The Empire County argus., 1854-01-28
CLIMATE OF CALIFORNIA.

change of the climate OF California that will result
in more uniform distribution of wet and dry, heat
and cold, than has Characterised the climate of Cali
fornia since its discovery, down to the time hf its
occupation by the people of the States. During the
last summer it was observed that more showers oc
Cured than were ever known before at that season
of the year Consequent upon it, was a variety OF
opinions as to the probable cause, as though some
positive change has been produced.
Some attributing it to the introduction of large
quantities of water along the tops and sides of the
vast ridges or foot hills of the Nevada mountains for
mining purposes, and which in their tortuous wind
ings, became at length and long before they reach
ed the lower valies entirely absorbed by the earth
or lost or carried into the air by evaporation.
That the rapid evaporation of all this water or a
million times its quantity will affect in the least the
climate of California, we do not believe.
| 1t is well known that during almost the entire Of
the summer months, the prevailing winds along
nearly the whole coast of California and indeed far
inland is from the west or direct from the ocean.
As consequence the little additional moisture that
escapes from the earths surface in consequence Of
the introduction of water by artificial means, is
driven daily in former years, entirely and far be-
yond the confines of the State or that section of the
same where such evaporation has taken place, for
let the wind gentle as it may be- blow in any direc-
ton, this result must follow.
There are others who would and do attribute the
change, Gf there really be such, which we very
much doubt) to the overturning for agricultural
purposes, of vast surfaces of the soil that for ages
Iol
this alone will cause sufficiently increased evapor-
alton, that escaping to the colder regions of the
Clouds is alone sufficient to produce the change
And now that this month of the winter has been
marked as the coolest ever known before, accompa-
MED by fall Of snow extending towards the lower
vallies, distance and depth unprecedented that
consequently great change is being produced that
will ultimately result in making the climate of Cali
fornia different in respect from the States east in
the same latitude.
But if we can let us look fairly at the subject and
without cheating ourselves, arrive at something like
a reasonable conclusion if possible
During the winter of 1862 SO, there was almost
one uninterrupted rain or snow storm, depending
upon altitude but did any one prophesy from this
that California winters would soon become as the
winters in the States east
So also of the last past autum and winter till
perhaps ten days since, the weather has been the
most delightful we have ever felt in any country,
warm balmy and bright, but no one was heard to
say that this unusually warm weather, was indica-
tive in the least of change that eventually would
result in climate similar to eastern winters nor
was it, till the SHOWS and hard freezngs of an en-
tire week were upon us, that thought of the kind
was uttered But how is it now (! Wise men and
prophets telling u.s. that soon our California
winters will become as cold and our summers will
be as frequently cooled by refreshing showers, as
any other portion of the continent. To all this we
say, we don't believe it.
Egypt, with its peculiarities of climate, almost
entirely without rain, is Egypt still, and has so
continued for ages
So too Of Spain, of France and north even to the
Russias the vegetable products of an hundred or
five hundred years ago, the products of the
same countries now. The rivers have their same
periodical rise and fall, though perhaps a single
year may eapse with its exceptions to the general
rule; but still they flow on and summer succeeds
to winter and winter to summer, with so much of
regularity and little change of climate, that the
spontaneous productions of the vegetable world
which would be the first to feel the effects of
change, remain unchanged for ages.
Many an one, whose eye may possibly glance
over this article, may remember the cold seasons
that for four successive years, commencing with
1882 visited large portion of New England; du
ring which, not chesnut or walnut reached ma
turity, and many argued that they would never
again be produced that the earth was gradually
growing colder and its climate sensibly changing
But the following year was not only the reverse of
this, but astonshingly and every species of wild
fruit and NUT Indigenous to the latitude and To-
cality were produced in wonderful profuson.
And the same of the Pacific coast
We find preserved among the few historical re-
cords of the early Spaniards account, in one in
stance of three years drouth and another of two,
during which no rain fell, winter or summer and
that animals of every description, died in almost
countless numbers, merely from the want of fresh
water.
We are therefore inclined to the opinion that the
climate of California like that of all other countries
upon the globe, will remain nearly the same it now
is, for ages to come, subject however from year to
year to great changes produced by natural laws,
governing the elements; but that for series of
years taken a whole, no change other than these
can be expected.