The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-04-16
Letter from n wheeling Boy In
California.
SAN FnAYcrsc6, April 0, 1875

DAN FRAhCLsCO, APrll " Aoio'
Editors InteliIsoncer.
A few weeks ago Californians were on
the brink Of despair at the prospect Of
another dry winter, which, following the
unusually dry one Of the season previous,
would have caused untold distress among
all clauses. Now everything is changed
BY the almost unprecedented rainfall Of
the Last two months, which has exceeded
that Of any other season, during the same
period, since the settlement OF the State.
Every year seems TO establish the fact
that there Ia no such thing as foretelling
the amount OF rain likely to fall in any
winter. Nearly all theorists on the sub.
ject predicted a Admitted supply OF rain for
this winter, attempting to proveiro the
records OF other years that there has been
a tendency for dry seasons TO come in
pairs, and up to the middle Of January
appearances certainly favored such a
theory. Eastern people can form but
little idea OF the anxiety that peryaded
all classes Of people.
The probabilities were the theme Of
conversation, on the cars and steamboats,,
on the street,, in offices and stores, every.
where the subject was certain to come up,
and people watched the clouds and the
course OF the wind, and consulted the
barometer, and hoped aud prayed for
rain. Since then, as you have been ad.
vised by the telegraph, We have had 1t in
abundance, and in many points OF the
State they think they have had too much.
One OF the remarkable things about this
remarkable State, is the uneven distribu.
ton OF the rain fall, as shown by the re-
cords, which are kept in all the principal
towns, and notably. at all the stations Of
the Central and Southern Pacific Rail.
roads. Up 10 this time We have had
over SO inches OF rain in San Francisco,
while at San Jose, fity miles south, they
have had only about half as much. In
Oakland, Just across the bay 10 the east,
the rain guage shows several inches less
than in San Francisco, aud 10 San
Rafael, about the same distance
nortnward, the down.pour measures
over 80 inches. Similar discrepancies
are observed between places a few miles
apart all over the State. The. chief in
Auences bringing about this result seem
10 be the various ranges Of mountains
which are distributed over the coast.
The northern portions also receive more
rain than the southern, rs for instance,
in Downieyille, 10 Shasta county, 102
inches have fallen, while at San Diego
they have had but IL inches. While on
this subject I will say that TO a person
desiring to emigrate TO California there Is
no information OF so much importance
as the record oil the rain fall oil the local
ity in which be proposes to settle. From
ii he can Judge Of the outlook for agricul.
ture in dry seasons, which are certain to
come at intervals. 10 all the larger towns
= record has been kept for the last twen-
" five years, and the railroad companies
require all station agents to keep o like
record, which extends back several
years. But every county In tie State
has had enough this season, and the
supply does not seem to be e1-
hausied, yet in all probability, the lar.
gest crop eyer raised 10 California will
Be harvested this year. Even the food.
ed districts, along the Sacramento River
will be cultivated, and in some instances,
land but lately under water, has been
rented at forty dollars per acre, which
certainly speaks volumes for It's produc.
lions. Considering the prices consumers
have 10 pay for farm products farming
near san Francisco ought to be a good
business. Choice potatoes Of last years
crop are now selling at q TO 8 cents per
pound, which is equivalent to 81 80 per
bushel. Butter ranges from IS to 60
cents per pound, according 10 the season.
Eggs 80 to 80 cents per dozen; chickens
90 cents to 81 each. California Is q great
fruit country, yet choice. fruit is always
dear. with, perhaps, the exception Of
grapes 10 the heighlh Of the season.
Thlnk Of paying three bits" per pound
for cherries, which Is thepriee commonly
askedfor "Black Iartarians,n In the sea-
SON, and you would be surprised TO see
how few It takes to make a pound, when
weighed on the spring balances, which are
commonly used.
How much Of these high prices Is alb
,orbed In ireights and commissions TO
middle men l have no means Of knowing,
but / have heard II repeatedly asaerted
thAt provisions are lower in the San Fran.
cisco markets than anywhere In the inte'
rior, Everything comes to San Francisco,
and farmers will send produce here, which
frequently sells for . less price than they
eouid have had at their own doors, be.
ddes paving freight and commissions.
The business Of buying and selling L.
oyerdone In this State a much as II Is
Eat. Men who depend on working for
Others for q living are also largely In ex.
cess OF the demand for them. About the
only kind Of men there soemS to Be room