Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-02-18
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Our CnLifa.nia letter.

to write you on other business, [ have no
reason why could not line few items
for the press. 1t may interest some Of
your readers to hear something Of the
prospect Of a crrp ycar in California, also
to know of the employment and welfare
of us Tenn. boys, recently from old
Washington county we are three in nuns
ber: viz. L. +. Faw, j. p. Edwards (di>
rectly from Oregou) and myself. T. f..
is clcrkiug for 6rst-class business firm
in Salinas City. My brother is foreman,
employed on the Rancho of j. D. Carr,
the great stock man oftbis county. am
teaching school at this place. We are all
at least keeping even with the world, hut
by no means getting rich as many think
man must do if he stays in California.
We find this like most other places, some
people make money; hut it takes work.
Our health has been very good. We see
each other frequently, and of course, have
q pleasant time. ''. .'i q
As we have not the Ball room fever,
nor the dancing mania, we do not enjoy
tripping the fantastic toe" SO much as a
large majority of Californians do; but
there is one thing We do enjoy, and that
is such "Christmas dinner as we had
at the residence of our old Tenn. friend,
NJ. ii. Clark. Well if his most excellent
lady don't know how to serve CALIFORNIA
good thugs to suit Tennessee friends I'll
give 1t up.
Quite an addition to the legal profession
of this county is the opening of an office
in Salinas City. by Judge Jno. l.. Muir,
ply, formerly of Knoxville, Tennessee !;
whose wife was a Semons, of Illinois.
related to the Slemons of your town.
Mr.. Faw and had the pleasure Of
dining with the Judge and his very pleas
ant lady during the holidays. For lit
tie less than two hours, | think We did
justice to the sumptuous display of table
luxuries; served in the most modern
style bit of course We interspersed it
with conversation. TIE Judge is young
yet. has a any friends and good prospects
of brghs future among his compeers in
California.
But was going to say something about
crops aud weather. will begin by say
ing that the universal low price of wheat
left the farmers but little profit Oh last
years crop but early in the Fall about
the Erst Of November rain came. Many
went to work plowing for new crop (;
much wheat was sown. No more rain
fell, everything became dry and parched
Everybody looked for rain about Christ
mas as it usually comes then; but no
rain came. The FIRST rain had spoiled
the old grass, the new was now parched
up; cattle must soon suffer, farming
about stopped, New Year passed aud no
rain. Thus things grew worse and worse
many said Dry Year" was up on us
we must look out for place COR our stock
and find some other way than farming to
make living. Business stagnated, and
the indications of "Dry Year" could be
seen in almost every ones face. Some
still said we would have rain, and sure
enough we did, On the 10Th ult. it began
and since then it has rained nicely. 1t not
only rained in Salinas valley, but all over
the State, and from lips, pen and press
the words pass ronnd "What a glorious
rain and well may they SO say, for it is
worth millions to this little valley. The
effects of it are seen In every branch cI
business. Everything will now move oa
with new impetus, farming is already
rushing. The result. Of the rainfall which
to this time is about z inches, can be
better imagined than described. A dry
year here is q total failure, We are now
out Of the reach Of that, aud the prospects
are good for an excellent crop year. The
mornings now are pretty cool, seldom
frosty. Grass is growing, flowers spring'
ing up, and everything is as lovely as {
May morning.
l have already jumbled items togethel
to twice the length 7 expected, but if yor
can 6ad space fsr it, Twill trouble yot
no more for some time.
Yours truly,
ID. K. EDWARDS.
Gonzales, Mcntery County, California
January 2Sth, 1875.
~ Nearly is,ooO.ooo pounds 0
, ice from the surplus stores collected b.
the B itish authorities in India, for tn