

 ably equable. There were no storms of any disagreeable magnitude, and the first serious 

 suow-storm occurred just before they were brought out, in March. 



It is bardly fair to judge even of spring and summer climate by the experiences 

 of a single year, more especially since we were almost continually moving; changing 

 not only our position, but our altitude. If, however, the experiences gained under such 

 circumstances are to be regarded even as approximate tests, I can pronounce the cli- 

 mate of the Black Hills well-nigh perfect. Scarcely a day was too hot; scarcely a 

 uight so damp or cold that we could not sit out and enjoy ourselves around the camp- 

 fire. 



There is no such thing as a hot night. Though extremely susceptible to heat, I 

 slept not a single night in the Hills under less than the equivalent of two blankets, and 

 many times, even in midsummer, I required more. 



I have already mentioned that on the 10th day of June we encountered, in the ele- 

 vated gorge named by Custer " Floral Valley," a sharp snow-storm, alternating with 

 sleet and rain. This valley is more than 6,000 feet above tide-water. On French Creek, 

 at an elevation of 5,800 feet, we had a severe, killing frost on the night of the 10th of 

 August. There is abundant evidence that the season, in these very high altitudes, is 

 too short for an agricultural country. 



For five weeks, from 11th June to July 20, Camp Harney, on French Creek, was 

 the center of operations of our exploring and surveying parties. We had, therefore, a 

 much better knowledge of its climate than of any other portion of the Hills. It is 5,620 

 feet above tide- water. The climate is superb. Though it sometimes felt hot by day 

 and damp and cold by night, the thermometer was never above 78° nor below 54°. ' A 



