Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-05-20
Onr San Francisco Letter.
SAN FRAxcIsoo. April p. ISL

SFOIs ti ttt dbi thdht ttN
best of the situation. Thu, mornings .iHu
states that the small grains over large
share of the Santa Clara valley, will not
pay to harvest, even for hay, the stalks
being but few inches high aud already
withered up. Yet along the coast line. the
crops are better, and in spots, Grass Val
ley for instance, there has been abundance
of rain, The Southern part Of the State
has suffered most, there not being feed
enough to carry stock until July. So
there are large herds of horses, cattle and
sheep being driven into Nevada, aud even
on further to Colorado. The experience
of the last two years must result in large
emigration to Oregon and Washington,
which States must hereafter be the grana-
ries for the entire Pacific Coast.
There is now very general inquiry as to
your country, and the prospects of the
early completion Of the Northern Pacific
Railroad are canvassed with much interest.
Your correspondent had the pleasure of an
interview with a gentleman of influence
connected with the road, and obtained
from him some reliable information as to
the present intentions of the company. 1t
than twenty. five miles will be built this
year, and probably no more than forty ad-
ditional miles next year. In other words,
the company will only construct their road
on the Pacific Division as fast as required
10y the charter, devotng much the larger
share OF its means to the Eastern Division
SO the road will be pushed rapidly west
ward, so as to bring the rich lands of
tho Red River Valley AMI the valleys
tributary to the Missouri into market as
soon as possible, in order to realize means
from their sale to prosecute building of
the road SO you must possess your souls
with patience for two years, for that time
must pass before even a temporary connec-
ton is made with the Sound. The great
Importance Of a judicious selection of the
point to locate the commercial emporium
of the northwest is fully realized by the
company, and they do net mean to be in a
hurry about it. They desire to find
point which will serve as a common termi-
nus for the main line via the Columbia
river and the branch via the Snoqualmic
Pass will probably control the selection
The track, therefore. will be carried as far
north as possible and at the same time
secure abundant anchorage for shipping
1t is feared that such point cannot be
found south of Bcllingham Bay WILDLY
Island and Camano Islands have been ex
amined, with view Of cutting an inlet
through the former at the foot of Holmes
llnrbor, but it is found that the waters of
TINT hurbor, Saratoga Passage, and even
Port Susan, are too deep for anchorage
fenn's Cove might be utilized as small
harbor, but it will not answer for the
amount of commerce which ,ud be even
now tributary t" the road Some place
must be found which will compare favora.
bly, with the ample harbor facilities of San
Francisco, for the Northern Pacific. il must
not he forgotten. is a competing line with
the Union and Central.
All branches of industry here are suffer.
ing from the effects of the drouth Lum.
Der especially is in slow demand, the pro.
duct on having far exceeded the demand.
and the demand being small compared
with what it would be had tLc,e been
abundant rains. In riding through the
city IN the street cars one cannot fail TO
notice the large number of placards of
houses to let The stasnation of business
has had a particularly blighting effect upon
whisky shops, over 1900 having been
closed within the last year We see by
the Geographic reports that Washington
and Oregon have had more than their
usual amount of rain. Well, that is better
than no rain at all. The scientists are in.
curing into the effect of the stretching
the iron bands across the continent, cnquir-
ing whether the magnetic currents which
flow out Of the south pole, enveloping and
pcrmeating the crust of the earth aud then
flowing into the north POLE are not inter.
fered with and diverted by the conducting
bands which cross those currents. 1t is
even thought that earthquakes are con.
trolIed and modified by these iron lines.
and it is noticed that violent storms ac
companlcd by lightning are far less fire..
quent in the great central basin than for.
merry. If there is anything in this theory.
the sooner VIC stretch the lines from Olym.
pia to San Diego, the sooner the eoui ibri.
UNI will be restored. Who knows but
this north and south railroad NAV be the
means of eqnalizing the rain belts, and
thus make California to blossom like the
rose. DO you think you could spare these
people some Of your rain !?
The conviction of Mrs. Fair of murder
in the first degree meets with the approba.
ton of all right,thinking men. 1t is not
seen how it is possible to avoid the OK.
treme penalty, for the case was carefully
and laboriousl y tried, by an able Judge,
and it is not likely an error has been com
mtted. The Supreme Court will have to
affirm the judgment, and as the Governor
has no powert to commute to Imprisonment.
the woman must be hung, unless, indeed.
she puts an end to her life by suicide
This verdict will be of immense benefit to
the whole coast, for the administration of
the criminal law has for many wears been