Page:The Tourist's California by Wood, Ruth Kedzie.djvu/402

 344 THE TOURIST'S CALIFORNIA square. In its place the palatial Grant has risen ; facing it is a park of cocos plumosa surrounding an electric fountain, and a meteorological kiosk placed here by the Government. According to the local forecaster San Diego " has the shortest ther- mometer in the United States, except the south- east Farallone Islands. . . . The latitude gives a temperate climate, the proximity to the sea equa- bility of temperature, the distance from storm- tracks (of northern coast) freedom from high winds and rough weather, and the absence of moan- tains in the immediate neighbourhood contrib- utes to the infrequency of cloud or fog." Cabrillo recorded a gale in September, 1542, but " they felt nothing because of the good harbour." The aver- age of rainy days in the winter is six or seven a month ; the average maximum temperature in Jan- uary, 62, and that of August, 75. A thin mist hangs between the city and the sun on summer mornings until the cooling sea-breeze blows it away. On the hottest days the thermometer barely touches 90 when it recedes again. So equable a temperature the year round proves enervating to some. But the winter visitor votes San Diego's climate enslaving. He compares it to that of the coast of North Africa, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, and compliments them all in doing so. The numbered streets from Fourth to Seventh,