CLIMATE AND Son,. The high altitude of the State premises a cod temperature: but, save on the higher elevations, extremes are rare. the climate being generally mild and remarkably salubrious. The (lays are sometimes hot, but the nights are cool and free of humidity. The yearly mean temperature at Denver (5182 feet) in January is 28.2° F.: July. 71.7° F.: Pueblo (4675 feet), January. 28.7° F.; July, 74° F. Frosts do not occur until late in the autumn and disappear early in the spring; but snows are heavy and on the mountains, yet in the low levels are seldom deep, and very soon melt a way.
The mean animal rainfall for the State is 14.8 inches. This fall, although light. is well dis tributed, and in many sections of the 'Great Divide' cereals are grown without irrigation. The heaviest rainfall is in the mountains. At Pike's Peak the mean precipitation is 29.7 inches; at Climax (10,304 feet), 34.8 inches. On the plains it is much less. At Denver the mean fall is 14.3 inches; at Colorado Springs (6032 feet), 14.5 inches; at Las Animas (3899 feet), 11.9 inches.
The atmosphere is so dry and,pure that fresh meats are preserved by the simple process of dry ing. The late summer is almost rainless. The
climate and air of Colorado are considered of great benefit to asthmatic and pulmonary suf ferers, and the charming parks are likely to be come the great natural sanatoriums of North America. Thousands of people flock to Denver, Colorado Springs, and other sections of the State to regain their health. The various min eral springs are also adjuncts to the remedial nature of the climate. The hot sulphur springs of Middle Park and Wagon-Wheel Gap. and the hot iron and soda springs of Manitou. C'afion City, Glenwood Springs, and Idaho Springs are famous.
The soil along the river-bottoms is largely alluvial. In the eastern part of the State it is a light loam. In some places siliceous and micaceous substances abonml, while here and there clay formations crop out. The forests of the State cover about 10,500.000 acres of land, and are restricted mainly to the mountains.
For flora and fauna, see the paragraphs un der ROCKY MOUNTAINS and UNITED STATES.