ers may be considered ideal. A breeze is generally stirring.
There are no sunstrokes, for even in the warmest parts the dryness of
the atmosphere favors evaporation. The nights are everywhere cool. When
millions in other climes are rolling about in their torturous beds,
struggling for the relief that sleep alone can impart, the Washingtonian
doffs his clothes, tucks himself comfortably between his cozy quilts,
and is soon wafted into the land of nod from which he awakes in the
morning refreshed and ready for life's battle.

MEAN MONTHLY AND SUMMER TEMPERATURE OF WASHINGTON
CITIES COMPARED WITH THAT OF OTHER U. S. CITIES.

_June_ _July_ _Aug._ _Sep._ _Sum'r_

Puget Sound District 57 62 61 57 59
Seattle 60 64 63 58 61
Tacoma 58 63 63 57 60
Spokane 63 69 68 59 65

Chicago 66 72 71 64 68
New York City 69 74 73 66 70
Boston 66 72 70 63 68
Washington, D. C. 73 77 75 68 73
Philadelphia 72 76 74 68 72

The summers, too, are particularly free from excessive rainfall, such as
discomforts the people in eastern cities during those months and causes
so many disappointments; for 80 per cent of our precipitation occurs
between October 15th and May 15th, and 75 per cent between sunset and
sunrise, so that the pleasures of the day are seldom marred.

The heaviest fall of moisture occurs on the mountain slopes while the
valleys, where the people make their homes, have no more than enough to
produce a vigorous plant growth. The average for the year on Puget Sound
is about the same as in Chicago and only three-fourths as much as in New
York or Boston. The Cascade Mountains prevent as high a precipitation
in the eastern counties where it corresponds more to that of California.

[Illustration: SUNSET FALLS AND MOUNT INDEX, 40 MILES EAST OF EVERETT.]

The normal annual precipitation during a 36 year period, according to
the government statistics, was for Seattle, 36.6 inches; Spokane, 18.8
inches; Walla Walla, 17.7 inches; Chicago, 33.3 inches; New York, 44.6
inches; Jacksonville, 53.2 inches; Kansas City, 37.4 inches; Boston,
43.3 inches; Los Angeles, 15.6 inches; and San Francisco, 22.3 inches.