TABLE SHOWING THE AVERAGE PRECIPITATION AT STATIONS OF THE SIGNAL SERVICE,

Computed from the Commencement of Observations at each, to and including December, 1883.

TAKEN FROM THE REPORT OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER TO THE WAR DEPARTMENT FOR 1884.

STATIONS.	Established.	Jan.	Feb.	March.	April.	May.	June.	July.	Aug.	Sept.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Total Inches.
Bismarck, Dak.	Sept. 15, 1874	0.57	0.66	1.21	2.94	3.31	3.64	2.21	2.71	1.34	1.33	0.71	0.72	21.35
Dayton, Wash. Terr.	July 1, 1879	4.11	3.64	2.04	3.26	2.02	0.86	0.79	0.49	0.67	2.64	2.55	4.95	28.02
Denver, Colorado	Nov. 19, 1871	0.69	0.43	0.86	1.71	3.05	1.60	1.89	1.54	0.96	0.79	0.74	0.71	14.97
Lewiston, Idaho	July 1, 1879	2.45	1.53	1.16	1.28	1.12	0.94	0.76	0.36	0.52	1.93	1.66	3.40	17.11
New Haven, Conn.	Dec. 10, 1872	4.20	4.22	5.29	4.32	3.71	3.80	4.86	5.62	4.15	3.85	4.15	3.38	51.55
Norfolk, Virginia	Jan. 1, 1871	3.89	3.85	4.35	4.29	3.54	4.15	5.39	6.11	5.23	3.96	3.58	3.80	52.14
Olympia, Wash. Terr.	July 1, 1877	9.36	10.67	6.20	4.34	2.76	0.88	0.86	0.83	2.98	5.60	8.16	10.17	62.81
Portland, Oregon	Nov. 1, 1871	7.34	8.11	7.27	3.48	2.44	1.82	0.71	0.81	1.62	4.95	7.34	8.27	54.16
San Diego, Cal.	Nov. 1, 1871	1.85	2.07	0.97	0.68	0.26	0.05	0.02	0.23	0.05	0.40	0.70	2.12	9.40
Sandusky, Ohio	Aug. 2, 1877	2.19	3.13	2.90	2.79	3.34	5.06	4.06	4.27	3.54	3.50	3.68	2.97	41.43
San Francisco, Cal.	March 8, 1871	5.10	3.95	2.88	1.80	0.71	0.16	0.01	0.01	0.15	1.13	2.70	4.72	23.32
Sitka, Alaska	March 30, 1881	9.44	11.64	9.76	4.40	3.23	3.13	5.82	5.82	9.97	9.33	11.87	12.87	97.28
Spokane Falls, Wash. Terr.	Feb. 5, 1881	3.34	3.02	0.85	1.99	1.38	1.00	1.04	0.25	1.14	2.90	2.22	2.06	21.19
Washington City	Nov. 1, 1870	3.16	2.85	4.04	3.07	2.98	4.23	4.08	4.97	4.42	3.00	2.84	2.92	42.56

b. Alluvium. This includes the transported matter of the bottom-lands, the swales, and the tidal flats. Here we have humus, not only as a top-dressing, but also intermixed, and sometimes constituting a large proportion of the soil for a considerable depth. No land could be richer than this, and its relative proportion to the whole is larger than would be inferred even from the great number of streams, for it includes the lowlands about Puget Sound and the lakes. The mountain streams have, with some exceptions, but little alluvial land. There are areas of swale, or wet bottom-lands, which may be drained to advantage. The tidal flats along the Sound are peculiarly fertile, because enriched by both vegetable and animal matter, including calcareous shells and fish bones. Owing to this great fertility, and the ease with which large areas are reclaimed by dykes, their convenience to transportation, and, it may be added, the labor of clearing the forest lands, the work of dyking these flats has been commenced, especially in Snohomish and Skagit counties, and it is thought that two hundred thousand acres may thus be redeemed from the water. Alluvial lands constitute but a small feature in East Washington.

c. Drift. The origin of these gravel soils is given hereafter, under the head of Geology. They constitute the hill lands, as distinguished from the bottom lands and Sound flats on the one hand, and the mountain lands on the other. They are composed of sand, clay, gravel, and some large boulders. Rarely the gravel predominates so as to render the land unfit for cultivation. Sometimes there are only clay and sand, and sometimes chiefly clay. This soil, though not equal to the alluvium, or to the basaltic land, is much better than glacial precipitate usually is. It gave all the indications of a fertile soil, resembling the best hay lands of Massachusetts, which have the same glacial origin. Its natural growth is luxuriant, and when cleared it inclines to clothe itself in white clover and the grasses. It is said to be specially adapted to fruits and vegetables.

d. Loam. I mean by this a clay soil containing fine-grained sand enough to make it friable. This is the soil made by the slates and sandstones of the coal measures, and is generally found on the highlands above the drift. It is a medium land as to quality, but valuable for the tendency to grass, which characterizes all the lands of West Washington. Much of it will make good cropping land. There is a great deal of it. It is found high on the cretaceous hills and mountains, often extending to the top.

e.A remarkable soil. Basalt. This is the magic soil of the Great Plain (or plateau) of the Columbia. And it is found also in large areas on the Cascade Mountains. It has an ashy look and texture; sometimes black, but generally of ashen hue. Rarely it is compact and clayey. There are perhaps twenty thousand square miles of this basaltic land; enough of itself to make a medium-sized State. Of course there are inequalities in the productiveness of this land. The basaltic rock in many places crops out, as mentioned under the head of Topography, and there are coulées and galled spots. I cannot say what proportion of the surface is rendered valueless by these irregularities. The outcropping basalt does not destroy the value of the land; for the soil spaces between the rocks may be greater than the rock spaces, and whilst unfit for the plough, they may be suited to trees, or cattle range. But, judging by all that I saw and heard, I should think that the smooth land considerably predominates over the rough. Certainly there is more smooth, comparatively level, fertile, productive, and easily cultivated land here in proportion to the whole area than I have ever seen elsewhere. The great plain of East Colorado is a vast and beautiful stretch of country, but it is unproductive without irrigation. Taking everything into consideration, the plateau of East Washington seems to me to be unequaled in combined extent and productiveness.

This subject of soils will be incidentally continued in connection with the next two heads.