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'''SOME WEATHER STATISTICS IN MONTANA'''

[[Fanning the Embers]], 1971, Range Rider Reps, Miles City, Montana

The coldest January on record was at Fort Keogh in 1888 when on January 13 temperature dropped to the all time low of 65 below. Fort Keogh records were kept from 1878 until 1893 and the weather bureau here furnished records to complete the following chart from 1891 to 1943.

Days in the first 21 days of January that registered below zero temperatures are numbered for the following years: 1948, two days; 1947, six days; 1946, none; 1945, five days; 1944, one day.

In 1943, there were 11 sub-zero days; 1942, eight; 1941, five; 1940, 13; 1937, 21; 1936 nine; 1935, 11; 1934, one; 1933, one; 1932, six; 1931, two; 1930, 17; 1929, 10; 1927, seven: 1926, three; 1924, six; 1922, five; 1920, four; 1919, three; 1918, 11.

In 1917, there were eight sub-zero days; 1916, 20; 1915, one; 1913, 15; 1912, 16; 1911, 12; 1910, nine; 1909, 14; 1907, 16; 1906, two; 1905, eight; 1904, one; 1903, one: 1901, ten; 1899, six; 1897, two; 1896, nine; 1895, ten; 1894, ten; 1893, two.

In 1892, there were 18 sub-zero days: 1891, four; 1890, 18; 1889, 17; 1888, 19; 1887, 15; 1886, 19; 1885 (very cold) 14; 1884, 12; 1883, (very cold) 13; 1882, two; 1881, (very cold) 13; 1880, 10; 1879, 13; 1878, six.

There have been twelve observers here, including Elmer Peterson, who took over in 1943. The first one, back in 1892, was H. R. Boynton, who served until May 1894.

Following him, according to weather bureau records at Helena, were E. H. Thompson, 1894-97; C. M. Boucher, 1897-99; A. W. Kennie, 1899-1905; Boucher again from 1905 to 1922; T. E. Gull, 1922-28; B. P. Hughes, 1928 to 1935; Louis R. Jurwitz, 1935-37; W. C. Chapin, 1937-41; L. 0. Oliver under temporary assignment from November 1941 to February 1942; A. Schonberger, March 1942 till when Peterson took over in January, 1943.

At the time the weather bureau was located at the post office it had a paid employee. But Peterson like hundreds of others over the country does the work for nothing.

He installed a recording barometer in March, 1946 and later that year bought a recording thermometer. He has two maximum and two minimum thermometers, just in case one of them goes wrong. In 1947 he installed the weather bureau box.

A hundred and 10 is the highest temperature recorded since Peterson took over. One of his prized possessions was a Swedish thermometer which was handed down to him by his father, G. M. Peterson, which had been handed down by the latters father. It was as accurate a brand as a new instrument.

At Petersons request, R. A. Dightman, section director for the bureau at Helena, searched the files but could find no one who kept the records here prior to when Boynton took over in 1892 but its Peterson's thought that the government had someone here as early as the Eighties. The Washington office had little information on the station, probably for the reason that in the early days it was an Army matter and the records were probably lost when Fort Keogh was closed out as a cavalry post.

"All for free" is what Elmer Peterson got for going to the trouble of recording temperature and moisture. He had an investment of about a thousand dollars in thermometers and other instruments. He got interested by hanging around the postoffice when the station was there.

The winter of 49 will go down in history with the days of '88, Miles Cityans agree. looking forward to the time when they too can spin yarns about "waking up when it was 34 below zero."

Old Timers can out talk newcomers with cold weather stories. Bill Roberts and H. J. Holdgrafer were reminiscing when Roberts said, "I remember when I was running a livery barn in Ismay and it was 50 below zero. Holdgrafer said, "Yes that same winter, it was in 1917, 1 was driving along with a load of hay and some one said to me 'do you know it's 50 below"' The sun was shining and no wind so I didn't realize how cold it was. Roberts said the cold winter was in 1915. So to settle any question on just what January was the coldest, the Star reporter asked Elmer Peterson to chart temperatures which have been reported in this writing.