USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > Settlement in the West : sketches of Rochester with incidental notices of western New-York > Part 5
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"The climate of this region differs in several respects from that of New-England, and from that of New-York along the Hudson, and, in some parts of the region itself, differs sensibly from that of others," said President Dwight. " What it will ultimately appear to be cannot be determined till a longer time shall have elapsed after the date of its first settlement, and more and more accurate observations shall have been made concerning the subject. There is, so far as my observation has extended, a circuit of seasons in this country, and perhaps in many others, accomplished in periods of from ten to perhaps fifteen years. The period in which most of this tract has been settled, commencing in the year 1791 and terminating with the year 1804, has been distinguished by an almost regular succession of warm seasons. There were but three cold winters, namely, those of 1792, 1798, and 1799. The summers were all warm. What the state of the climate was here during the preceding cold period, from the year 1780 to the year 1790 inclusive, it is impossible to decide .* In the census of 1790 three town- ships only are mentioned west of the German Flats-Whites- town, Chemung, and Chenango ; and these contained at that time but 3427 inhabitants, although they included nearly ev-
* The winter of 1779-80 was, in the Genesee country as on the Atlantic coast, remarkable for its severity. Its great rigour operated with tremendous severity upon the Indians who were suffering from the destruction of their homes and provisions by the army of Sullivan. The " White Woman," whose testimony is frequently quoted in this work, in mentioning some of the privations to which her Indian associ- ates were subjected after the avenging course of the American troops, said in 1823, " The succeeding winter (1779-80) was the most severe that I have witnessed since my remembrance. The snow fell about five feet deep, and remained so for a long time ; and the weather was extremely cold, so much so, indeed, that almost all the game upon which the Indians depended for subsistence perished, and reduced them al- most to a state of starvation through that and three or four succeeding years. When the snow melted in the spring, deer were found dead upon the ground in vast numbers ; and other animals of various descrip- tions perished from the cold also, and were found dead in multitudes. Many of our [Indian] people barely escaped with their lives, and some actually died of hunger and freezing."
47
CLIMATE, SOIL, AND PRODUCTIONS.
ery individual of European extraction. Half a century at least will be necessary to furnish the facts on which such a decision can be correctly founded. Still I am of opinion that the climate of this tract is milder than that of the eastern parts of New-York and New-England which lie in the same latitude. The cause of this peculiar mildness I suppose to be the great lakes ; which, commencing in its vicinity, extend along its whole northern boundary and almost all its west- ern ; and thence, in a western and northwestern direction, almost to the middle of North America. That these lakes do not contribute to render this climate colder, has, I trust, been heretofore satisfactorily evinced; that they make it hotter has never been supposed.
" It has been extensively agreed by modern philosophers that the two great causes of a mild temperature are nearness to the shore and proximity to the level of the ocean. Those countries which border on the ocean are, almost without an exception, warmer than central countries in the same lat- itude ; and those which are little raised above its surface are regularly warmer than such as have a considerable eleva- tion. Mr. Volney, however, with that promptness of deci- sion for which he has long been remarkable, found, as he be- lieved, satisfactory evidence that this opinion is groundless in the climate of the regions bordering on the Lakes Erie and Ontario. This climate he asserts to be milder than that of the shore in the same latitude where it is scarcely raised above the ocean. Yet the tract which enjoys this mild tem- perature is elevated and distant from the sea. The prem- ises here assumed are undoubtedly true, but the conse- quence does not follow. 'The lakes have the same influence here which the ocean has elsewhere. The elevation above them is so small, and the distance from them so short, that the full influence of both advantages is completely felt. Among the proofs that this is a true explanation of the sub- ject, it is only necessary to observe that the southeastern parts of the county of Genesee, the counties of Steuben, 'Tioga, Delaware, and Greene, are sensibly colder than those immediately south of Lake Ontario. It ought perhaps to be observed here, that countries on the eastern side of a conti- nent are regularly colder in winter and hotter in summer than those on the western. 'The reason is obvious. In the tem- perate zones, at least in the northern, the prevailing winds are from the west. Eastern shores, therefore, have their
48
SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
winds chiefly from the land, and western shores enjoy the softer breezes of the ocean. As the winters are mild in the part under consideration, so are the summers. It is not often the fact that people here are willing to sleep without a blanket."
TABLES REFERRED TO IN PAGE 41.
At the suggestion of Professor Dewey, of Rochester, some interesting observations on the temperature of the waters of Ontario were made by Mr. William M'Auslan, the intelligent engineer of the steamboat Traveller, during the passages of that vessel between the City of Rochester and the Canadian shores. It will be seen that they furnish striking illustrations of the theory here maintained.
1837.
May 15.
May 22. May 29.[ June 19.
Aug. 7. Aug. 18.
Sept. 4.
Oct. 16.
Nov. 13.
Water
60
68
58
63
73
73
63
47
44
1
Air
63
66
64
64
73
73
65
50
45
Water
45
46
58
60
70
71
63
52
46
2
Air
63
77
57
65
72
70
64
54
38
Water
39
39
54
58
69
69
60
54
46
3
Air
44
44
55
54
74
78
63
54
36
4
Air
52
40
54
58
72
74
63
53
38
Water
371
38
40
42
64
69
57
54
45
5
Ai
483
41
52
55
71
71
60
56
38
Water
38
38
40-
40
64
68
58
54
45
6
Air
54
393
54
54
72
72
59
59
36
Water
393
38
39
40
65
68
59
53
46
7
Air
55
40
44
50
73
69
59
59
36
Water
40
39
42
66
65
62
52
47
8
Air
54
44
55
73
65
63
57
33
Water
40
40
50
66
63
64
52
46
9
Air
55
45
62
73
64
65
56
32
10
Water
44
42
53
66
66
64
51
47
Air
55
49
63
73
66
65
54
33
Water
52
51
56
63
64
64
52
45
11
Air
54
54
64
72
78
63
54
40
Winds.
S.
N.W.
S.& S.W.
[N.W. &! S.E.
S.W.
S.W. & N.W.
N.W.
N.W.
N.
Mean temperature
70
59
59.3
62.3
74.3
74.0
55.3
46.0 38.6
Diean tempera- ture for 2 pre- ceding days
71.6
57.2
58
59.6
62.5 68.3
56.50 46.6 46.5
Water
373
38
51
55
68
69
58
53
44
W
Thermom. broken.
49
CLIMATE, SOIL, AND PRODUCTIONS.
At the bottom of this table is given the winds for the day of observation, and the mean temperature of that day, and the mean temperature for the two preceding days at Ro- chester.
The first observation was made just within the mouth of the Genesee, on leaving Rochester ; the second observation about half a mile from the mouth of the Genesee, where its waters are well mingled with those of the lake; the nine succeeding were made about every six or seven miles, the last being at the landing at Cobourg, U. C., a place being a little west of north from Rochester, and about sixty miles distant. They were made upon water drawn from about one foot below the surface. It was found, however, by re- peated trials, that the temperature of the water at the sur- face, or at two or three feet below the surface, was not per- ceptibly different.
The gradual change of the temperature of the lake from the shore towards the middle, from spring to September, is an interesting fact. Mr. M'Auslan, who possesses con- siderable scientific knowledge, remarks, too, that the di- rection and strength of wind carries the coldest portion nearer towards the shore in the direction of the wind. In August and September the temperature of the water was mostly the same from shore to shore. In October the water towards the shores had become decidedly cooler than to- wards the middle of the lake. The air on the lake is greatly affected by the temperature of the water, certainly when the water is much the cooler. In October the air and water became of nearly equal temperature, while the differ- ence was considerable during the preceding month. Finally, it is probable, says Professor Dewey, that the current of Niagara river is pretty direct through Lake Ontario, and that the accumulation of ice on Lake Erie, and its being heaped up and continued in the eastern part of that lake, often as late as May, must be in part the cause of the low temperature of the water of Lake Ontario, as shown in the table for the months of May and June.
There is a passage in Professor Griscom's " Year in Eu- rope" which may be quoted as somewhat illustrative of the theory respecting the influence of the American lakes on the temperature of a portion of the surrounding country. If the influence of icebergs is perceptible to such an extent in the air and water of the ocean, the atmospheric effects as-
5
50
· SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
cribed to our inland seas cannot seem exaggerated in the sight of reflecting observers.
" The storm blew over, and the sails were again set be- fore sunrise," says Professor Griscom, in describing his voy- age across the Atlantic. "This being the first day of the week, and the weather having cleared up pleasantly, it was proposed to the passengers assembled on deck that one should read aloud for the benefit of the rest. This being readily assented to, we were proceeding to read a recent sermon of Dr. Chalmers, when a man at the masthead cried out, ' An island of ice on the lee bow.' From the great change we had experienced in the temperature of the air and water, we had reason to expect the existence of floating ice at no great distance, and a good look-out was maintained for it. Mounted on the windlass, I could dis- tinctly see this island, like a white mass in the horizon. In a short time we approached it within a few miles. Its ap- parent height was forty or fifty feet, and its base on the water perhaps three hundred feet in length. It resembled a beautiful hill or prominence covered with snow. Its sides appeared to be perpendicular, so that the imagination could easily transform it into a castle of white marble, with its towers and turrets on the summit. It appeared, as far as we could judge by the eyes, to be immoveable ; but it was no doubt subject to the agitation of the waves. The breaking of the sea against it produced a spray which rose to a great height, and exhibited a splendid appearance. In the course of a few hours five or six other masses appeared, some of which we approached much nearer than the first. There was something of the terrific mixed with the grand in the emotion produced by the sight of these prodigious piles of moving ice, the greater portion of which must lie beneath the surface and be out of sight. Several vessels have been destroyed by running against them in the night. As the moon shone till midnight, and the wind was not high, the captain thought it safe to keep on his course ; but, under different circumstances, he would have taken in sail and lain to. If proper attention were always paid by navigators to the indications of the thermometer, it is probable that all danger from floating ice, at least in the passage between Europe and America, would be entirely avoided. The dimi- nution of temperature, both of the sea and air, in approach- ing those large masses, affords a sufficient warning of their proximity."
51
CLIMATE, SOIL, AND PRODUCTIONS.
Such being the influence of icebergs in the open sea, it may be readily imagined that the effects of the great lakes in resisting congelation and mollifying the summer temper- ature must be very sensibly experienced (as a comparison of our meteorological tables with those kept in different lo- calities abundantly shows) in places situate like Rochester with reference to those fresh water seas.
As an exemplification of the influence of the lakes on the temperature of the lower or northern parts of the Genesee Valley, we may refer to the Meteorological Tables showing the range of the thermometer, barometer, &c., for several years, as noted by Dr. E. S. Marsh, of Rochester. By a comparison with the average temperature in other places in the same or different latitudes, a clearer view of the result, and, consequently, of the climate, may be obtained.
METEOROLOGICAL TABLE, Kept at Rochester for seven years, commencing January 1, 1831.
Synopsis of temperature, weight or pressure of the atmo- sphere, depth of rain and snow, temperature of the earth deduced from that of spring water, &c., &c.
TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR.
11831|1832|1833 1834|1835 1836 1837
Ave. tem. of mo. for 7 ys.
January
23
26.4
31.4
26
30.1 27.6.24.1
26.9
February
23.5
26
26
37.5
22.4
21.7
28.5
26.5
March
41.8
38.6
35.4
38
35.5
29.7
34.4
36.2
April
47.5
47.4 52.5
51
44.8
44.8
41.8
47.1
May
59.7
57.2
62
60.7
59.8
58.5
55.7
59
June
71.6
70.3
62
65.7
65.9
66
65.8
66.7
July
71.3
74
70.9
76
72
72
68.8
72.1
August
71
70.5
68
73.8
68.7
65
67.9
69.2
September
60.9
62.8|
63.5
65
57.7
61.3
61
61.7
October
51.5
52.6
49.5
51.7
53.8
44.4
47.6
50.1
November
38.9
41.5
40.4
40
41.3 38.9
42.6
40.5
December
19.5
34.5
34
30.4
28.5 29.4
32.1
29.7
An. Means
48.4
50.1
49.6 51.3
47.5 46.6
47.5
48.7
Months.
The mean temperature for every day of the seven years, deduced from the above table, is 48.7, and may fairly be considered the true temperature of this locality.
52
SKETCHE OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
It has been observed that the medium of the extremes for the year is a near approximation to the mean temperature of the place of observation. The extremes for the past seven years have been registered, and the subjoined table will show with how much truth the remark may be applied to this place.
Years.
| Months.
Day.
Lowest temperature.
Months.
Day.
Highest temperature.
Medi. of ex.
1831
Feb.
7
4 below 0
June
3
95 above 0
45.5
1832
Jan.
27
6 below 0
June
25
88 above 0
41
1833
Jan.
17
4 above 0
July
21 91 above 0
47.5
1834
Jan.
4
10 above 0
July
9
95 above 0
52.5
1835
Feb.
3
3 below 0
June
11
90 above 0
48.5
1836 Feb.
2
5 below 0
July
19
87 above 0
41
1837
Feb.
13
2 above 0
July
13
88 above 0
45
The extremes of the registers, made at 10 o'clock, fur- nish a medium differing somewhat from the above, and are as follows :
Years.
Lowest temperature at 10 o'clock.
Highest temperature at 10 o'clock.
Medi, of ex.
1831 Feb. 6, A. M. 2 above 0 June 12, A. M. 90 abv. 0
46
1832 Jan. 26, P. M. 4 below 0 June 25, A. M. 88 do.
42
1833
Mar. 2, P. M. 2 above 0 July 24, A. M. 84 do.
43
1834 Jan. 4, P. M. 12 above 0 July 9, A. M. 86 do. 1835 do.
49
Feb. 7, P. M. 4 above 0 July 19, A. M. 83
43.5
1836 Feb. 1, P. M. 2 below 0 July 7, A. M. 82
do.
40
1837|Jan. 2, P. M. 2 below 0 July 1, A. M. 80
do.
39
It will be seen from these tables that the medium of the two extremes for the year differs widely in some instances from the true temperature, and in every year is too much at variance with the actual result to be relied upon.
Our registers have been made at 10 o'clock, morning and evening ; and for the reason that these will in all cases give a mean daily range approximating nearer in the aggregate to observations made every hour, than two made at any other points of time. We have carefully noted, also, sudden and remarkable fluctuations, which are beginning to be quite too common and severe to pass unnoticed, the results of which will be presented on another occasion.
Annexed is shown the temperature of the seasons, begin- ning with the spring of 1831, and a notice of early and late frosts for seven years.
53
CLIMATE, SOIL, AND PRODUCTIONS.
Years.
Spring mo.
Summer mo.|
Fall mo.
Winter mo.
Late Frost.
Early frost.
1831
49.6
71.3
50.4
25.4
May 10
Sept. 30
1832
47.7
71.2
52.3
23.9
May 24
Oct. 15
1833
49.9
66.3
51.2
30.6
April 26
Sept. 10
1834
49.9
71.7
52.2
29.1
May 15
Sept. 28
1835
46.7
68.8
50.9
27.5
May 21
Sept. 29
1836
44.3
67.6
48.2
25.9
May 13
Sept. 29
1837
43.9
67.5
53.7
27.2
May
3
Aug.
4
Average 7 years
47.4
69.2
51.2
27
The frost of August, 1837, was not general in this section, and vegetation in this city was not interrupted until Sep- tember 20, on which night it was more severe.
The temperature of the earth, deduced from that of spring water, it has been clearly demonstrated, differs but slightly from that of the atmosphere. It will, however, be observed, that there is a want of correspondence in periods so short as that of a month, and for reasons obvious enough ; and hence, for a shorter time than one year, these observations can be of little use. There is, however, a popular error, that well or spring water (the terms are used synonymously) is warmer in winter than in the summer, which a reference to the fol- lowing table of registers, made accurately once a month, will correct.
Month.
1831|1832 1833|1834|1835|1836 1837|Average.
January
37
39
35
39
43
48
38
38.4
February
36
37
37
39
40
46
41
38
March
38
38
36
42
40
46
39
39.8
April
42
41
41
45
40
46
41
42.2
May
48
48
50
45
44
45
44
46.2
June
52
50
52
49
51
50
49
50.4
July
58
54
54
55
56
54
54
55
August
60
56
56
59
54
54
59
56.8
September
57
56
55
59
55
58
59
57
October
54
53
55
53
56
54
54
54.1
November
48
49
50
46
52
48
49
48.8
December
40
44
42
41
50
42
44
43.2
Mean for a year
47.5
47
46.9
47.5 48.4 49.9
42.5
47.3
Mean temperature for 7 years, deduced as above, 47.3. Mean temperature for do. by first table, 48.7.
5*
54
SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
The temperature of all large towns is higher than the country about them, or even their immediate vicinity ; owing in summer to the reflection of the sun's rays from many non- absorbing surfaces, and in winter to the existence in a small area of many fires. Hence the discrepance in the result of the observations made in the air and in spring water.
BAROMETRICAL TABLE,
Giving the mean monthly range of the Mercury for seven years.
Month.
1831.|1832. 1833. 1834.[1835.|1836. 1837.1
Average of months.
January
29.45 29.56
29.42
29.67
29.54 29.60 29.43 29.53
February
29.70
29.63 29.51
29.54
29.56 29.63 29.48 29.58
March
29.39
29.44
29.50
29.58
29.59 29.60 29.65 29.53
April
29.38
29.48|
29.54
29.52 29.41
29.62 29.44 29.48
May
29.42
29.51
29.51
29.48 29.50 29.56 29.49 29.49
June
29.53
29.50
29.42
29.38 29.48 29.56 29.43 29.47 29.55 29 48 29.54 29.48 29.50
August
29.61
29.60
29.49 29.50 29.49
29.43 29.54 29.52
Sept.
29.50
29.54
29.54 29.57 29.55
29.61 29.67 29.57
October
29.54
29.50
29.46 29.58 29.52 29.55 29.69 29.56
Nov.
29.44
29.51 29.48 29.37
29.60
29.51 29.59 29.50
Dec.
29.49
29.47
29.56 29.60 29.56 29.60 29.57 29.55
Annual Mean
29.49
29.52 29.49 29.52 29.52 29.56,29.54 29.52
Thus the average weight of the atmosphere in Rochester for the past seven years has been 29.52 inches for every day of that time. The fluctuations observed during the entire period have been less than 2 inches, to wit :
March 9, 1831, lowest range, 28.40
Jan. 13, 1834, highest
do. 30.20-differ. 1.80 inch.
RAIN AND SNOW.
The following tables exhibit the depth of rain in inches for every month of the past seven years ; and also that of snow, measured in every case as soon as it ceased falling.
July
29.49 29.50
29.51
55
CLIMATE, SOIL, AND PRODUCTIONS.
RAIN. 1831|1832 1833|1834|1835|1836 1837
Months.
Average for months.
January
.3
.9
1.4
.3
1.3
.0
.67
February
.5
.4
.5
.8
.5
.38
March
1.3
.8
.1
1.5
.5
.5
3
.78
April
3.8
1.5
1.8
2.2
2.6
3.6
.5
1.85
May
2.8
4.3
6.1
.3
1
5.5
3.5
3.35
June
3.4
1.2
2.6
1.9
4.5
3.6
3.5
2.95
July
5.4
4
3.8
1.8
1.8
2
2
2.97
August
1.2
2
2
1.8
3.5
1.8
3.5
2.25
September
2.4
1.7
1.5
2.1
2.5
2.8
2.3
2.18
October
4.2
2.3
2
3.4
5.4
3
4.4
3.42
November
1.6
2.8
1
1.8
1.5
2.8
3
2
December
2.4
1
.5
,5
1.5
2.5
1.12
Amount
24.4
24.3
22.6
18.1|
25.9 27.1
29.2
24.5
Average depth of rain in one year, 24.5 inches.
BNOW.
Months.
1831|1832|1833|1834|1835|1836|1837
Average for months.
January
15
15
11
13
7
29
16
14.1
February
33
29
35
9
19
16
28
24.1
March
5
9
7
8
16
11
3
8.4
April
2
1
2
9
2
2.2
May
6
4
1.4
September
1
November
3
6
8
2
7
6
8
5.7
December
13
13
13
14
10
9
7
11.2
Amount
77
72
75
52
68
73
62
68.4
Average depth of snow for one year, 68.4 inches.
The amount of water contained in snow can only be as- certained by melting it, and must continually be varied by the temperature when it is falling. We will, however, sup- pose one foot of snow to contain .75 inches water ; this, added to 24.4 inches, the actual amount of rain in one year, presents the following result :
From 68.4 inches snow, 4.27 inches water.
Add annual depth rain, 24.4=28.67 inches.
56
SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
The amount of rain for the different seasons can easily be deduced from the above table. We will only add, that for the three months of October, November, and December, 1837, the amount is 9.9 inches, which is 2.5 more than fell during the same period in any of the seven previous years, and more than one third above the average of the six pre- ceding.
When it is observed that the temperature of Utica is oc- casionally 20° below 0, and of Albany from 20° to 40° be- low (as in January, 1835, when it was said that mercury was frozen in the air in some parts of the city), and the temperature of Rochester for the corresponding time is 20° to 30° warmer, as was verified by observations accurately made, the conclusion is irresistible that the lake operates as an immense heater upon the air in winter, and that our im- munity from such extremes depends in a great degree upon its immediate contiguity.
ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA.
IN connexion with the remarks in the foregoing article upon the effects produced by our inland seas upon the temperature of portions of the surrounding regions, there may be appropriately introduced here some notices of At- mospheric Phenomena resulting from the reflection of the sunlight from those waters. On the latter subject there is, in a late number of the American Journal of Science and the Arts, an essay by Willis Gaylord, marked by the usual characteristics of that sagacious observer and excellent writer, for whose assistance in the preparation of the fore- going statements respecting the " climate, soil, and produc- tions," acknowledgments are rendered with pleasure. Mr. Gaylord is a resident of Otisco, Onondaga county, and is the principal contributor to the columns of the " Genesee Farmer," as well as a correspondent of various publica- tions, including Silliman's " Journal," from which the an- nexed extract is taken. In discussing the " Influence of the great lakes on our autumnal sunsets," Mr. Gaylord ob- serves-
57
CLIMATE, SOIL, AND PRODUCTIONS.
" Foreign tourists speak with rapture of the beautiful dies imprinted by autumn on the foliage of our American forests : our leaves do not fade and fall, all of the same decaying russet hue, but the rich golden yellow of the linden, the bright red of the soft maple, the deep crimson of the sugar maple, the pale yellow of the elm, the brown of the beach, and the dark green of the towering evergreens, are all blended into one splendid picture of a thousand light shades and shadows. To the observer, our autumnal woodlands are gigantic parterres, the flowers and colours arranged in the happiest manner for softened beauty and delightful effect. And when these myriads of tinted leaves have fallen to the earth ; when the squirrel barks from the leafless branches, or rustles among them for the ripened but still clinging brown nuts, the rural wanderer is tempted to throw himself on the beds of leaves accumulated by the wind, and, while he looks through the smoke-tinted atmosphere, half imagines that he is gazing on an ocean of flowers.
" But the claims of our American autumn upon our admi- ration are very far from depending entirely on the rainbow- coloured foliage of our woodlands, unrivalled in beauty though they certainly are ; to these must be added the splen- dours of an autumn sunset, the richness of which, as we are assured, has no parallel in the much-lauded sunsets of the rose-coloured Italian skies. In no part of the United States is this rich garniture of the heavens displayed in so striking a manner as in the valley of the great lakes, and the country immediately east or southeast of them, and this for reasons which will shortly be assigned. 'The most beautiful of these celestial phenomena begin to appear about the first of Sep- tember, sometimes rather earlier, and, with some exceptions, last through the months of September and October, unless interrupted by the atmospheric changes consequent on our equinoctial storms, and gradually fade away in November with the Indian summer and the southern declination of the sun. Not every cloudless sunset during this time, even in the most favoured sections, is graced with these splendours ; there seems to be a peculiar state of the atmosphere neces- sary to exhibit these beautiful reflections, which, however often witnessed, must excite the admiration of all who view them, and are prepared to appreciate their surprising rich- ness.
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