The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-06-27
THE PACIFIC COAST.
The Dearth of Rain in California and
Its Consequences.
Climatic Changes and Their Causes
Indiana's Representatives
The Way 10 Come.
Especial Correspondence of the sentineI.I

Especial Correspondence of the Sentnel.l
SANTA BARBARA. Cal, June ITO read
descriptions of some parts of California a
year ago. and then descriptions of the same
localities now, one would naturally think
the writer drunk or crazy, so different would
be the account given. A year ago vast
garden firing ed the sea for a thousand miles
and extended back two hundred miles,
known as California. This now is but the
skeleton of its former self, owing TO the COM
Narative drouth. The drouth is local even
VI this state; it can never be general. Ow
ing to the natural laws that effect the whole
climatic character of the Pacific coast
| drouth can never blast the entire country
bordering the Pacific. The trade winds that
blow continuously during the summer sea
son from the southwest as soon as they
reach the higher attitudes or cold
er regions, are very materially effect
ed, and their humidity is precipitated in
the form of rains. Northern California
and Oregon are. of course, several degrees
cooler than the southern parts of the former
state and Arizona, and the very GOODNESS
produces rain. Oregon is a land of rain. at
| always rains there" says some one. And
the northern part of this state shares large
ly of the same feature. The rain fall is as
varied as the climate, or the habits of the
people, or the complexion of the inhabitants.
In northern California, for instance, one
while at San Diego, in the southern extrem-
ity OF the state, it was but three inches. This
| year the lower counties are suffering very
much from drouth; in fact, south of line
running east from San Francisco the rain
fall has been very light, not averaging per-
| haps more than two inches The spring has
| been very cold for this country until recent
| ly. One strange effect of the cool weather
| and the drouth is that some of the fruit
| trees, apple and peach trees for instaace, have
not put out their foliage, but stand as bare
of leaves as in the dismalest days of January
in Indiana. And they will not be covered
with leaves the entire year.
HOT WEATHER.
The heat in the last week has been fearful.
Yesterday the mercury stood at II o'clock at
! 100 in the shade. II was like being in the
breath of furnace 10 walk along the streets.
| No doubt, and it is but justice to this de
| lightful climate to say so, some of the heat
was produced by immense fires that have
been raging in the country above. For the
dispatches tell us this morning that fire
broke out day OF two ago upon large
ranch near Lompoc, some 20 miles above
this city, and so great was the confagration
that up to that time 6, 600 acres of land were
burned over and several hundred head OF
| cattle had also been burned Houses,
barns, hay, barley; in fact, all kinds
OF property shared the same fate.
Not even live stock was exempt
This will add very greatly to the want md
suffering of this part OF the country, for this
fire occurred in a wealthy section. By the
| way you in the east who can not look out
of your windows without seeing plenty
everywhere know literally nothing Of the
want of sections of this country. Mark you
there are no sufferings like there would be
under similar circumstances in the east
There are no sufferings from cold, night OF
day. The entire populace could live in the
fields If necessary, and game can be had any
where in the mountains; but the want il
from such Inquiries and frequently such
necessaries as YOU have in the east.
DOWN TO BED ROCK. 2
Horses and cattle in the drouth section are
put on the lowest rations, while family liv
| ing is down to "bed rock" i heard a min
lister few days ago asked to give
his services at camp meeting, as
they greatly needed his assistance, -but he
was notified that he must pay his
own expenses, as they could not provide
even for the preachers. This indicates close
living. don't you think?
The present drouth and close condition OF
things make this an suspicious year for per-
sons TO emigrate TO this country. This is
the. worst Of all years. and property in many