USA > Iowa > Jones County > The history of Jones County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens history of the Northwest, history of Iowa > Part 47
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A thunder-storm occurred August 28, 1879. It was the most terrific storm of the kind experienced at Monticello during the last decade. It commenced a few minutes before midnight, and lasted for five hours. and during the whole of this time there was an incessant roar of the heaviest of thander. one peal fol- lowing another in such rapid succession that there was one continual crash of thunder, and the lightning was one continual flash of electric light. The whole town was illuminated brighter than the noonday sun. At the close of the storm three inches of water was measured in the rain-gauge. With one excep- tion. this is the greatest rain-fall known in years. No very serious damage was done, neither by the electricity nor the water. in Monticello. A large shade-tree in front of H. H. Monroe's residence on North Cedar street was struck by the lightning : also Frank Whittemore's dwelling near by, and sev- eral telegraph poles in the south part of town and a dozen north of town. The telegraph office, in the Union Depot, was more or less damaged. Mr. Dicker- son's house, two miles east of town, was struck and slightly damaged. The steeple of the Springer Memorial Church, Mr. Dirk's barn and C. E. Marvin's Cres- cent Creamery were struck and slightly damaged. "Mr. Curtis Stone lost a stack of hay, just east of town. Mr. T. H. Bowen lost a large barn and con- tents, at Sand Springs, and a cow belonging to Mr. Lawrence, of Wayne Town- ship, four miles south of Monticello, was killed. The water burst Mr. Suhr's eistern in his new block on First street, and flooded his cellar. The water washed
410
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
out the newly packed-in dirt from the water-works trenches, filled up all the cis- terns and not a few wells in town.
MONTHLY AND ANNUAL QUANTITY OF RAIN AND SNOW REDUCED TO WATER IN INCHES. -
YEARS.
January.
February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
Angust.
September.
October.
November.
December
'Total
1854
.50 1.90 1.35; 1.84 5.81
.87
2.07| 3.10 1.42 3.75
.83
.72
24.10
1855
2.71 1.87 2.92; 3.60 8.15 4.59 3.42; 4.75 2.15 3.91 3,21: 3.79
40.0;
1856.
.91 3.97
.77 2.86 4.15 2.76 2.97| 1.17 2.67 4.97 4.21' 6.99, 38.40
1857
1.16. 4.22 1.40 3.79 2.18
.74 3.97 4.82 1.07 1.18 2.84 2.65 30.02
1958.
1.37 2.32 2.31 2.16 7.97 6.63 7.16
4.18 6.21 5.07 4.42 2.27 52.07
1859.
1.31 1.29, 4.96, 2.71 6.62 4.92 S.10
1.66 1.73 1.07 1.47 1.47 32.39
1860.
1.23: 1.16 1.23, 2.08 2.11' 4.21
4.72 2.98 3.14 1.25 2.83 5.96 32.90
1861
1.16 2.74 2.65 4.16 2.15 1.25 1.85
3.95 6.79 5.77 2.25 2.36 37.05
1862
1.25 1.65 4.71 5.78 4.15 6.26
4.35
6.9% 6.85 3.08 3.72 1.27 50.05 3.9% 2.10 5.35. 5.12
1863.
2.85; 2.3; 1.97
.63 3.27 1.18 1.15
2.37
1.17 2.55: 2.57 1.85 25.83
1865.
.29 2.28 3.50; 5.44
.84 9.02 4.35
2.78 5.62 2.80
.12 1.00, 38.04
1866
3.77 1.02
1.32 2.67 3.16 4.00 5.63
8.20 3.70 3.21 1.45 2-15 40.31
1867
1.25 3.46 1.35 1.25 4.6; 1.32 4.30; 3.37 2.1> 1.15
.90 .65: 30.85
1808
.30'
.55 4.02 2.78 4.59 3.75 2.90 1.70 6.72
.65 2.05 1.58 90.78
1869
1.71| 1.13
.07
1.90 5.55 6.05 8.31| 6.41 2.75
1.35 2.65 2.25: 40.13 1.60 5.25 3.65 3.95 1.55 1.61; 1.54 29.97
1871
2.70 3.65; 4-11| 1.66 1.29 3.18 1.24 2.51
3.11| 4.05 3-32 31.12 .43 1.88 -931 32.87
1873
2.50 2.52 2.68 2.97 4.07 4.45 1.70' 1.32
.81 3.03 2.78 2-83 31.72
18:4
3.2. 2.50 1.70 1.78
1.70 8.16
.60 1.81 6.26 1.18 3.45 3-22 29.75
1875
1.61: 1.58,
.70 2.72 3.08 4.92 5.34 2.37 2.95 1.31
.63 2.95, 29.56
1876.
2.29 1.88 4.00 2.83 4.75 7.00 10.45 5.74 8.02
1.21 2.64
59.30
1877
2.10
.32 6.54 3.40 3.70 8.74 2.23 6.75 1.47 6.21 3.84 2.67. 47.97
1878
.48 1.35 2.94, 2.79 5.96' 5.02 2.16 3.07 6.30 3.82 .66 1.14: 35.09
1879
.51
1.21: 1.71| 1.08 3.49| 5.30 8.66 6.94 3.63.
.$3; 5.29
The following table shows the monthly value of rain and melted snow reduced to water in inches and hundredths. number of days with thunder and lightning, foggy and hazy, for the year 1879 :
1879.
Number of Days
Snow.
Number of Days
Nutuber of Days
of Thunder and
Lightning.
Number of Days Foggy.
Number of Days lizzy.
January
51
0 :
4.10
3
0
0
February
1.221
6.50
5
0
1 |
3
March
1.71
6.25
3
2
3
April
1.08
1
=
0
May
3.49
8
0
11
1
June
5,50
#
0
0
1
. July
8.66
0
7
1
0
August
6.91
10
0
September
3.63
0
(
5
=
5
October
.93
3
0
0
1
0
10
November
5.29
1
1.00
1
1
10
December
Annual.
1.35 1.31
3.00
1.05 4.11
1872
.90
.92 2.62| 2.63 3 47 4.79 3.63, 7.05 4.12
6.05| 26.02
1864
2.48; 1.56' 2.18 1.14 2.42 2.57 3.29
1870.
Rain.
Ruiny,
Snowy.
0
0
5
A Me Livinis
413
F
MONTICELLO METEOROLOGY, JONES COUNTY, IOWA.
Monthly and Annual Maximum, Minimum and Mean Temperature.
Observations were made at the hours of 7 A. M., and 2 and 9 P. M.
January. | February. March.
April
May.
June.
July.
Angust.
Ortoher.
Now
Maximum.
Minimum.
Maximumi.
Minimum.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Mean.
18,14
44 -18 1G
1 -17 28
10 11
1153
96: 41.70
100 49.76
=
2157
770 1039
100 -18 50 7
62-8 21
10 -12 19
0,31
96 3058
0052 73
12.70
96' 3455
>1 21 19
57 7.39
57-16 20
99 -16 46. 1
18,17
11-92 G.5 50 -12 28
62 10.30
175 12 38
87 2150
94 19 74
197 12 69
75. 20,50
-731
46-128:
1 40-15 1
91,-16 44.9
18 -22 13. 1 52 -12 21 47 20 44.1 78 18 48.5.69 2961.2'
>6 31 60.5
921870.5 92 4148.1 78 33,50 2 78 11 10,5 70 13 41,5 38 -21 8.1
82, 36 69.1178. 3055.143 -330
:39-11 13.5 90-20 15 9
38 -20 9.2 58 -10 24.5.54
7.32
7 2350.1 84 3057.11
90 17 G8.2
91 46 67.5 98 17 77.4
78
45,61.2 77. 30 53.1 57 232
360-1031.1
98 -20 45.5
28 4.6.11 -97 9.7 54
7:32
VGG 2345. 1 88 36,62.27
94 5372. 1 88 53 71
80 4063 (82 2050
2 0 139 16-1121.4 % &## 4. 91848
1KIM
11 .08 8. 1 16 18 11. 1: 56
2 20.2 78 28 53.4 85 29 57.8
95,58 75 95. 53,71
:100.1 07 213 800 028.4 52-29 17.5 96 29 45. 8
14 -13 11.1 :12 320
->201.1 79 17 15.5 91 39 59.91
90,5 169
9861 66.6 88 51 68.9 91
11 73. 1 79 18 19 64 17 40 5 :14 -25 17.50
91 -25 45.9
1467
10 - 22 07, 8'50 -15 25. 8 17
-2:21.6.70
30 16.8 78. 35,52.4 91:54 71.8,
9259 71.9 92, 48 71.9 Ný
3.77
2151.2168
3:37 3 40 -421 2 : 92-2246 6
1>68
107 -16 11 . 1 67 - 10 28 77
2241.5 90 47,51.2 91 53 69.6
22 17,181 1558.9 87 48 67.21 56 5071.8 90 61 71.6185
4002,6 74 16 40,2 4 10 30,9 88 -121.11 90-2045.3
1870
10-10 18.8 01 -1025.954 329.3'S
26 53.4 90 50 67. 8 102 35 72. 1 101 59 78.2 98 50 70.4 90
50 67.7 52 2651.8 # 1739
20154. 7 62 -11-29.5 12 -18 14.2: 94 -18 47.2
1×72 ..
38 -15 17.4 49 - 15 21.1 51 -6 26.2 86
14 48.2 87. 51 58.2|
88,48 GG.7 0361 71.8 92 4561.4 RX
79: 30 36
02 -1:30.7 16 -6:1.1 96-28 41.4
1874
57 -20 19.1 46 -21 22.2 64 -2 31.9 74
12,39 91 31 62.3 91,46 67.9|
9165071 96 63 72 88 38 61.6 71 2853
92,5170,6 56 1267.686 31 2.5 77 30 15
157 -7,33.5 55 -$31.2
92 -3243.4
1×76.
55 -8 25.7 53 -5 25.9 63
7,28. 4473 21 48, 8) 90: 37 60.9 90,52 69.4
956276.4 91 65 70.3 79 1001.3 72 28 15.9 61 3 31.7 40,-18 11.8
09-15 46 4
1877
15 -20 13 60 13 32.8 59 -2 27.1 74 20 43.4 86 32 69.1 85 10 66
983 55 73.6 89, 14 70. 11 87: 42 63.1 82 21 49.7: 61, 6 32.8 64 17 30.5 , 933 -20 17.6
1×78.
15 -6 26. 1 57 17,34, 6 71 27/45.8 80 33 53.2 82 37 56.6
86,50 67.4 . 97 68 77.2 92 67 70.9, 90 38 61, 2 ,80, 27 49.9 63 21:39.6.44 -10 18.4' 97 -1099,9
1×79
145 -1x 15.7 17-10'22 174 6:37.081 22 53.2 188 37 62.7 90 50 68.9 93 61 76.7 92 61 72.5 2 3758.848522,58.0 70/ 1236.7
A dash thus (-) signifies below zero.
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
YEAR.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Mean.
Maximmin.
Minimum.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Mean.
Mean.
Mean.
10-16 15
102 -21 41.6
) 226.2 50 -16 35. 5 70
82 21 51.5.90 3562.5
92 45 69
91 6673.1 91 4267
80 27,.1; 19'
0,25
159 1036.1 4-1426.3 90-2841.6
1 24.1 1 -1811.2 50 12 31 2 79 2150,5 79 3657,4
86 11 61. 1
42 13 63,2 98: 36 61.3 81
:454.8 89 2050.8 66 18 37,5 53 623.4
91 2:44.6
36 -18 13.3 53,-20 13. 1. 50 0 24.7 89
22 17, 71 90' 32 06.9 87 18 69 7
26; 1.6 02 18 36.4 142 -18 1
1 96 -18 11.9
45 -2022:3 56 -8 21.5 65 -10,28.2 73;
53 -12 22.7 102 -12 14,6
1871
16 -5 21.2 50 - 12 23.1 68 16-17.1 :90
2551.1992 32 11.91 94 16 47 61 91 7070.7 94 4072.1188
3350.185, 2230.7 51 826.6 42-36 14.4 93-36 14.3
1873
38 -2× 11 . 2 50 -20 16. 1 58 -14 28. 7 85 25 46. 1 86: 39 59. 4 94 14 73. 7 | 96 50 7 1.3 96 46 73, 8 94 30 60
[GS. 4 32.2: 51-20 21.4 ) 96-21 40. 8
33 -20: 3.6 35-32 7.5 78'-10 27. 1 82 14 15.2 85| 42 67.5 1 85 42 65.6
10049 76
2061
$1 18 53
5:1
-1-4 -22 18
52 1226
82 18 50 6,90 2152.11
87.1,66.5
90:49,69.1 83, 47:66
Mean.
Mean.
Mean.
December.
Year.
Mean
Mean.
Mean.
MIcan.
102,11 71
17 -29 9.5 ,52 -9 21 5 76 20 14
Mean.
414
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
Time of opening, clusing, and number of days closed of the Maquoketa River.
Earliest and Latest Frost of the season, and days without Frost.
YEARS.
Closed. | Open.
YEARS.
Days Cl'sed.
YEARS.
Date of Date of Last Frost. First Frost
No. of Days Without Frost.
1850
1
1851
May
7
Sept.
16
131
1852
1-53
April
20 Sept.
10
142
1854
Dec. 5 Mar. 12 1855
97 1854
May
22 sept.
20
1230
1855
Dec. 25 April 1 1856
98 1855.
June
13 Sept.
27
105
1856
Dec. 13 Feb. 12 1857
61 1846
May
80 Sept. 20 '
112
1857
Nov. 27 Mar. 13 1858
107 1857
May
21 Sept. 23. 124
1858
Dec. 10 Mar. § 1859
87 1858
May
21
Aug. 28
98
1859.
Dec. & Mar. 3 1×60
85 1859
June
4 Sept.
2
1860
Dec. 12 Mar. 10 1861
87 1860
May
15 Sept.
12
119
1861
Dec. 3 April 1 1802
118 1861
May
16 Sept.
28
134
1862
Dec. 5 Mar. 19 1863
97 1962
June
19 Sept.
25
97
1863
Dec. 6 Mar. 15 1864
99 1863
June
Aug
25
77
1864
Dec. 8 Mar. 19 1865
100 1861.
June
13 Sept
19
07
1865
Dec. 12 Mar. 3 1866
80 1865
May
11 Sept. 80
1866
Dec. 13 Feb. 13 1807
61 1866.
May
17 Sept.
21
126
1867.
Dec. 1 Mar. 3 1868
92 1867
May
26 Sept.
10
100
1868
Dec. 11 Feb. 15 1869
65 1868
May
21 Sept.
13
114
1869
Dec. 31 Feb. 25 1870
56 1869
June
6 Sept.
26
111
1870
Dec. 30 Feb. 10 1871
41 1870.
April
29 Oct.
13
166
1871.
Dec. 6 Feb 229 1×72
54 1>71
May
10 Sept.
21
135
1872
Dec. 10 Mar. 2 1873
81 1872
May
1 Sept.
27 8
11:
1874.
Dec. 14 Feb. 18 1875
65 1874
May
18 Sept. 30
131
1875
Dec. 17 Feb. 13 1876
#25 '1875
May
17 Sept.
11
116
1876.
Dec. 2 Feb. 1 1877
61 1876.
June
21 Sept.
27
97
+1877
Jan. 6Jan. 13 1878
7 1877
June
10 Sept
18
1878.
Dec. 20 Mar. 7 1879
76 1878
June
10 Sept.
11
1879.
Dec.
1879
May
6 Sept.
9
125
MONTHLY AND ANNUAL QUANTITIES OF SNOW IN INCHES.
YEARS
Date of First Amount of October. Snow.
Novem- Decem- ber. ber.
January.
Febru- ary.
March.
April.
May.
Date of Last Fall of Snow.
Total Fall ut Snow.
YEARS.
1854 ....
12
4.00
.90
8.00
-1.50
2.00
97.
19.40
1555
1855 ....
3.00
4.50
.10
9.20
.65
15.25
: 25
1.00
57.50
, 1857
1856 ..
8
1.00
.16
10.50 3.50
2.00
13
17.16
1958
1858 ....
9
10.00
12.00
4.00
2.00
.16
25
14.16
1800
1859 ....
10
1.00
4.00
18.75
:18.25
13.50 1.75
26
50.25
1861
1861 ....
29
.16
2.00
4.50
27.50
5.75 15.75
3.25
6 50 3.50
1862 ....
2.50
6.00
20.00
.75
10.00 7.50
1863 ....
20
1.00
3.00
12.25
2.90
10.97 6.77
5.70
21
42.59
1865
1864 ....
28
4 00
2.60
: 4.62
9.00
14.52 4.98
24
39,62
1-67
1866 ....
27
.05
.30
8.30
13.40
12.50 16.25
1867 ....
11
6.81
3.45
G.SS .75
1
17.89
1868
1868 ..
17
3.61
9,50
19.14
15.58 5.40
1.00
1
54.23
1869 ....
8
16.09
10.65
13.62
.25 15.11
16
55.72
1870
1870 ....
11
1.05
4 00
13.25
.95
.>; 20.33
31
40 45
1×7:
1871
31
14
6.62
8.27
15.09
5.15 5.55
11.25
27
40.05
1873 ..
19
.54
8.00
14.96
15.80 6.50
3.00
25
1
49.05
1875
1874 ....
26
.16
.25
$6.30
2.010)
.32 19.50
1.00
2.00
20
41.08
1877
1876 ....
1
11.62
.25
2.10
2.95
1878 ....
28
.50
......
9.55
4.40
6.50 6.25
21
29.20
1979
*Closed December 17 ; open again December 20 ; closed January 10; ofen again January 17; closed again Janu- ary 20 : open again February 13.
+The river did not freeze over the fall of 1877
...
1
7.25
8.08
17.25
.50 26.00
16 32
187x
1877 ...
€ 20
1.40
6.35
6.75
10.25
11.55
.25
1 3.50
91
13.05
1856
7.50
13.00
14.00
13.00 6.50
20
45.50
1859
1860 .... '
2
59.91
21.75
1569
12
46.75
1×64
1865 ..
...
51.00
.75
5.00
11,50
12
18.12
1871
1873.
Dec. 24 Feb. 25 1874
62 1873
May
13 Sept.
109
1850.
June
11
Sept. 20
1851
102
1832
June
5 Sept. 16
29.59
1576
1875 ..
1872
51.93
1×72
6.00
5.00
1×62
4.50
3.25
1857
147
141
1853.
415
IIISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
The science of Meteorology, as used for observation, and the description and explanation of the phenomena peculiar to the atmosphere of our earth generally, dates back twe !. ty-five or thirty years. The Smithsonian Institution at Washington commenced the collection of data, from volunteer observers, as early as 1849. During the past five years the War Department of the United States Government have taken the matter in hand, and are making rapid pro- gress toward foretelling the rise, progress and course of our American storms.
The following table shows the monthly maximum, minimum and mean temperature, range and temperature of well-water, for the year 1877, to which is added the annual for the past three years:
1877.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Mean.
Range.
Temp. of well-water.
January
45
-20*
13
33
43
February
60
13
1
32.8
47
March.
59
-2
27.1
61
47
April.
74
20
43.4
54
48
May.
86
59.1
54
48
June
85
41
66
14
45
July
93
55
73.6
38
50
August
89
18
70.1
41
49
September
87
42
65.1
45
49
October.
82
49.7
58
48
December.
64
17
39.5
47
48
Annual, 1877
93
-20
47.6
113
17.9
Annual, 1876
95
-18
46.4
113
48.5
Annual, 1875
92
-8
43.4
100
40.4
Annual, 1874
95
-21
46.8
117
45.2
For twenty years
102
-36
45.7
188
47.8
It reached
The temperature, as a whole, has been a trifle above normal. as high as 93 degrees above on the 7th of July, against 95 in 1876, and fell as low as 20 degrees below zero on January 23, against 18 degrees below last year, making a mean temperature for the year of 47.6 degrees, .3 degrees above the normal. The Maquoketa River did not freeze over opposite town during the fall for the first time in twenty-five years. The river opened Feb- ruary Ist, and has remained open for the last eleven months of the year. The last hoar-frost occurred June 10, and the first in the fall on September 18, making 90 days without frost, against 97 days in 1876.
The following table shows the mean direction of the wind. The figures show the number of times each month the wind prevailed in each of the eight car- linal points for the year 1878:
1878.
N. E.
E.
S. E.
s. S. W.
W.
N. W. Calm.
.
January
3
3
1
1
4
5
2
9
1
0 00
February
5
7
?
1
7
5
5
.1
0
April
5
3
1
5
2
1
8
May
0
$
2
1
2
4
3
12
luce
4
5
4
July
1
9
5
?
0
6
2
=- 1
2
Angust 1
0
4
0
3
1
1
4
10
September
1
?
0
5
3
3
10
0
November
1
1
0
6
5
4
1
0
December
1
1
6
3
2
14
Ar Duat
42
20
56
41
47
25
8
1
5
32.8
56
November
+
1
*A dash (-) signifies below zero.
-
1
5
6
3
3
0
March
3
0
3
October.
0
:
-
416
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
The following table shows the monthly value of rain and melted show reduced to water in inches for the year 1877, and the annual value for the past two years :
1877.
Rain in inches.
No. rainy days.
Snow in inches.
No days of snow
January
2.10
1
17.25
5
February
.32
1
.50
1
March.
6.54
2
26.60
8
April
3.40
-
The total amount of rain-fall and melted snow reduced to water, measures 47.97 inches, against 52.30 inches, and was 12.81 inches above the normal- the most precipitation received in any one year for the past twenty-five years. except the years 1858, 1862 and 1876.
The first snow was landed on All Saints' Day, November 1, five days earlier than last year, making 185 days between the last and first snow-storms of the season. The snow for the year amounted to 58.22 inches, the largest share of it was landed in January and March. All the sleighing for the year was enjoyed in those months. It rained on sixty-seven days against seventy- two days in 1876, and snowed on twenty-two days, against twenty-three days in 1876.
The following table shows the mean direction of the wind. The figures show the number of times each month the wind prevailed in each of the eight cardinal points, together with the annual result for the past four .preceding years :
1877.
N.
N. E.
E.
S. E.
S.
S. W.
W.
N. W. Calm
January.
I
2
1
5
2
8
4
8
..
February
2
4
...
7
...
6
1
8
..
March.
2
6
...
5
1
3
...
14
April
1
9
1
13
1
3
2
...
May
1
5
1
5
1
9
1
6
1
July.
...
...
6
3
7
1
6
..
September.
1
3
8
7
6
1
1
3
October
2
6
5
1
9
2
6
...
November
1
3
1
7
4
1
11
...
December.
2
4
1
4
7
6
1
G
...
Annual, 1877.
15
5
82
29
15
77
Annual, 1876.
5
21
1
66
5
114
9
122
23
Annual, 1875.
40
15
23
82
32
38
44
S5
6
Annual, 1874.
37
12
30
93
43
36
13
67
4
Annual, 1873
43
16
36
68
41
33
27
78
..
November
8.84
5
11.62
December.
2.67
6
.25
1
1877
47.97
67
58.22
1876
52.30
72
38.15
23
1875
29.57
61
44.72
For twenty years.
35.16
67
38.64
...
August.
6.75
5
...
September
1.47
3
...
October
6.21
13
2.00
1
May
3.70
7
June.
8.74
11
July
2.23
6
..
5
...
9
1
12
...
3
1
June
8
1
10
2
6
S
August
2
6
...
...
13
...
1
417
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
Southeast has been the prevailing wind-it coming from that direction for eighty-two days during the year. It has thundered or lightened on sixty-three days, against fifty-five days in 1876. It was foggy on sixty-three days against twenty-eight days in 1876, and was hazy on eighteen days, against twelve days in 1876.
The following table shows the mean degrees of temperature for each year since 1854. The month of December, 1853. is added to January and Feb- . ruary, 1854, to make the mean temperature for the winter of 1854.
YEAR.
Winter Spring Summer Months. Months. Months Months. Fall
YEAR.
Winter Spring Summer Fall Months. Months. Months. Months.
1854
24
51.8
78
54.6+ 1867
23.3
41.4
71.8
50 7
1855.
33.6
46 6
70.3
47.6
1868
18.4
49.2
72.6
45.7
1856
16
45.3
73
1869
20.6
44.1
70.21
44.5
1857
16 5
41.8 **
70.3
48 6
1870
21.7
50.1
73.6+
52.5
1858.
30.9
50.0
69.6
48
15,1
22.6
51.0 1
50.1
48.1
1859
16.3
51.9+
60.3
44
1872
17.5
44.2
69.9
45.4
1860.
13.8
48.8
67.2
51.4
1878
14
44.8
78.6+
12.2.
1861
15.7
46.4
70.9
48.7
1874
21.8
44 4
71.3
49 9
1862.
15.1
46.41
69.3
49.3
1875
10.8=
45.9 1
67.9
46
1863
22.3
46.2
63.8+
39.95
1876
27.5
46.0
72
46.3
1864.
15.5
46.8
71.3
44.1
1877
19.2+
43.2
66.9
62.5
1865
19.1
44.8
68.3
54.2
1878
32.4
51.8
71.8
49.9
1866.
15.3
43.7 1
69.9
47.71 1879
18.7
50.9
72.5
51.1
Below we give the amount of snow and rain, including melted snow, and the number of rainy and snowy days during the winter 1876-77. The first snow was landed November 6, 1876, and the last was recorded April 29, 1877, making 174 days between the first and the last snow-storms :
Rain.
Rainy Days. |
Snow.
Snowy Days.
November
1876
2 64
2
7.25
6
December
1876
.77
0
8.08
7
Jaunary
1877
2.10
1
17.25
February
1877
.32
1
.50
1
March
1877
6.54
26.60
8
April
1877
3.40
7
2 00
1
Total
15.77
13
61.68
1875-6
15.98
32
29.53
17
1874-5
12.58
11
49.05
86
1
While we measured 61.68 inches of snow. and distributed all along through six months, we only had thirty-six days good sleighing, and that in the two months of January and March, viz. : from January 9 to the 29th, and from March 7 to the 22d. In the previous winter we did not have enough snow any one day for good sleighing during the whole six months of snowy weather.
It would prove a paying investment in the end for the different State and county agricultural societies to offer liberal premiums for the best meteorologieal records for the preceding year or years. The science is yet in its infancy. It has attracted but little attention until the past twenty or twenty-five years, but just at the present time is receiving a great deal of attention, as it is a very important adjunct to commerce and agriculture. The farmers are not indebted alone to good soil and proper attention for a good erop of farin products on the well-tilled farm, for with the best of attention and care his labor is all for
* Minnitanın. + Maximum. * Mean.
418
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
naught if the weather during the growing season proves unfavorable for the growing crops. Now if the weather for the future could be predicted with any degree of certainty and the knowledge properly disseminated among the farming communities, the farmers would be enabled to put in such seed as would be likely to pay the best for such a season as would be anticipated.
To the farmer, information about storms, and more particularly about rain. is of much greater importance than indications concerning the wind. In hay- ing and harvest time, as well as the time of thrashing or sowing the grain, a knowledge of approaching rain-storms may determine a whole season's crop for good or bad: and information as to severe expected frosts might save farmer ?. horticulturists, florists, nurserymen and persons engaged in raising garden products, a whole year's labor from destruction.
Many times. if it could be known to the farmers and mechanics. even twenty-four hours ahead, what weather might be expected, they could make a great saving in their work on hand and in planning work for the future. An agreed-upon storm signal could be attached to all locomotives that left any city or station, after one had been properly displayed in the place of departure, and be continued until it has been lowered by authority from headquarters. In this manner it could be seen by all interested parties living along the line of the railway.
All of this, and very much more, will eventually be accomplished in the near future by the aid of the telegraph, telephone and the science of meteorol- ogy. By the aid of liberal premiums offered by the several State and county agricultural societies, it will stimulate all persons to a thorough and better knowledge of the science and hasten the day when we all shall have ample time to prepare for all coming storms and consult the morning daily papers for information on the day's anticipation of the coming weather, with that regu- larity and confidence that we now. do for the foreign and domestic news, and the daily fluctuations in the price of farm products. Now, who will move first in this good work and thoroughly test the matter as to its utility and benefit generally to commerce and agriculture.
The following table shows the monthly value of rain and melted snow reduced to water, in inches, for the year 1878:
1878.
Rain in inches.
No. rainy days.
Snow in inches.
No. days of snow.
January
.48
1
2.10
3
Febru ary
1.35
1
2.35
3
March
2.94
April
2.79
11
May.
5.96
13
June.
5.02
12
July
1.16
August
3.07
September
6.30
October.
3.82
.50
1
November
.66
4
Deceather
1.14
9.55
10
Annual
35.69
14.50
17
The total amount of precipitation was 35.69 inches against 47.97 inches in 1877, and only .08 inches above the normal. It rained on 76 days. against 67 days in 1577, and snowed on 17 days, against 22 days in 1877, and there were only 18 days of sleighing during the year.
419
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
The Signal Service of the United States and the Iowa Weather Service have both become fixed institutions of the country, and are both working out wonders. from a meteorological standpoint, for the benefit of the community at large. The former is regularly receiving reports from upward of five hundred lifferent stations and is publishing a daily weather bulletin and record of the weather at 12 o'clock at midnight. and adding an estimate of the weather for the coming day. with an average of ninety per cent of their predictions proving correct. The latter has only eighty-seven different stations in the ninety-nine counties of the State. It has been in successful operation a little over three years, but has been regularly recognized by our State Legislature. they making an appropriation of 82.000, to pay the necessary expense of a central office, and the furnishing of blanks and postage for the different vol- unteer observers.
The following table shows the monthly maximum. minimum and mean tem- perature, range, and temperature of well-water, for the year 1878:
1878.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Mean.
Range
Temp. of well water.
January.
45
-6*
26.1
51
49.
February
57
17
34.6
40
48.
March.
71
27
45.8
44
49.
April.
80
33
53.2
47
49.
May
82
37
56.6
45
49.
June
86
50
67.4
36
50.
July.
97
58
77.2
39
51.
August ..
92
57
70.9
35
50.
Septe ober.
80
27
49.9
53
50.
November.
63
21
38.6
42
50.
December
44
-10*
18.4
50.
Annual.
-10%
49.9
107
!
49.5
1
1
The temperature for 1878, as a whole, has been above the normal. The highest temperature reached for the year was 97 degrees, July 16. against 93 degrees last year. The lowest temperature reached was 10 degrees below zero on December 23. against 20 degrees below zero last year, making a mean temperature for the year of 49.9 degrees. 3.81 degrees above the normal. The Maquoketa River was open on January 13. after being frozen over only seven days, and was closed again December 20. after being open for 341 days. The last hoar-frost was June 10, and the first of the season was September 11. making 92 days without frost, against 09 days in 1877.
TORNADO AT MONTICELLO.
The people of Monticello will have occasion to date back to Tuesday, Oeto- ber 8, 1878, for the next two generations at the least. It was general election day for State. county and township officers, and, just as the town elock in the schoolhouse tower indicated 5:30 in the afternoon. a destructive tornado struck the southwestern portion of the town, and. passing off in a northeasterly direction. totally destroyed ten dwelling-houses, two churches, nine barns and stables and one icehouse, and more or less damaging forty-two other buildings. The day opened with the temperature 55° at 7 A. M., mmbns clouds and a fresh breeze from the south, with a little sprinkling of ram at 10 A. M., and also agam at noon. The temperature at noon was 73º, and there were nimbus clouds and a gentle breeze from the east. The temperature remained at 732 up to and
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