THE CLIMATE OF CECIL COUNTY 



BY 



OLIVER L. FASSIG 



Introduction. 



Cecil county, the extreme northeast section of the State of Mary- 

 land, lies within two distinct physiographic provinces: The northern 

 portion, from the mouth of the Susquehanna river eastward to the 

 Delaware line and northward to the Pennsylvania line falls within 

 the eastern division of the Piedmont Plateau Province. Its surface 

 is mostly gently undulating, with a general elevation of about 300 

 feet, but rising in places to 450 or 500 feet. The southern portion 

 lies within the Coastal Plain Province. By way of Elk and Sassafras 

 rivers and other estuaries of the Chesapeake, tide waters are carried 

 to nearly every portion of this area. The general level of this 

 southern portion is about 50 feet, while its greatest elevations seldom 

 exceed 200 feet. Systematic observations of weather conditions re- 

 ceived attention at a comparatively early date in Cecil county, but 

 the earlier records are of short duration. At intervals in 1843 and 

 1844 observations were made by Mr. F. Finch at Elkton at four 

 stated hours daily, namely, at sunrise, 9 A. M., 3 P. M., and 9 P. M., 

 probably under the direction of the Franklin Institute of Philadel- 

 phia. Soon after the organization of the Smithsonian Institution in 

 1847 many stations were established throughout the United States 

 for the study of climatic conditions. The records show that observa- 

 tions were made under the direction of this Institution at Port De- 

 posit, during the months of June and July, 1850, the observer being 

 Mr. Henry W. Thorpe. In 1865 a second station was established at 

 Woodlawn by Mr. James O. McCormick, to whom we are indebted 

 for the most complete record of the weather made within the limits 



