Minnesota; Its Character and Climate Part 11

One of the chief districts to be opened to trade and commerce by the construction of this road is that known as Prince Rupert's Land, in British America. This region of country has been recently organized under the name of Manitoba, and embraces the rich and extensive valleys of the Red, a.s.siniboine, and Saskatchewan Rivers. A population of several thousands already inhabit this section, and a branch railway is to be constructed along the valley of the Red River from the point of crossing by the Northern Pacific Road, and under its immediate auspices.

The influence on this people, whose interests will then be almost wholly identified with those of our own, cannot be doubtful. It requires no prophecy to determine their ultimate destiny. The time is not distant when all of British America must become "one and indivisible" with us, and the knell of parting government is likely to be sooner sounded in the region of the Red River than elsewhere along the line of our frontier.

An additional advantage inheres in this Northern Pacific line of prime importance, and that is in the fact of its offering to commerce a shorter route by several hundred miles to the Pacific coast than that which now exists. To j.a.pan and China, from Puget Sound, is likewise, by more than half a thousand miles, less than from the port of San Francisco. This difference is sufficient to give, eventually, to this route the carrying trade of those countries.

Who can question the greatness and power which lies slumbering along the line of this royal road, through which, as through a great, pulsing artery, the life,--even now already dawning,--will soon throb with a force which shall vitalize this Territory, vast as an empire, and richer than the fabled realms of an Arabian tale.

FOOTNOTES:

[E] _Board of Directors_.--Messrs. J. Gregory Smith, R.D. Rice, Thomas H. Canfield, W.B. Ogden, William G. Morehead, W.G. Fargo, B.P. Cheney, Geo. W. Ca.s.s, Frederick Billings, William Windom, James Stinson, Samuel M. Felton, Charles B. Wright. _Trustees_,--Messrs. Jay Cooke and J.

Edgar Thompson.

[F] The line, it is now judged, will give about sixty millions of acres.

CHAPTER XIII.

OTHER CLIMATES THAN MINNESOTA.

Sketches of other climates and localities favorable to invalids.--California.--Mortuary statistics of San Francisco.--The wet and dry seasons.--San Diego the best place.--Florida and its reputation.--Na.s.sau as a resort.--Fayal and its climate,--English and American visitors.--Means of access.

Other climates and localities than Minnesota have for many years enjoyed more or less of a high reputation as healthful resorts for the consumptive, and while the chief purpose of this volume has been the consideration of the character and climate of our Northwest, yet it seems not inappropriate that some mention at least should be given to these other places, even though it be extremely brief. Beyond a general outlining of some of the prevailing characteristics appertaining to each locality, we do not deem it desirable or necessary to go, since all who contemplate journeys to any one of them will, of course, consult such writers as have considered in detail the various merits or demerits of the several climates.

Considerable attention has been called the last few years to the reputed healthfulness of the State of

CALIFORNIA.

The first years of its occupation by Americans very trifling consideration was given by any one to any data whereby the true character of the climate could be judged. It was a new experience altogether for people of the old States to encounter a region possessing many characteristics of a semi-tropical country in combination with those with which they were familiar in the lat.i.tude of their own homes.

To see roses blooming in the gardens of San Francisco during the winter months, and experiencing in summer cool, restful nights, was quite calculated to call forth much of earnest and cordial compliment, whether any real virtue inhered in the climate of this particular locality or not. While this flattering state of things existed at San Francisco, back among the Sierras the poor miners had many and doubtful struggles in trying to ward off the severe and frequent storms which prevail throughout the long and tedious winters.

The peculiar geographical position of this State, in conjunction with its elevated mountain ranges, gives to it nearly every climate, from that of the equator up to the limit of the temperate zone; and while the atmosphere of one neighborhood is bland and delightful, that of another is quite disagreeable and trying. No general character obtains for that of the whole State. The eastern sides of the mountains are everywhere more dry and elastic than are the western, and for tubercular cases are preferable to the sea-coast, though the vicinity of San Francisco would, for simple bronchial affections, be best,--yet we do not regard either of these points as specially desirable as places of resort.

An examination of the mortuary statistics of San Francisco for 1870, as given by the _Pacific Medical and Surgical Journal_, in the February number of this year, discloses an alarming percentage of deaths by consumption. For instance, the population of the city is one hundred and fifty thousand, while the deaths by consumption were five hundred for the year (round numbers), which gives one death to every three hundred inhabitants, being but a shade more favorable than is that of New England for this particular disease. Still this is not, perhaps, a fair test of the climate, since a number of the decedents are among those, probably, who came from other portions of the country seeking a restoration on this coast.

The general health, however, of San Francisco is shown to be, by the same authority, better than that of the average of large cities in the older States.

While the temperature in winter at San Francisco is maintained at a comparatively high point,--allowing the outdoor cultivation of some of the hardier varieties of flowering shrubs,--the atmosphere, meanwhile, is damp and chilling, and extremely detrimental to most cases of lung difficulties.

The climate of California is, in the neighborhood of San Francisco, and northward, divided into two distinct seasons,--that of the wet and dry.

The wet season begins usually in November, and terminates in May, while the dry season embraces the remaining portion of the year. Of course the length of either varies considerably, as do all our seasons everywhere in the temperate lat.i.tudes. The quant.i.ty of rain falling in this wet season equals that of the entire fall for New England,[G] and coming in the cooler portion of the year has just those demerits, to a considerable, though modified degree, which inhere in the climate of the Atlantic coast, of which we have spoken elsewhere in detail.

The southern portion of California, however, presents a radical dry climate, and is quite free from those wet and dry seasons which obtain in central and northern California. The amount of annual rain-fall is, in the region of

SAN DIEGO,

about ten inches, and while it is true that this precipitation is in sympathy with, and indeed is distributed over a portion of what is known as the "wet season," in Upper California, yet it does not amount to enough in quant.i.ty to establish a wet season. The balance of the year the air is dry and elastic, and highly favorable, so far as we are able to judge, to all cases of pulmonary troubles.

San Diego is an old Spanish town, and for many years has been neglected, and not till recently has it shown much signs of recuperation. But, now that some Yankee pioneers have settled in the town and neighborhood, its prospects brighten.

Fruits of all kinds, such as peaches, oranges, figs, and plums flourish in the neighborhood, and in time must form one of the chief articles of commerce. Few places offer so good an opportunity for stock-grazing as does this fertile region.

This old city is, ere long, to become the terminus of one of our great continental lines of railway, namely, the Southern Pacific.

Access is had, at the present time, either overland from San Jose, or by a monthly steamer from San Francisco, the distance being, by water, over three hundred and-fifty miles.

FLORIDA

is certainly the only State among all of those lying east of the Mississippi River to which invalids may resort with advantage, so far as the climate is concerned. There are points in others of the Southern States, such as Aikin, where two years out of three, perhaps, consumptives, in certain stages, may go with benefit; yet there is no Atlantic or Gulf State with a climate and soil adapted to aid in the cure of bronchial and catarrh troubles and nervous prostration at all comparable to Florida in the winter season.

In cases of lung difficulties, where tubercles have begun to form, such would find a cool, dry, elastic air best, except when the disease has been induced by some mental or emotional shock: such are benefitted most by a mild, sunny atmosphere, since the depressed spirits are, under these favoring circ.u.mstances, more easily rallied.

The St. John River is the section most visited, together with St.

Augustine, on the Atlantic sea-coast; yet so soon as Tampa Bay and Key West possess accommodations, they will be found more favorable, since the equability is somewhat greater.[H]

There are several islands in the Atlantic Ocean to the south and eastward of us which have become somewhat celebrated as places of temporary residence for the consumptive.

That of

Na.s.sAU (N.P.),

the nearest to our coast, has some claims upon our attention. The temperature does not greatly vary from that of Southern Florida, except that it may have a shade more of equability.

The island of New Providence, of which Na.s.sau is the capital, is one of the group const.i.tuting the Bahama Islands, lying directly east of the Florida coast, and about three hundred and fifty miles distant from it.

The town is regularly and well built, and during our "late unpleasantness" was the princ.i.p.al rendezvous of the scores of blockade-runners. Since the war the place has resumed its calm and peaceful habits, and is again frequented, during the winter, by many invalids from the North and others who seek a temporary home in a genial clime.

San Domingo, should it be annexed, will probably become a place of resort for many people, but at present, while its climate in winter is charming, and the country in the vicinity of Samana Bay beautiful, yet its accommodations are wretched, and likely to remain so for some time to come.

The benefits arising from the climate of these two islands is practically the same as in Florida, while the accommodations are not as extensive, though in Na.s.sau are quite acceptable, though limited.

Regular communication is had by steamer to and from New York once each month.

FAYAL,

two thousand miles eastward and near the coast of Spain, is little known to the American public, yet it has held a high character among the Europeans for several generations in the matter of its climate. This island forms one of the Azorean group, and possesses the finest harbor of them all. Horta, its capital, is located at the head of this harbor, and is quite a handsome town, situated on the southeastern side of the island.

The climate is mild, and, to a high degree, healthful; and invalids derive great benefit from a residence there. England is the most largely represented among them, though a few Americans are nearly always to be found, chiefly from Boston and vicinity, from which place occasional sailing-packets may be had to the island, though the most direct route is by way of England, whence the steamers of the West India Mail Company call regularly at Horta.

The island is of volcanic origin, and its princ.i.p.al elevation is some three thousand feet, while the remaining portion is of a somewhat rugged character, though of the twenty-seven thousand five hundred and twenty acres comprising it, about one-half is under cultivation, and much of this is extremely fertile. The chief products are wheat, corn, potatoes; while wine and oranges are raised in large quant.i.ties for exportation.

In former times, when the whaling interest of the country was in a flouris.h.i.+ng condition, between one and two hundred whale-s.h.i.+ps touched, in their outward pa.s.sage, at this island; and even now many American vessels call here for water and supplies.

Some years ago, shortly after the conclusion of the trial of Dr.

Webster, his wife and daughters visited Fayal, where they remained some considerable time, and where they doubtless hoped to and did for a while escape from all obtrusive notice and observation. However, they were soon known, and the sympathies of the people of Horta were much enlisted in their behalf. The daughters were highly cultivated and quite beautiful, and attracted considerable attention, out of sympathy at their distressed situation.