The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-11-24

XXXI
California Physically Considered.
SAN JOSE, Cal, Au.. p, 1889

DAN JOSE, Odl.s Au%. -, COJ.
The State of California may be rou. h
ly characterized as two ranges Of noun
tsns-a large aud smal! one-with i
great valley betgeen them, aud a narrow
irregular counterpart eparating the sm all
er from the Pacific Ocean. If we add to
these a small strip OF arid, but fertile
coaet, and a broad sandy desert behind
it, lying south west of California proper,
and likely one day to be politically sew
cred from it, We have a sufficiently accu-
rate outline of the topography Of the
Golden State.
Such region, stretching from n. lat.
30 deg, 30 min. up to lat. ~ deg, and
ri,iug from the Pacific Ocean Up to per-
petualIy snow covered peaks, 1900 feet
high, eau hardly be said to have climate.
Aside from the Alpine crests OF the Sier-
re-, and the suljry deserts below the Mo-
have and Santa Barbara. California eul
bodies almo-t every grsdatlon of climate
from the semi iarotic, to the semi tropical.
There are green, fertile valleys in the ST.
ezra which only begin to De we'll erassed
when the herbage OF the great valley is
drying Up, aud from which the cattle are
driven BY SHOWS as early as the 1t of
October-lonE before cras. begins TO
start afresh on the banks of the SacTa-
mento. There are other valleys upon
aud near the SEA coast herein frost and
snow are strangers, rarely seen, and van
ishing with tbe night that gave them be-
ing. Generally. however, We may sas Of
the State that it has a mild, dry, breezy,
healthy cliu ate, better than that Of lIaly
in that the sultry, scorcbing blasts from
African deserts base bere nc counterpart
Save in the bi : her mountains. or IN the
extreme north east, snow never lies, the
earth never !recze-, aud Winter is bat a
ni!der, Rrceuer, longer SprlDk, throu Sh-
out which cattle pick 0p their own living
far more easily aud safely than III Sun
mer.
The climate of the valleys nay be said
TO be created, as that OF the mountains Is
modified, by the influence of the Pacific
Ocean. Sea -breezes from the soBth west
in Wiuter, from the north west in Sum
Der, m aintain an equilibrium OF temper
ature amazinz 10 New EnElauders. San
Francisco-situated Oh the great bay
formed by the passage Of the blended Wa
ters Of tie Sacramento aui the San Joa
quin-the former draining the western
slope of the Sierra Nevada from the
north, as the latter does from TIE south
-is thus, as it we're, 10 tie throat Of the
bellows through which the dsup gales
fron the Psci6: are constantly rushing tc
cool the psrched slopes or warm the .noa
clad nights of the interior. | presume
there was never Il day without breeze
at San Franci>co-generaily pretty stiff
one. This ea-breeze is always damp. Of
ten chilly. aud rolls up clouds which hide
the sun for part, at least Of most days
Though ice sedom % forms aud snow never
lice 10 her streets, San Francisco must bC
regarded as cold place by Uost Of bel
visiters and unaeclimatcd Sumner dcpi-
gems. | presume bot day was never
known there, and 10 night in which q
pair of good WOODEN blankets were not es.
teemcd shelter aud comfort By all
but extremely hot-tlooded people. Thick
fanuels and waru WOODEN outer garment:
are worn tbrougput the year by all who
have or can get them. In short. San
Francisco is in climate what Londor
would be With her Summer rains trans
formed into stiff and almost constant
breezes'
The coil Of California is almost uni
fornly good. The valleys and ravne'
rejoice 10 generons depth of dark vege'
table mold, usually mingled with or rest.
ing on clay; while the less precipitous hill
sides are covered by light reddish clay
ey cam Of good quality, asking only ad.
eauate moisture TO render it amply pro.
ductive. Being a stream of vi. Fer almost
anywhere, save on the naked granite snd
you incte luxuriapt vegetatiOn.
Yet the traveller who first looks down
on the valleys and lower hill sides, OI
California in midsummer is generally
disappointed by the all but universa
deaduess. Some hardy weeds, little
sour, coarse grass along the few living
water courses, some smal! farbetweer
gardens and orchards rendered green and
thrifty by irrigation. form striking exceP'
tioDs to the general paralysis OF all annu
al manifestations of yegetable life High