The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-03-23
Correspondence Of the Hawk-Eye.1
JoHNsoN's Rancho, CAL,

FeOfuary lotn, 1901.
FR,rNp DuSHAM After residence Of seven
months in this far-famed country, allow me to
give my opinion as regards climate, soil, produc-
tions, &C.. California has been noted, and is
yet, for the extended variety Of climate and its
productions, necessary to the building up of
great State will first notice the climate since
my arrival, which was the 2sth of June, 1850.
The average degree of temperature at that time
in San Francisco, was 81 ., weather clear in the
middle and after-part of the day-foggy and
damp in the morning. During my stay in San
Francisco, that was about the average kind of
weather. Some days the Mercury would rise to
70 and so degrees. The mornings were invaria-
bly, foggy, and believe are so tho greater part
Of the season. at least so am told.
The third of July, arrived in Marysvile.-
This place is situated on the east side of the
Coast range Of Mountains, near the eastern side
of the Valley, and think 400 feet above the
sea. Here the weather was clear and few de-
grees warmer on the average than in San Fran
cisco. They do not have SO much fog or damp
chilly weather, especially mornings it would be
very pleasant until 10 o'clock A. NJ, then, ow-
ing to the dry state Of the ground, it became
hot and continued so until near evening; the
nights were pleasant in the extreme. On the
l 9th aud l4th Of July, there was hard rain
something quite uncommon for this country.
On the Goth, mercury stood at 100 in the shade,
weather clear. From the 2sth of July until the
9Th of August, was travelling in the Mountain
District. There the weather was cooler owing
to the greater elevation-weather clear and not
. cloud to be seen for weeks. From the Sd day
of July until the gath day Of September, did
not see but one cloudy day; the atmosphere
was clear as could be at times, and could see
the Coast-rangc of Mountains, near 100 miles
distant, as plain as though they were but ten. -
The 18th day of August was the hottest day l
ever experieneed-mercury at P. NJ, stood at
! Is in the shade. l worked in mine that day,
and it put me in mind of Poock's Mine, ''Many
hunted, sweat, and bled for gold" During Au-
gus. there was some very hot weather-mercu-
ry averaged from 81 to 1912 days marking at
noon over 100 degrees September was more
pleasant, though there we're four days going
above 100 deg There was more air generally,
than in August On the night of the 9th of
of September, it rained for the first time since
the l4th of July. It rained again on the Sd of
October slightly, not enough to more than lay
the dust The weather during October was very
pleasant; there was a little rain on the goth and
oath. and on the 28th VIC had hail storm-hai
fell to the dept of an inch at my place, II miles
Northeast Of Marysville. Mercury ranged from
60 to 80 deg. for the month, at noon ; two thirds
of the month was clear. In November.the wca-
ther was cooler. On the 10Th we had rain, and
on the morning of the 18Th the FIRST frost, in
small quantities, was seen. There was frost on
the mornings of the Esd and Gath, also on the
2sth. The month generally, was fine; the range
of the mercury was from 4s to 81 deg. at noon,
81 deg. being the lowest in the morning. and A
the lowest at evening; the majority Of the wea-
ther clear. December opens beautiful-clear
and warm. Mercury ranged from IS to "a at
noon-tle lowest in the morning %, evening 80.
The weather changed on the 9th, after which we
had rain in abundance, there being very little
clear weather after that time. 1t rained the
torrents-tbere was bu. eight clear days. On
the mornings Of the 2sth and 29th, we had frost
and ice Ice formed / of an inch thick in some
places on still water. This month was quite
cool, the mornings chilly, and fire was necessary
to comfort
The new year opened with rain, which con-
tinued until the 9th, with very little intermis-
sion-the temperature was more equal than in
any previous moath, as the mercury
averages some 24e to SOC morning noon
aud night; generally between 40 and 20 Q =
On the 18th and 18th there was frost in places,
the 10th and Goth, rain the balance of the
month vas as fine as could be asked. Farmers
are sowing grain, and the people generally ma
king preparations for gardening. The bills look
green with grass. All nature seems to be alive,
and the first flowers of Spring are opening
showing that Old Winter which is here but in
name, is gone. February is the finest weather
have seen, with the exception of the 9th, 10th,
and llth, when We had rain and one Of the hard.
est storms we have had in the season. II rained
in torrents, aud was accompanied with violent
wind, making everything put its power. Talk
Of storms-we here know nothing about storms
either in comparison with the Eastern States or
the Mountain dissricts. Here we are making
garden. Thirty miles north, snow is Eve feet
deep. Here, almost everything is now begun
ming 70 spring into new life there all seem lock.
ed inthe folds Of King Winter, drsary and desc.
late. '3Fsz s5w sEes1s as af.
yv. hao ling in the garden for
3 we nave oeen plaalh---~ :. /, ho;.s. .
month peas are growing two lee. :.
Five miles south. on the plains, they have grown
v>~.< shi>s al v,;nta. w> h.u.