Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 13.djvu/215

 SLACUM'S REPORT ON OREGON, 1836-7 207 bushels for one. Stock, 1,500 head of neat cattle, 800 horses and mules, 400 to 500 sheep and 300 hogs. Climate, Etc. Within the last three years a very material change has taken place in the climate along this coast. Form- erly, in the months of May, June, July, August, September, and October, the winds prevailed from northwest to west; November, December, January, February, March, and April; southwest to south-southeast winds prevailed; but for three years past the winds are exactly reversed. It is, consequently, much colder in winter than formerly. In May and June fogs settle on the hills near Ross, and produce rust in wheat. Thermometrical observations at Ross, in 1836, Fahrenheit. Latitude 38 41' north. In October, 1836, maximum 66 average 12 M. minimum 43 November, " maximum 72 " " minimum 38 December, " maximum 62 minimum 36 January, 1837, maximum 58 " " minimum 38 February, " maximum 56 " " minimum 43 Timber. Oaks, four species two are evergreen; sweet- scented laurel, excellent wood ; cedar of Lebanon ; "Douglass pine" grows to an extraordinary size ; common pines, firs, alder, and the red wood a species of cedar, the best wood in the country. An agent of the Russian Government was here last year. He came through via Siberia from St. Petersburg, and visited all the posts in Kamschatka, and on the northwest coast. He got permission from the late General Figaroa (then command- ant general of California) to put up a large building on the bay of St. Francisco, ostensibly to be used as a granary to receive the wheat purchased in California; but, in effect, it was intended as a block-house, and was to have been made defensible. The timber was got out, and now lies ready to i