tables on previous pages, gives the average mean temperatures, rain-fall,
date of frosts, and the prevailing winds at the several different localities,
named:
Tol'iH.KAlMlY, ETC., ()K TIIK WI8SI88IPP1 BASIN.
L89
ii
ii
oS
- 5 z
Si
— V
ja
„ 1«
*-
3c
- " =
So
^ i
a ,2
ii
Mkteorolooical Data.
â– 2
31
i t
I"!
- >
3.3
— j, .
§?>.£
« ••
'> a j
1- M
3**
- 5 S
= o'f.g
± - '- '-â–
?8*
1'*-^
M
JC
O
j.
J-;
i
Average mean annual temperature.
57.03
57.76
58.47
57.26
58.48
61.60
Aver, maximum temp, of the year.
92.
97.
95.
92.90
94.50
101.50
'• minimum " " . .
6.
6.
5.
8.25
3.
86.
91.
90.
89.65
91.50
Average mean temp, of spring . . .
56.3
58.64
58.93
56.71
.Vvm;
66!i3
Maximum temp, of spring
90.
91.
91.
84.
90.
87.
Minimum " "
6.
12.
11.
31.
10 50
30.
Range of temp, in spring
84.
74.02
79.
75.41
80.
74.33
53.
74.40
79.50
74.27
57.
Average mean temp, of summer. .
75.57
Maximum temp, of summer
92.
97.
95.
92.90
94.50
101.50
Minimum " "
61.
77.
66.
48.
65.
58.50
Range of temp, in summer
81.
51.
29.
44.90
29-50
43.
Average mean temp, of autumn. . .
55.40
57.61
58.80
57.54
.>..->(â– >
59.40
91.
94.
95.
86.
90.
90.
15.
19.
20.
15.
21.
28.
Range of temp, in autumn
76.
75.
75.
71.
69.
62.
Average mean temp, of winter . . .
38.66
38.
41.20
37.87
40.97
44.66
69.
72.50
73.
74.
68.
6.
6.50
5.
3.25
3.
Range of temp, in winter
63.
66.
68.
70.75
65.
Inches.
In.
Inches.
Inches.
In.
Inches.
59.25
12.60
43.61
10.55
54.74
15.03
53.48
13.41
58.47
12.35
49.30
17.40
" " summer
13.15
9.57
14.37
13.32
14.02
7.29
12.40
7.54
13.39
11.63
11.83
14.54
" " winter
21.10
15.95
11.95
15.12
20.27
6.93
Date of last frost in spring (average
Apr. 10
....
Apr. 17
Oct. 18
....
Oct. 20
Number of davs without frost
166
. . .
173
Number of days without killing
181
....
180
/
S.W .X.E.
CalmNW
S., N.W.,
NW,S.W.
Prevailing winds in order of fre- l
X., s.. w.,
S.W.. X.
X.E..calm
X.E..S.E..
quency i
E., calm
S.E.. E...
S.E..X .
calm
X.W..S.E.
S.W..X.E.
SW..E.W. 1 S.. X.
The only mineral springs of note in Tennessee are the Mont vale
Springs (calcic chalybeate), delightfully situated in the Chilhowee
Mountains, in Blount County, nine miles from Maryville, a station on
Knoxville and Charleston Kailroad.
190
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC., OF THE MISSISSIPPI BASIN.
One pint contains.
60° F.
Prof. F. B. Mitchell.
1 60° F.
J. R. Chilton, M.D.
Solids.
Carbonate of iron
Grains.
0.300
1.657
0.245
0.564
1.500
9.276
0.062
Grains.
Carbonate of lime
Chloride of sodium
Chloride of magnesium
Chloride of calcium
Sulphate of soda ....
Sulphate of magnesia
Sulphate of lime
0.012
0.018
1.102
2.134
10.243
0.149
Oxide of iron
Alumina
trace
0.005
Organic matter
Total
13.604
13.663
Florida is an extensive peninsuia 450 miles long from north to south,
and with an average breadth, between the Gulf of Mexico on the west and
the Gulf Stream on the east, of a little less than 90 miles.
Of the face of the country it may be truly said the most characteristic
feature is the everglades and the number of lakes. But there is also a
great number of running streams, sluggish though many of them are,
and not a few with extensive swampy borders. There are also many
springs, and some of them of immense size, and strongly impregnated
with sulphur and lime.
The surface of the State is generally level, the greatest elevations be-
ing not more than from three hundred to five hundred feet above the
level of the Gulf, and these heights being attained in very few places.
The soil is alluvial and diluvial. In the interior and most elevated por-
tion, it is composed of clay intermingled with a calcareous formation,
resting upon coral beds evidently of great age.
The lands are generally classified as bigh-hammock, low-hammock,
savanna, swamp, and pine. The pine lands are the most extensive, and
some of its forests rival those of the Atlantic slope. The hammocks also
are very extensive, and covered with live oak and other oaks, hickory,
gum, magnolia, and luxuriant undergrowth.
The climate is essentially insular and oceanic, in conjunction with
the forest, under peculiar circumstances.
Those who would measure climate at the level of the sea by the me-
ridian only will wholly fail to form a correct conclusion in regard to the
climate of Florida.
Northern Mexico, the peninsula of California, the Desert of Sahara,
Central Arabia, Xorthern Hindostan, Northern Burmah, Southern
China, and numerous other regions of less note, and some of them insu-
lar, in the same latitude as Florida, have climates more or less similar
to one another, but all strikingly dissimilar from that of Florida; and
ToroGKAIMlY, ETC., OF THE MISSISSIPPI ISAM.N. I'.tJ
for the manifest reason that none of them are bounded by an immense
body of warm water on one side, and a swiftly flowing ocean current on
the other, and the peninsula between covered by a luxuriant forest — a
combination of conditions for the production, maintenance, and modifi-
cation of an ocean and forest atmosphere that exists nowhere else to the
same degree, and which results in a climate peculiarly its own, remarka-
ble for its salutary influences as a winter resort for invalids with pulmo-
nary consumption.
The climate of Florida is well described by the following extract from
a pamphlet of the " State Bureau of Immigration : "
" The climate of Florida is not a hot climate in summer, but mild
and not subject to great changes in temperature. The winters are not
cold and freezing, but uniformly cool and bracing. Throughout the whole
twelve months, the rainy, cloudy, disagreeable days are an exception ;
fair, bright, sunny days are the rule. The thermometer seldom goes below
30° in winter and rarely above 90° in summer. The official records show
the average of summer, 78°; of winter, 60°. The daily constant ocean
breezes in summer modify the heat (the Gulf-breeze coming, with the
setting sun, cools the air at night); a warm or sultry night is almost
unknown. Official sanitary reports, both of scientific bodies and the
army, show that Florida stands first in health, although in the reports
are included the transient or recent population, many of whom take
refuge here as invalids, some in the lowest stages of disease. In the
greater portion of the State, frost is rarely known. The summer is
longer, but the heat less oppressive than midsummer at the North; this
results from its peculiar peninsular shape and the ever-recurring breezes
which pass over the State. For days together, New York, Boston, and
Chicago show in summer temperature as high as 100°; it is very rare
that it reaches that degree in Florida for a single day, generally ranging
below 9CT; not oppressive, modified by the ever-changing air; not sultry,
close, or humid ' ; mornings and evenings always cool and bracing. . . .
" There are years when in some localities there is a drought, and years
when portions of the State have had excessive rains, but they do not
extend far."
Jacksonville, latitude 30° 15' north; longitude 82° west, according
to recorded observation thrice daily for twenty years, by Dr. E. S. Bald-
win, give a mean temperature for —
January, 55°
February, .... 58°
March 64 '
April, 70°
May, 76=
June, 80°
July 82°
August, .... 82°
September 78°
October, .... 70°
November, .... 62°
December, .... 52°
1 See table of Humidities. Author.
192
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC., OF THE MISSISSIPPI BASIN.
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TOPOGRAPH Y, ETC., OF THE &OSSI88IPFI BASIN. L93
The Spanish records of St. Augustine show that for 100 years the
mean temperature of the winter months averaged a little over 60 , and
of the summer months 86°. The extremes of the year, taking the pen-
insula together, show about 35" as the coldest and 95 as the hottest
temperature, and neither extreme is reached more than two or three
times in the year. The summer lasts seven or eight months, and during
the whole period there are very few uncomfortably hot days, the sea-
breezes tempering the air, and the nights are uniformly cool. The rainy
Beason usually extends over three or four months, but it only consists of
more frequent showers than through the other months, and sometimes
heavy and drenching rains, but seldom of more than four hours' duration.
Occasionally there are long droughts in some sections, and heavy rain-
in others. The preceding table, made up from the army and Signal
Service records and other reliable data, gives the data for the points
named in addition to other data in the previous chapter.
The climate of Southern Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
and Southern Texas, is for about two-thirds of the year hot; and along
the coast and river valleys unhealthy. Endemic malarial fevers here
jorevail more or less, annually, and sometimes with great severity. And
at such sea ports of the Southern Atlantic and Gulf coast as have been
or are now kept in a state of receptivity — by the accumulation of filth —
yellow fever is, as it has always been, wont to make ports of entry.
The climate of Southern Texas, as described by Assistant Surgeon P.
~F. Harvey, U. S. Army, 1 is, "in the aggreate subtropical, but torrid
heats prevail during the summer months.
" During the hotter periods of the year, the mercury indicates a tem-
perature over 100 D in the shade for weeks at a time occasionally. At
such times, hot dry winds, comparable to the simoons of Arabia, blow
from the parched plateaus of Mexico, wilting the vegetation and com-
pelling the closure of doors and windows to exclude the dust and heat.
The prevailing winds for all seasons are from the southeast. Sudden
storms of wind from the north, with or without rain, attended with
rapid lowering of the temperature, called wet or dry northers, are fre-
quent in winter. The atmosphere is generally dry; beef used by the
Mexicans is prepared and preserved by drying it in the open air, desic-
cation taking place rapidly and thoroughly. . . .
" Diarrhoea and dysentery may be regarded as the prevailing diseases.
. . . Rheumatism and neuralgia prevail to a considerable extent.
" Diseases of the lungs and air-passages were of infrequent occurrence
and mild grade. Catarrhal affections were most prevalent during the
winter months and were due to climatic influences. Malarial fevers
1 Ringold Barracks, on the Rio Grande ; latitude, 26° 23' north ; longitude,
21 ° 50' west : altitude, 521 feet. Op. cat., p. 229.
13
194 TOPOGRAPHY, ETC., OF THE iUSSIsSIPPI BASIX.
were rare among the troops (colored), their immunity being largely due,
no doubt, to the well-known idiosyncrasies of the negro race, as diseases
of this class were much more frequent when white troops formed the
garrison.'"
Of 19,120 cases of disease of all kinds recorded at sixteen military
posts in Texas during four years, 1870-1874, 77, or 1 in 248.2, were for
consumption. The most preyalent diseases were malarial fevers and
diarrhceal diseases. The largest proportion occurred at Fort Clark,
Kinny County, latitude 29 17' north; longitude 23' 18' south; approxi-
mate eleyation aboye the level of the sea, 1,000 feet; where, out of 1,509
cases, 846 white and 661 colored, there were of consumption 14 cases, 6
white and 8 colored. The site of this post is a rocky ridge of limestone,
embraced in a curve of Las Moras Creek, which issues from the Las
Moras Spring — a sort of pond about one-eighth of an acre in area — 400
yards north of the post. The prevailing winds are east-southeast. When
the wiud varies in force and direction, it is always the premonition of a
â– 'â– 'norther/' which occurs about once every ten days during the winter
season, i. e., from the beginning of November to the end of March.
During these northers, the wind usually blows with great violence from
the northwest, north, and northeast, but most severely from the north-
west, during which it is impossible to travel over the plains; in summer
they are less frequent and not so violent.
Of 13,270 cases of disease of all kinds recorded in the military posts
of G-eorgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana during four years,
1870-1874, 51, or 1 in 260 were for consumption. The most prevalent
diseases in these posts for the period were intermittent fever and
diarrhceal diseases.
Several mineral springs are said to exist in Florida : At Green-Cone,
Clay County, accessible by steamboat on St. Johns River, from Jackson-
ville, contains sulphates of magnesia and lime, chlorides of sodium and
iron; Orange Spring, Marion County, near Ocklawaha River; Senvance
Springs, Hamilton County, on Savannah, Florida, and Western Railroad,
the water has strong sulphurous odor, which soon passes off when the water
is collected, and then it is palatable; Tarpon Spring, Hillsboro County,
sixty miles from Cedar Keys, said to contain sulphur, soda, lime, and
salt : and there are several others, but none of them have been analyzed.
Bladon Springs, Choctaw County, Alabama, Bladon landing, on the
Tombigbee River, by steamboat from Mobile, situated in a salubrious
pine-forest region, are alkaline and sulphur.
T<> 1'ix. KAl'IIY, ETC., OF Till! MIS-I — IPP] BASIN.
195
One pint contains.
Solids.
Carbonate of soda
Carbonate of magnesia,
Carbonate of iron
Carbonate of lime
Chloride of sodium
Sulphate of lime
Sulphate of iron
Sulphate of manganese
Silica and alumina.
Crenic acid
Hypocrenic acid
Organic matter
Loss
Total
Gases.
Carbonic acid
Sulphuretted hydrogen
Chloride
Vichy Spring,
J.L. &
W. P. Riddell.
Grai ns.
5.7W
0.036
0.062
0.109
0.282
trace
6! 282
6.562
Cubic in.
8.18
trace
0.23
Branch Spring,
6?" F
J. L. &
W. P. Riddell.
Grains.
5.151
0.076
0.029
(1.207
n. :;!'.»
0.237
6.112
Cubic in.
7.40
trace
0.23
Ola Spring,
R. T. Brumby.
Grains.
4.111
0.170
0.344
0.962
0.002
0.030
6.263
0.091
0.075
6.646
6.088
Cubic in.
4.07
undeter-
mined
Sulphur
Spring,
f.h. &
W. P. Iti. I. I.-II
Grains.
4.367
0.081
0.095
0.302
0.370
trace
0.156
5.371
Cubic in.
6.61
0.07
0.23
Blount Springs, Blount County, Alabama, 1,580 feet above the level
of the sea, accessible by railroad from Montgomery to Decatur, about
85 miles northwest from Montgomery:
One pint contains.
Solids.
Carbonate of magnesia .
Carbonate of iron
Carbonate of lime
Chloride of sodium
Chloride of magnesium
Sulphate of magnesia.
Total
Gases.
Carbonic acid
Sulphuretted hydrogen
Red Sulphur.
Prof. R. Brumby.
Grains.
0.55
0.24
0.85
4.04
0.75
0.20
6.63
Cubic inches.
0.75
1.87
Sweet Sulphur.
Prof. R. Brumby.
Grains.
0.45
0.14
0.56
3.86
6.30
5.31
Cubic inche3.
0.75
1.57
Valhemosa Springs, Morgan County, Alabama, by steamboat on
Tennessee River, said to be sulphur and chalybeate. No analysis.
Cooper's Well, Hines County, and Ocean Springs, Jackson County,
Mississippi, on New Orleans, Mobile, and Texas Railroad, are both held
in high esteem by those who are best acquainted with them. The first,
as chalybeate, with mild purgative qualities, said to resemble the waters
196
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC., OF THE MISSISSIPPI BASIN.
of Booklet Springs, near Kissingen, Bavaria.
F., Prof. J. Lawrence Smith):
One pint contains (50°
Solids.
Grains
Chloride of sodium,
1.045
Chloride of magnesium, .
0.435
Chloride of calcium, .
0.540
Sulphate of potassa,
.
. 0.076
Sulphate of soda,
1.463
Sulphate of magnesia, .
,
.
. 2.910
Sulphate of lime,
5.265
Sulphate of alumina,
g
t t
. 0.765
Peroxide of iron, . . ,
0.420
Crenate of lime,
. 0.039
Silica, .
0.225
Total, ....
. 13.183
Gases.
Cubic in.
Carbonic acid, .
4.0
Oxygen, ....
,
, ,
. 1.5
Nitrogen, . . . .
4.5
Ocean Springs: One pint contains
(J. L. Smith):
Solids.
Grains.
Chloride of potassium,
trace.
Chloride of sodium,
,
# ,
. 5.971
Chloride of magnesium,
0.621
Chloride of calcium,
,
, #
. 0.485
Protoxide of iron,
0.589
Iodine, ....
,
,
trace.
Alumina, ....
, .
trace.
Organic matter,
•
• •
trace.
Total, .....
7.666
Gases.
Cubic in.
Carbonic acid,
.
.
. 1.22
Sulphuretted hydrogen,
. ,
0.16
In Louisiana, it is said that within a radius of thirty miles from
Mansfield are several valuable sulphur and chalybeate springs. De Soto
Springs, at Mansfield, forty miles by stage from Shreveport, on the Red
River, and White Suljrfmr Springs, twenty-five miles by stage from
Alexandria, on the Eed River, are described as excellent sulphur waters,
with saline ingredients, useful in biliary engorgements. No analysis.
These springs are well situated in the upland pine-wood region.
Fairview Springs, near Kassee, Limestone County, Texas, have
recently been brought to notice. One pint contains (Prof. C. F.
Chandler):
Solids. Grains.
Chloride of sodium 0.220
Sulphite of sola, ....... 0.700
TOPOOBAPHT, BTO.j <»i CHE II1B8I88IPP] BASIN. L97
(ilaillS.
Sulphate of magnesia, ..... L.228
Sulphate of lime, ....... 0.168
Alumina and its sulphate, ..... 0.675
Phosphate of iron, ....... 0.257
Total 3.249
Piedmont Springs, in Grimes County, and White Sulphur Springs,
in Cass County, Texas, have been reported, but without analysis.
Except the mountainous region of Alabama, there are no elevations
in the southern portion of the Gulf States more than a thousand feet
above the Gulf; and except the salutary influence of the forests, there
are no natural conditions which exercise any influence over the climate
beyond the ordinary effects of latitude.
In the piny uplands, however, and particularly in the northern part
of Alabama, through which the Blue Ridge Mountains extend, though
not to a very great height, and away from the low, dark bottom lands
of the coasts and water courses, the climate of this region is generally
healthy.
Arkansas lias great variations of surface. In the western and north-
western portion of the State there are extensive elevated prairies, broken
by the passage across them of the Ozark Mountains in a northwesterly
direction, from Little Rock to Southwestern Missouri, and, south of the
Arkansas River, of the Massern range. The hills of Ozark range rise
to a general elevation of 1,500 to 2,000 feet, with summits of 3,000.
And besides these, two ranges called the Black Hills and Wachita Hills
in the west, varying from a few hundred to a thousand feet in height,
with intervening valleys across the rich prairies and luxuriant forests,
give the State a diversity of scenery remarkably beautiful, and a cli-
mate, on the whole, of exceptional salubrity. An eastern portion, from
twenty to one hundred miles west of the Mississipi, is an exception.
This is generally low, contains numerous small lakes and swampy
bayous, and is unhealthy.
Indian Territory is, for the most part, low, swampy, and unhealthy.
The northwest corner, through which the Wachita range of mountains
extends about fifty miles, is somewhat exceptional, and relatively salu-
brious, approaching the far more salubrious climate in general of northern
Texas.
The surface of Missouri, in its southern portion, partakes some-
what of the character of the adjacent region of Arkansas. Excepting
this, there are no elevations above a thousand feet. The surface is gen-
erally rolling and level prairie, with occasional forests. The southeastern
portion, which is subject to frequent overflow by the Mississippi and its
tributaries, is low and swampy, and insalubrious. Otherwise, there are
no special surface characteristics that exercise any influence over the
198 TOPOGRAPHY, ETC., OF THE MISSISSIPPI BASIN.
climate beyond what may be learned by reference to the charts and
tabulated data on other pages.
Texas highlands are among the most salubrious regions in the coun-
try. In the vicinity of Fort McKavett, situated on the right bank of
the San Saba River, about two miles from its source, latitude 30° 50'
north; longitude 23° 17' west; altitude 2,000 feet : Assistant Surgeons
R. Sharpe and S. M. Horton, U. S. Army, report: 1
" The dryness of the atmosphere, the delightful breezes of the morn-
ing and evening throughout the latter part of the spring, the entire
summer and fall, the middle portion of the days during a great part of
this time being excessively warm, and the sunlight excessively bright,
which, with the dry winds blowing incessantly, tries the eyes to the
utmost when out of doors; the pure, fresh drinking water from a most
excellent spring, bubbling up at the foot or base of the bluff, just west
of the post, through limestone rock of indefinite thickness, and in con-
sideration of the very favorable reports of former years as to the small
amount of sickness occurring in this vicinity: these have all combined
to give this post and locality the name of being exceedingly healthy."
From Fort Stockton, on the line of the great Comanche trail, lati-
tude 35° 50'; longitude 25° 35'; altitude 4,850 above sea-level. Assistant
Surgeons P. J. A. Cleary and E. Alexander, U. S. Army, report: 2
" The beneficial effects on the atmosphere and climate on pulmonary
affections, and particularly on phthisis pulmonalis, cannot be too highly
extolled. The atmosphere is warm, dry, and pure. Many people come
to the State to have their 'consumption' cured, but generally arrive
when the disease is too far advanced, and, moreover, do not come far
enough west."
The climate of Kansas, at an altitude of 3,320 feet above the level of
the sea, latitude 38° 55' north; longitude 23° 47' west, as reported by
Assistant Surgeons M. M. Shearer and F. H. Atkins, U. S. Army: 3
"It is of great salubrity and dryness. Snow falls rarely, and in
small quantity, seldom lying more than a day or two. High winds are
common, and frequent gales of alarming force often blow for many
hours. During the warm months, the direction of the winds is from the
south and east, and this is reserved during cold weather. Malarial
diseases do not originate here; all cases having their origin elsewhere.
No scurvy, pneumonia, pleuritis, or phthisis had occurred during 1872
or 1873, and but six cases of dysentery were treated in that time.
Influenza has also been very rare."
Climax Springs, Climax, Camden County, Missouri, on Missouri
Pacific Railroad, have recently attracted a good deal of attention on
'Op. cit., pp. 217, 240.
2 Op cit., p. 240.
3 Fort Wallace. Op. cit., p. 307.
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC., OF THE MISSISSIPPI j:\sin.
199
account of the extraordinary proportion of the iodides and bromides
contained in the water.
One pint contains (II. "W. Wiley)
Solids.
Grains
Carbonate of lime, ....
0.651
Chloride of sodium, ....
4.451
Sulphate of lime, ....
0.707
Iodide and bromide of potassium, .
0.319
Iodide and bromide of magnesium,
1.350
Oxide of iron, alumina, and silica, .
1.000
Organic and undetermined,
0.424
Total, .....
8.802
Carbonic acid, 3.45 cubic inches.
This spring is in a cave in the Ozark Mountains, about 1,000 feet