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On a review and comparison of the foregoing tables, it will be seen, that the difference between the climates of Maine and the other places whose temperature is given, is not so much, neither in the means nor extremes, of the heat of the summer, as in the extremes of cold in the winter; and that the difference between the annual mean temperature of New-England generally, and that of Old-England, is owing in part, to the longer continuance of summer heat in the latter, and more especially to the lower temperature of the winter mornings in the former. The extreme heat sometimes experienced in the summer, is but seldom much higher in the former than in the latter.

The comparative temperature of the places here mentioned, will be illustrated in a manner more easily perceived at once, in a series of diagrams, Plate VII. of the Atlas, accompanying this volume.

That the character of the summers of Maine is well adapted to all the necessary purposes of agriculture, and is favorable for the cultivation of all those plants in the production of which consists the true wealth and independence of a people, cannot be doubted by those who are acquainted with the facts. The character of the winters affects not so much its agriculture directly, though it is not without some influence upon it; but it has a necessary and considerable influence upon the pursuits of the inhabitants generally in other respects; and with all the disadvantages which mankind usually attach to the idea of winter, or with which it may be actually attended, it still presents some advantages of great importance in the present situation of the State.

In the interior of the State, at distances from the sea-coast varying from 10 to 30 miles, in different places and seasons, the ground is usually covered with snow from three to four months in the year. In some seasons it continues, in the forests of the central and northern parts of the State, nearly five

months. The depth, moderate at first, increasing more or less gradually to three or four, and in some seasons in the mountain regions, to five feet. Approaching towards the sea, the regularity of its continuance is frequently interrupted by rains and thaws, which for short periods lay the surface of the ground nearly bare, and render the roads inconvenient and often exceedingly difficult to pass. But in general, farther inland, the snow affords a foundation for the transportation of heavy commodities, which in a new country thinly peopled, and not yet provided with solid and permanent roads to an extent adequate to its wants, is of incalculable advantage. The immense forests of timber with which the country is covered, can be of little value at the distance of even but a few miles from water carriage, unless a solid and smooth road is made from the landing place to almost every tree; and to make such roads on the surface of the earth in summer, to the necessary extent, would require time and expense beyond the ability of the population to accomplish, and perhaps beyond the value of the timber to reimburse. The snows of winter however provide a substitute, and at this season a large part of the farmers, released from the agricultural labors of summer, employ themselves and their teams in cutting and transporting the timber of the forests to the banks of the streams and rivers for a market. The uniform continuance of the snow in the forest is calculated upon, with a degree of certainty which is seldom disappointed; and the steady cold winters of the interior of the State furnish, in relation to the lumber business, means of subsistence and wealth to its citizens, which are denied to those of regions which boast a milder climate and longer sum

mers.

At the approach of spring the thawing of the great body of snow which had accumulated on the ground, swells the rivulets and streams sufficiently to bear the lumber collected on their banks, to its ultimate destination for a market on the tide wa

ters.

Without this peculiarity of the depth and continuance of

the snow in the winter, and the freshets occasioned by its melting in the spring, a very large portion of what now constitutes an immense source of wealth to the State, must have been, not only without value, but absolutely an incumbrance.

Along the course of the sea-coast, the winters are less regular. The snows generally fall to as great depth as in the interior, and often greater, but are frequently succeeded by heavy rains, which break up the roads, and for a time render travelling difficult, and the transportation of heavy commodities extremely expensive. At the breaking up of winter in all parts, both on the sea-coast, and in the interior, the ground being loosened by the frosts, the melting of the snow and the heavy rains of the season, injure the roads exceedingly, render them in many places almost impassable with safety, and subject the community to continual and heavy expenses to repair them. The same effect takes place in a less degree on the approach of winter. The result of these changes as it affects the means and facility of transportation and communication between the different parts of the State is that, in the country bordering on the sea-coast, the communication is uninterruptedly good, only a few months in the summer season, and sometimes for a very few uncertain weeks in the winter. In the interior it is good for about the same time in the summer, and with but comparatively slight interruptions nearly an equal time in the winter. The communication between the interior and the sea-board, is however subjected, in a degree, to the same interruptions in winters, as are experienced along the line of the coast; and these fluctuations often occasion expenses in the intercourse of persons, and the transportation of commodities, which, though often small, and but little noticed in individual cases, yet from the innumerable instances in which they occur every year, must in the aggregate, form a very considerable item in the expenditures of the community, not the less real for the shape in which it occurs, nor the less important for the numbers among whom it is divided.

Whether there are any, and if any what, improvements in artificial means of intercourse, may be made to overcome the difficulties presented by the fluctuations of the climate, and materially diminish the aggregate expense they occasion, is an inquiry of more importance than perhaps at first may appear; but it cannot properly be discussed in this place.

It is a question of some interest in a prospective point of view, whether the present temperature, and other characteristics of the climate of the State, result from causes which are in their nature permanent, so that no change is to be expected at a future day, or from temporary causes, liable to changes which will produce a corresponding change in the climate. The reasoning in the former part of this chapter, concerning some of the phenomena of the climate in new settlements, as they affect the ripening of some plants, proves, if well founded, that the progress of the settlement, and clearing of the country, will have an effect in increasing the mean temperature of the summer months, and of ameliorating the climate generally. Perhaps it may also for a time render the seasons more irregular. The observations of our old men, will also assure us that the climate of the State, has in fact undergone some amelioration since its first settlement. The statements of Mr. Jefferson,* and of Dr. Williams,† as well as of others in our own country and in Europe, tend to confirm the opinion. Another circumstance, existing within the State, may also be adduced in corroboration.

Near the centre of the State, is an extensive tract in which the ancient forest is principally destroyed, and its place but partially supplied with a young growth, which, in very few places of considerable extent, is yet sufficient to shade the ground from the direct action of the sun's rays. In this tract the snow disappears earlier in the spring, and does not permanently cover the earth so early in the autumn, as in the contiguous forests.

*Notes on Virginia, p. 111.

History of Vermont, chap. 4, p. 57, et seq.

The leaves appear on the trees, and the surface exhibits the lively green of spring, from one to three weeks earlier, than is seen within 30 miles to the south of it. The temperature in the summer is sensibly warmer, particularly during the night. The wild fruits also ripen earlier, and the whole appearance of the tract, indicates the favorable change produced in the climate by the extensive destruction of the original forest.

The preceding observations collectively will go far to warrant the opinion, that at some day not very distant,* the climate of the State must undergo a considerable change. The access of the vegetating season will probably be earlier, its recess in autumn later, the mean temperature, and perhaps the extreme heat of summer, higher, the winters in general less severe, and probably less regular.

Whether the clearing of the surface of the earth which must take place with the increase of population and agriculture, will produce such a change in the climate of North-America as to bring it to the same temperature as is found in the corresponding parallels of latitude in Europe; or whether any of the more occult operations of the laws of nature will ever produce this effect, are questions which we need not now undertake to consider. The reader who is curious on the subject, may find some interesting speculations pertaining to it, in the Appendix.t

Though it may seem rather remote, yet perhaps it is not among the subjects of least importance, for the statist to inquire how far the peculiarities of the climate may affect the pursuits, and the moral and physical character of the inhabitants, and how far they indicate the policy which should govern the Legislature in the enactment of laws in relation to these objects, or control any system of internal regulation bearing upon them. The great mass of the people of Maine are agricultural, but a respectable proportion are engaged in the pur

* See chap. 6.

See Appendix A.

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