USA > Washington > Spokane County > An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington > Part 16
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Mayor for 1894, 1895. 1896, H. N. Belt.
The officers for 1895 were as follows : Mayor, H. N. Belt ; comptroller. George .\. Liebes : treasurer, A. G. Ansell: corporation counsel. James Dawson; judge municipal court, Eugene Miller ; clerk municipal court. E. J. Fellowes ; chief of police. P. Mertz : chief of the fire department. F. B. Winebrenner: city clerk. William Morse : stenographer, Mrs. Rose M. Denny : city engineer. U. B. Hough : superintendent of streets, W. R. Marvin; su- perintendent of water works. W. W. Wither- spoon ; board of health, A. F. Macleod, M. D., H. G. Mauzey, M. D .. D. Mason, M. D .: health officer. W. W. Potter. M. D. City commissioners : President board of public works, W. W. Witherspoon : president board . of police commissioners, W. R. Marvin : pres-
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
ident board of fire commissioners, Frank Kizer. Councilmen : President of the council, J. F. Spiger : First ward, Lewis Thompson, J. F. Spiger; Second ward, R. S. Oakley: E. Ber- trand; Third ward, J. M. Comstock: J. C. Byrd; Fourth ward, O. H. Anger. O. G. Cooper; Fifth ward, J. A. Long, Walter France.
The officers for 1896 were as follows : Mayor, H. N. Belt ; comptroller, George A. Liebes : treasurer. A. G. Ansell: corporation counsel, W. H. Plummer ; judge municipal court, Eugene Miller ; clerk municipal court, E. J. Fellowes ; chief of police, William Haw- thorne; chief of fire department. F. B. Wine- brenner; city clerk. L. Frank Boyd; stenog- rapher, Mrs. Rose M. Denny ; city engineer, Otto A. Weile; superintendent of streets, W. H. Wiscombe; superintendent of water works, Frank Kizer; board of health, .A. F. Macleod, M. D., E. D. Olmstead, M. D .. D. Mason, M. D .; health officer, W. W. Potter, M. D. City commissioners : President board of public works, Frank Kizer ; president board of police commissioners, W. H. Wiscombe ; president board of fire commissioners, AA. F. Gill. Councilmen : President of the council, J. M. Comstock ; First ward, Lewis Thompson, C. H. Bungay ; Second ward, R. S. Oakley, D. K. Oliver; Third ward, J. M. Comstock. J. A. Schiller; Fourth ward, O. H. Anger, W. H. Acuff; Fifth ward, J. A. Long, C. B. Dunning.
The following were the officers for 1897: Mayor, E. D. Olmstead; comptroller, George A. Liebes ; treasurer, W. S. McCrea ; corpora- tion counsel, A. G. Avery; judge municipal court, Eugene Miller ; clerk municipal court, A. S. Dibble; chief of police, Joel F. Warren ; chief of fire department, A. 11. Myers ; city clerk. L. Frank Boyd ; official stenographer, Mrs. Rose M. Denny; city engineer. Otto . 1. Weile: superintendent of streets, C. R. Brown; superintendent of water works, F. P. Wey- mouth; board of health, C. S. Penfield, M. D.,
G. W. Libby, M. D., E. L. Kimball. M. D .; health officer. W. W. Potter, M. D. : city libra- rian, Miss Emma Driscoll: City commis- sioners : President board of public works. F. P. Weymouth : president of board of police. C. R. Burns; president of the board of fire commissioners. J. T. MacLean. Councilmen : President of the council, J. M. Comstock; First ward, C. S. Rutter, C. H. Bungay ; Sec- ond ward, J. N. Glover, D. K. Oliver; Third ward, J. M. Comstock, J. A. Schiller; Fourth ward, J. D. Hinkle, W. H. Acuff; Fifth ward, J. S. Phillips, C. B. Dunning.
The following are the city officials for 1899-1900: Mayor. J. M. Comstock: comp- troller, Victor M. Smith; treasurer. J. J. White; city clerk, L. F. Boyd ; official stenog- rapher, Mrs. Rose M. Denny: corporation counsel, A. G. Avery: police justice, H. L. Kennan; chief of police. W. W. Witherspoon: chief of fire department, A. H. Myers : city en- gineer, Otto .\. Weile; health officer. Dr. II. W. Potter. City Commissioners : President board of commissioners, W. K. Holmes : pres- ident board of public works and superintendent of water works F. P. Weymouth; president board of police commissioners, street commis- sioner and building inspector. W .K. Holmes ; president board of fire commissioners, purchas- ing agent and secretary of commissioners, Robert E. Clark. Weymouth will serve one year from May, 1899: Holmes two years, and Clark three years. Deputies and assistants : Deputy comptroller. R. B. Glass ; deputy treas- urer, Thomas H. Jones. Jr. : deputy city clerk. Mrs. Rose M. Denny; assistant corporation counsel, F. M. Dudley; assistant corporation counsel, T. D. Rockwell : assistant corporation counsel (stenographer ), James O. Cull; as- sistant city engineer. E. L. Gerrish: registrar water office. E. J. Fellowes; assistant regis- trar water office, 11. C. Lynde : chief engineer water works, R. E. Melline : engineer city hall and boiler inspector, Charles J. Vedder: clerk of police court, Fred S. Kom: stenographer
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
city commissioners, Mrs. Kathryn Brown : janitor city hall. I. A. Oien; janitor city hall, J. C. Krowell.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
During the early history of the city the duty of preserving peace and order was thrown upon the marshal. Mr. E. B. Hyde proved himself an efficient officer in that capacity.
The amended charter provided for a chief of police, to be elected by the people, and the first elected one was Joel F. Warren, He was followed by M. G. Harbord. Under the new charter the office of chief of police became an appointive one, and the first one to fill it under the new regime was Peter Mertz.
An ordinance passed February 4, 1896, says :
The City of Spokane does ordain as fol- lows :
The police force of the City of Spokane shall consist of a chief of police, a captain of police and twenty men.
Two of said policemen shall act as jailers, one during the night and one during the day, and shall be required to be on duty twelve hours, and in addition to their duties as jailers shall also perform the duties now done by ser- geants of police : the chief of police and cap- tain of police shall be required to work twelve hours as a day's work, and must render to the jailers such assistance as may be needed to en- able said jailers to discharge their duties; the chief of police shall also perform the duties now performed by the license inspector ; pro- vided, the board of police shall have power to appoint three regular specials to take the place of policemen who may be absent and to act in cases when it is necessary to have an extra po- liceman, said regular specials to be paid only for actual time employed.
As amended by ordinance No. A646, passed May 12, 1896.
In cases of emergency the mayor may ap- point such special policemen as he may deeni
necessary, which appointment must be in writ- ing and filed in the office of the city clerk.
Chief Mertz was succeeded by William Hawthorne, and he by J. F. Warren.
The present officers of the police depart- mient, with headquarters at city hall. are: Chief, W. W. Witherspoon; Captain, James Coverly; Desk Sergeant, George H. Hollway; Patrol Sergeant, John T. Sullivan. The Chief of Police is also license inspector. Day Jailor, William C. Smith, 3. Night Jailor, B. D. Brockman, I. Detectives, D. D. McPhee, 8; Alexander McDonald, 15; E. J. Caffrey, 24. Drivers patrol wagon, W. H. Lewis, W. D. Freeman. Patrolmen, Regular, J. B. Dunn. 2: H. C. Roff, 4 : William Shannon, 5 : D. J. Shee- han, 6: R. A. Wilson, 7 : D. J. McMillan, 9: W. D. Nelson, 10; T. M. Lothroy, 11 : J. F. Mc- Dermott, 12; William Weir. 13: T. D. Hern- don, 14: J. D. Brusch, 16. Patrolmen, Regu- lar Special, R. T. Briley. 19: A. L. Smith, 20: J. W. Willis, 21 ; James C. Stuart, 22: William L. Camp, 23 : Paul L. Buchholz, 25 : A. H. Fos- ter. 26: P. C. J. Peterson, 27 : Martin J. Burns. 28: II. W. Parrish, 29; G. G. Miles, 30: Alex- ander McInnis, 31; T. H. Casey, 32: H. A. Stotko, 33 : W. R. Fairfield. 34 : C. D. Harmon. 35: J. R. Stoddard. 36: C. F. Walker. J. M. Pike. H. R. Woodard. Bicycle Patrolman, .. Joel S. Hindman. Dog Catcher. Louis Cole- man. Stock Policeman, Walter Lawson, There are forty men on the police force now.
WATER DEPARTMENT.
As early as 1884 a local company under- took to put in a Holly water system. But lack of funds brought the enterprise to a standstill after the pipes were on the ground. In the emergency a number of enterprising and gen- erous citizens came to the rescue and guaran- teed the necessary means to complete the work, which was done. The Echo Mill supplied the power. In the following spring the plant was purchased by the city, and those who had ad- vanced money to complete the system were re-
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
imbursed. The Echo Mill continued to supply the power until the "great fire." After that the pumping house on Cannon Island was built and continued to supply the power until the present water system came into operation.
A city ordinance dated Oct. 4, 1899, says : The City of Spokane Falls does ordain as follows :
Section I. That a department is hereby created for the purpose of the management of the water works of the city, and all matters .appertaining thereto, to be called the Water De- partment of the City of Spokane Falls.
Scc. 2. The officers and employees of said department shall consist of a superintendent of the water department, an engineer, and two as- sistant engineers of the water works, a register and collector of water rates, and such other employees as may be necessary for the efficient working of the said department; which said employees shall be provided for as the neces- sity therefor may arise, by a resolution or ord- inance of the city council.
Scc. 3. The superintendent of the water department shall have full charge, subject to the orders of the city council, of the entire con- structed water system of the city, and shall have control and direction of the officers and em- ployees herein provided for.
Spokane can boast of a first-class water system of its own, which has cost nearly a mil- lion dollars. The supply is taken from the Spokane river at a point three miles above the city. The source of the river is Lake Cœur d'Alene, which is fed by melting snow on the mountains and innumerable springs. The water is clear, pure and almost free from lime. The machinery and pumps are operated by water power of large capacity. In order to secure a sufficient head of water, a dam with massive abutments of granite was constructed. The power created is four thousand eight hun- dred horse-power. Four high pressure pumps are used with a capacity of fourteen and a half million gallons per day. There are fifty
miles of water mains laid, the largest being twenty-four inches, and the smallest six inches. The hydrants number four hundred and forty. and are of the most improved pattern. The present system was completed March 1, 1896, and has been constantly extended from that time to the present with corresponding increase of receipts. In 1899 an additional twenty-four- inch force main was laid from the pumping station to a connection with the distributing systemi on the north side of the river, with such arrangement of cross connection and valves at pumping station that all the pumps can be dis- charged into either main providing a break should occur, practically duplicating the sys- tem. Mr. F. P. Weymouth is the president of the board of public works, which makes him superintendent of water works. He has filled the position since 1889. excepting the years 1895-6. There are three men in charge of the pumping station, three in the office and one outside called lineman.
We submit herewith the superintendent's last year report :
The total cash receipts of the city water system for the year 1899 amounted to ȘIOI,- 915.85.
The ordinary operating expenses of the plant during the year were as follows :
Pay roll $6,742.14
Material 839.56
Total $7,581.70
The ordinary repairs during the year amounted to the following figures :
Pay roll $1,791.41
Material 522.66
Total
$2,314.07
Against the revenues of the system, amounting to more than $100,000, there is charged less than $10,000 for operating ex- penses and repairs.
In addition to the receipts, amounting to $101.915.85, the city has had free of cost all
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
the water that is needed for municipal purposes and in the public school buildings.
"Reckoned on the price charged at Port- land, or what the city would have to pay if the plant were owned by private parties, the water used for municipal purposes would cost the city $25,000,"' said Mr. Weymouth.
The cost of raising the water pipe on How- ard street and putting the street into proper condition for paving was $1,674.88.
A large part of the revenue from the water department has been used in extending the water system about the city. All of the money thus expended will result in increased revenues each year. More than nine miles of new pipe were laid during 1899 at a cost of $83,445.14. The size of the pipe laid was as follows :
Feet.
24-inch ( from the pumping station to the city) 20,362
12-inch 2,278
Io-inch 1,540
8-inch
7,119
6-inch
16,108 4-inch 793
Total
48,200
The total amount of water consumed by the people of Spokane during the year 1899 was 2,427, 132,391 gallons.
The number of gallons pumped into the city system each month of last year was as follows : January
169.365.900 February 167,131,625 March
163,126,315
April
160.895.900 May
208,797,644
June
177,408,089 July
284,457,613
August
260,593,872 September
237,901,763
October
213,002,350
November
191,703,380
December
192,747,940
Total
. 2,427, 132,39I
The interest paid by the city for the year 1899 on the $350,000 issue of water works- bonds amounted to $20,250. And in addition a. $9,000 payment was made on the principal. Each year the payment on the principal will be- increased $1,000 and the interest will be de- creased in the same proportion. $10.000 having been paid within the last two or three weeks as the January payment. The principal has now been reduced to $323,000.
The cost of the pumping station up the river was placed at $888,000 in the inventory last June. The plant is not mortgaged except in an indirect way. The city has pledged the revenues to be derived therefrom to pay the interest and principal on the $350,000 "Frost" issue of warrants, agreeing not to reduce the gross receipts from that department until all the principal and interest shall have been fully paid.
On the two earlier water bond issues, ag- gregating $570,000, the interest is being met annually by general taxation and is paid from the "interest on bonds" fund. The principal of the $70,000 issue will have to be met in 1908. The principal of the $500,000 issue will have to be met in 1911. Provision will be made in two or three years for a sinking fund to meet the principal of these and other gen- eral bond issues.
Superintendent, F. P. Weymouth: regis- trar, E. J. Fellowes ; assistant registrar, H. C. Lynde : chief engineer, R. E. Meline : line- 11:an, A. C. Raymond; assistant lineman, James Liston.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The first one was voluntary and unpaid. As early as July, 1884, a meeting was called for the purpose of devising some means whereby fire apparatus could be obtained for the city. A committee was appointed to ascertain the number of hydrants required in the city. The committee was also requested to inquire re- garding terms for furnishing hose, fire-plugs.
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
and hose carts. On October 1, 1884, took place the first reading of an ordinance amending an ordinance creating a fire department for the City of Spokane Falls. Rescue Hose No. I and Spokane Hose No. 2 were accepted and made a part of the fire department of the City of Spokane Falls. On June 10, 1885, F. M. Dallam was appointed by the mayor chief en- gineer of the Spokane Falls fire department, and was confirmed by the council.
The city council passed an ordinance Au- gust 22. 1893, as follows :
A department of the city government is hereby created and established, to be known as "The Fire Department of the City of Spokane."
Section 2. The officers of said department shall consist of one chief of the fire department and one assistant chief of the fire department, whomay be selected from among the employees of the department, and in such case he shall remain on duty the same as an employee of the department. The department shall have such other officers as may from time to time be pro- vided by ordinance. The chief of the fire de- partment shall be the executive officer of the fire department. He shall devote his exclusive attention to its interests and shall engage in no other business.
Section 3. The employees of said depart- ment shall consist of one chief of the fire de- partment, one assistant chief of the fire depart- ment, four captains five foremen, three engin- eers, three stokers, twelve drivers, ten hose- men, five truckmen and one electrician, who shall remain on duty at all times both day and night, subject to the orders of the chief of the fire department, and who shall sleep at the en- gine and hose houses of the department. Other and further employees may be provided for from time to time by ordinance.
Section 4. It shall be the duty of the board of fire commissioners to assign the employees to duty with the various engines, hose carts and hook and ladder trucks belonging to the city, and he shall keep a book in which shall be
entered the name of each officer and employee, the date and character of his employment, his nationality, age at the time of his employment, whether married or unmarried, and in case of his discharge or discontinuance in service, date and cause thereof. He shall also keep an entry in said book of the duty to which each employee is assigned.
The department at present is well equipped and thoroughly efficient and growing more and more so year by year. It operates a tele- graph and telephone fire alarm system from forty-two boxes. It has twelve thousand feet of hose, twenty-nine horses and harnesses.
Rolling stock .- One second-class Silsby steam fire engine; two third-class Silsby steam fire engines ; one service truck : one Prescott Aerial turntable truck, seventy-five feet: one double eighty-gallon Champion chemical en- gine : one double fifty-gallon Holloway chemi- cal engine; three four-gallon combination chemical and hose; two hose wagons: two chief buggies : one supply wagon ; one old hose in reserve.
The personnel of the fire department is as follows : Headquarters, AAnnex City Hall. northeast corner Howard and Front avenue. .A. H. Myers, chief ; John L. Phillips, assistant chief : Albert F. Thielman, electrician : J. ... Phillips, secretary.
Station No. 1-418 First avenue, H. J. Martin, captain ; William R. Brown, foreman ; M. W. Jones, driver; L. G. Meeks, F. H. Marsh, C. A. DeSpain, T. E. Shannon, E. M. Hooper, truckmen.
Station No. 2-Corner Indiana avenue and Standard, John F. Lindsey. captain : H. .. Traugber, foreman: Carl Partridge, J. E. Moriarity, drivers; E. F. Demmons, F. Thompson. J. R. Demerchant. D. W. Travis. pipemen.
Station No. 3-Monroe, southwest corner Sharp avenue, W. H. Joyce, captain : William Boyle, engineer : J. Goodwin, stoker: Peter. driver of engine; H. C. Gillette, driver
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
of hose wagon; John Lynch and R. M. Mac- Lean, pipemen.
Station No. 4-First avenue, northwest corner Adams, J. R. Yingst, captain; John Crowley, Walter A. Chisholm, drivers; J. C. Bennett. engineer; B. F. Tilsley, stoker; J. F. Grant. J. Trezona, J. F. Downey, W. C. Rus- sell, pipemen.
Station No. 5-Annex City Hall, Howard, northeast corner Front avenue, M. Dolan, cap- tain ; H. A. Mero, foreman hook and ladder company; D. C. Collins, foreman hose com- pany; J. M. Sulivan, R. M. Waller, A. L. Weeks. H. K. Taylor, J. W. Fitzgerald, E. WV. Puckett. truckmen; W. R. Brown, engin- eer; G. T. Sanders, stoker; J. N. Chisholm, T. McMahon, A. J. Cartwright, H. Keenan, J. H. Burton, drivers; H. N. Farr, M. F. Ryan. J. M. Edmison, H. F. Snamiska, Will- iam Schulenberg, pipemen.
In the selection of firemen an effort is made to have various trades represented. There are on the force at present harness makers, wag- onmakers, carpenters, blacksmiths, plumbers, painters, wheelwrights and engineers who are utilized as far as practicable. There are six- ty-three men on the force. The cost of repairs for 1899 was $20.199.35. The charter provides for a "relief fund" connected with the depart- ment whereby the members contribute one dol- lar per month. to be held by the city treasurer. In case of sickness one dollar a day is paid with expenses of nurse and medicines: in ac- cident, two dollars a day and cost of nurse and medicines. and at death. seventy-five dollars. All fines go into this fund and it has accumu- lated to over three thousand dollars.
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
The following report of the city engineer shows the area of the city, and extent of public improvement.
Total area of city in square miles. 20.25
Area of parks in acres 30.27
Length of sewers in miles 11.10
Miles of sewers added during past year .... .74
Miles of sewers reconstructed. .10
Miles of sewers under construction .. .27
Capacity of water supply by direct pressure, in gallons, per day. 14,000,000.00
Miles of water mains in city 47.97
Miles of water mains added during past year 6.45
Miles of water mains relaid. .23
Number of fire hydrants 406
Number of fire hydrants added during the past year. 25
Length of river front suitable for manufactur- ing purposes, in miles. 4.50
Fall of river in a distance of 1.25 miles through the city, in feet. 150.00
Volume of water in Spokane at lowest stage, in cubic feet, per minute. 120,000.00
Length of gas mains, in miles 15.00
Street railway, electrical, in miles 43.76
Electrical power conductors for street rail- way feeders, in miles. 9.00
Electric light, arc conductors, in miles. . 99.00
Electric light, incandescent conductors, in miles. 22.00
Alternating, Edison 7.00
Capacity of electric station, in horse power. . 2,700.00
Elevation of city above sea level. 1,900.00
Brick pavement on cement concrete. 5,280 sq yds
Asphalt pavement on cement concrete .33,600 sq yds
Asphalt pavement on asphalt concrete 374 sq yds
OTTO A. WEILE,
City Engineer.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
The city charter says: "The city council shall select and appoint a medical health officer, who shall be a legally qualified physician, pos- sessed of the requisite knowledge of sanitary science, and of preventative medicine, to look after and superintend all matters pertaining to the health of the city, and who shall be known and styled the health officer, and shall have and exercise such power and perform such duties as shall be prescribed by the ordinances of the city."
The first health officer was Dr. A. S. Campbell, who died in this city over a decade ago. Subsequently the position was filled successively by Drs. Van Zandt. C. M. Raw- lins. J. D. McLean, G. T. Doolittle. The present incumbent, being in office since 1893. is Dr. \V. W. Potter. The department has
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
improved in efficiency from year to year. The board consists of the following officers : Thomas L. Catterson, M. D., president ; . Charles S. Kalb, M. D., Benjamin R. Free- man, M. D., Wallace W. Potter, M. D., sec- retary ; health officer, Wallace W. Potter; sanitary police, George H. Heberling, Edwin B. Hopkinson; plumbing inspector, Edward Riley; bacteriologist, Harry S. Martin, M. D. ; chemist, Edgar B. Van Osdel. A. M.
The last report was the seventh annual one printed, presenting the actual mortality, with enumeration of causes, annual rate per one thousand, sanitary inspection, report of plumbing inspector.
In the report of the board of health for the year 1897. the following valuable meteorolog- ical report was incorporated :
SPOKANE'S CLIMATIC FEATURES.
Considering that Spokane is situated within a short distance of the Canadian line (latitude forty-seven degrees, forty minutes north) at an elevation of one thousand nine hundred and forty-three feet, and near the great Rockies, it has indeed a pleasant climate. To look at the annexed tables giving tempera- ture extremes one would think it a cold and disagreeable climate to live in. Not so. It is, on the other hand, a climate which has the seasons pretty well defined, where the extremes of both summer and winter are endured with less inconvenience and suffering than climates where the temperature extremes are not so widely separated. The mean annual tempera- ture of Spokane is forty-eight degrees. In tracing the isotherm of forty-eight degrees across the continent it passes through the fol- lowing places: from Spokane south through Boise City. Idaho; Montrose, Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado; through North Platte, Nebraska; Des Moines, lowa : Chicago, Ilinois; Kalamazoo and Detroit. Michigan ; Ashtabula, Ohio, and on to the Atlantic, passing through Boston. Thus it
will be seen that our annual mean tempera- ture is the same as these cities so much south of us.
The winter temperatures in Spokane have, with the exception of the winter of 1895-96, gone below zero. During a great cold wave that passed over the Pacific northwest in Jan- uary, 1888, the thermometer registered thirty (legrees below zero. This was a phenomenal storm. Low temperature registered every- where within range of the storm, as it swept all past records before it. In California the observers reported it the coldest in the memory of the oldest settlers. There is a dryness of the atmosphere which robs the low tempera- tures of their horrors. When the thermome- ter sinks below the freezing point it is no- ticed how crisp and pleasant the air is. In summer the temperature seldom reaches the hundred mark, but there are three years in which it has registered one hundred and two (legrees, and but five years out of the sixteen since the weather bureau was established when it reached one hundred. With an altitude such as Spokane has, this temperature cannot amount to much, and even if the thermometer should register one hundred degrees, being a dry atmosphere, the heat is not felt. The temperature that is felt is that called by the weather bureau "sensible temperature." i. e .. the temperature of the wet thermometer, or a thermometer which has the bulb covered with muslin, and having been wetted. is allowed to cool as much as possible by evaporation. On some of the hottest days, when the tem- perature reaches the hundred mark, the sen- sible temperature would only be sixty to ser- enty-two degrees. Following these warm waves the nights are cool, and refreshing sleep, something unknown under eastern skies. is possible under a blanket. Another feature of the climate is the absence of sudden and decided falls in temperature. The variability of temperature-that is, the average difference in mean temperature from one day to an-
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