Stark County, Ohio - Chapter 16, 1881

In Ohio -E.Stim Ate In

Till-; climate of Ohio varies about tour degrees. Though originally liable to malaria in many di.striets when first settled, in coiisei|uence of a dense vegetation induced by summer heats and rains, it has became very healthful, owing to clearing away this vegetation, and proper drainage. The State is as favurable in its .sanitary characteristics as any other in its locality. Ohio is remarkable for its high iiroductive caiiacity, almost every thing grown in the temperate climates being within its range. Its e.vtremes of heat and cold are less than almost any other Stat(> in or near the same latitude, hence (_)hio sufl'ers less from the <xtreme dry or wet sca.sons which aft'ect all adjoining States. These modifications are mainl}' due to the influence of the Lake Erie waters. The.se not

I the cold of profusion of infall in summer, and favor iiKiisturc in dry periods. No finer climate exists, all considered, for delicate vegetable growths, than that portion of Ohio bordering on Lake Krie. This is abundantly attested by the recent extensive devel- (p]iinent there of grape culture.

Mr. Lorin Blodget, author of "American Climatology,"'in the agricultural report of 1 8.5:5, says; "A district bordering on the Southern and Western porticiiis of Jjake Krie is more favorable in this respect (grape cultivation ) than any other on the Atlantic sid(> of thi' Rocky Mountiiins, and it will ultimately prove capable of a very liberal extension of vine culture."

Experience has proven Mr. Blodget correct in hia theory. Now extensive fields of grapes are everywhere found on the Lake Erie Slope, while other small fruits find a sure footing on its soil.

" Considering the climate of Ohio by isothermal lines and rain shadings, it must be borne in mind," says Mr. Blodget, in his description of Ohio's climate, from which these facts are drawn, " that local influences often require to be considered. At the South, from Cincinnati to Steubenville, the deep river valleys are two degrees warmer than the hilly districts of the same vicinity. The lines arc drawn intermediate between the two extremes. Thus, Cincinnati, on the plain, is 2° warmer than at the Observatory, and 4° warmer for each year than Ilillsboro, Highland County - -the one being 500, the other 1,00(1, feet above sea-level. The immediate valley of the Ohio, from Cincinnati to Galli[)olis, is about 75° for the summer, and 54° for the year; while the adjacent hilly districts, 300 to 500 feet higher, are not above 7o° and 52° respectively. For the summer, gwierally, the river valleys are 73° to 75° ; the level and central portions 72° to 73°, and the lake border 70° to 72°. A peculiar mildness of climate Ix^longs to the vicinity of Kelley's Island, Sandusky and Toledo. Here, both winter and sunnuer, the climate is 2° warmer than on the highland ridge extending from Norwalk and Oberlin to Hudson and the niirtlieastern border. This ridge varies from 500 to 750 feet above the lake, or "850 to 1,200 feet above sea level. This high belt has a summer temperature of 70°, 27° for the winter, and 49° for tlie year ; while at Sandusky and Kelley's Island the summer is 72°, the winter 29°, and the year 50°. In the central and eastern parts of the State, the winters are comparatively cold, the average falling to 32° over the more level districts, and to 29° on the highlands. The Ohio River valley is about 35°, but the highlands near it fall to 31° and 32° for the winter."

As early as 1 824, several persons in the State began taking the temperature in their respective localities, for the spring, summer, autumn and winter, averaging them for the entire year. From time to time, these were gathered and published, inducing others to take a step in the same direction. Not long since, a general table, from about forty localities, was gathered and compiled, covering a period of more than a quarter of a century. This table, when averaged, showed an average temperature of 52.4°, an evenness of temperature not equaled in many bordering States.

Very imperfect observations have been made of the amount of rainfall in the State. Until lately, only an individual here and there throughout the State took enough interest in this matter to faithfully observe and record the averages of several years in succession. In consequence of this fact, the illustration of that feature of Ohio's climate is less satisfactory than that of the temperature. "The actual rainfall of different months and years varies greatly," says Jlr. Blodget. "There may be more in a month, and, again, the ((uantity may rise to 12 or 15 inches in a single month. For a year, tlie variation may be from a minimum of 22 or 25 inches, to a maximum of 50 or even 00 inches in the southern part of the State, and 45 to 48 inches along the lake border. The average is a fixed quantity, and, although re((uiring a period of twenty or twentyfive years to fix it absolutely, it is entirely certain and unchangeable when known. On charts, these average quantities are represented by depths of shading. At Cincinnati, the last fifteen years of okservation .somewhat reduce the average of 48 inches, of former years, to 40 or 47 inches."

Spring and summer generally give the most rain, there being, in general, 10 to 12 inches in the spring, 10 to 14 inches in the summer, and 8 to 10 inches in the autumn. The winter is the mo.st variable of all the seasons, the soutliern j)art of the State having 10 inches, and the northern part 7 inches or less - an average of 8 or 9 inches.

The charts of rainfall, compiled fin- the State, show a fall of 30 inches on the lake, and 46 inches at the Ohio River. Between these two points, the fall is marked, beginning at the north, 32, 34, 36 and 38 inches, all near the lake. Farther down, in the latitude of Tuscarawas, Monroe and IMercer Counties, the fall is 40 inches, while the soutliwestern part is 42 and 44 inches.

The clearing away of forests, the drainage of the land, and other causes, have lessened the rainfall, making considerable difference since the days of the aborigines.