The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-03-23
Aalraiialt C5azette.
Est MoDUs IN RBBUs.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH %, 1881.
our San Francisco Letter.
SAN FRANc1soo, Feb. 18th, 1881.

SAN FRANc1soo, Feb. 18th, 1881.
KE All.
KE AIN KAIAKAUA, as you are aware, has start
ed for Japan by the steamer Oceanic. His visit
was one round of excursions, entertainments, and
social inequalities, which must have gratifed him,
while they certainly crafty those to whom the
Prince accorded his presence. These republicans
despite their theories have adecent regard for
ranks, especially of that is fortified by royalty
and they are not backward in doing honor thereto.
This is all right, for the social world ought not to
be hampered and cribbed by political theories, or
logical rules Welfare and happiness are different
ial quantities, and republican may be quite
happy entertaining persons of rank, while hisvel-
fare as a citizen might not be improved by an
abandonment of his theories. The Prince carried
of his incognito handsomely, it being understood
by those about him that a fine would be imposed
on those who applied to him the royal title. The
ball given by the ladies of the Palace o1ilhe eve
of his departure was a splendid affair.
WINTER.
This Winter has been one of unusual and heavy
rains. As the welfare of the people and con-
sequently moiety of their happiness depends
upon the wetness or dryness of the winter months,
there is much watching of the atmospheric
phenomena at the close of the dry months, and
nope anxiety predominant, according the
rains withheld their coming until December,-so
late that many feared the pinch of an Improbable
agricultural year for ISL, but with that month,
the raln-laden clouds put IN appearance. and
never let up with their down-pour until the month
went out, and they who had sighed for rain called
out =" hold enough y So also for the two past
months, clear days have been the exceptions, and
the result is, that The Winter has passed into the
category of the unfortunate flood years one.
when the swollen rivers have damaged farms, and
ruined many a man, who, last fall, feared he
might not have rain enough. Along the outlies of
Sacramento and San Joaquin the damage has been
immense, especially on the islands situate III these
rivers; these having been submerged some or IL
feet their leyies swept away, and silt or sterile
mining debris spread over their fertile surface.
These islands, and the banks of the rivers, com
monty known as Iule lands, on account of their
rich soil and exceeding fertility, have secured in
yestors, who have banked out the river-water and
under ordinary misfortune from floods, might turn
a profitable penny from two good seasons out of
five But a season like the present, of 1893 OF of
1887, deiies all calculation, and wipes out not
Only the farm, but the farmers foundation as
well. From II to 20 per acre. II will cost to re-
place the leyies, and III many farms season or
two lost, the waters most disappear through the
SLOW process OF evaporation. A nelghbor whose
days spent in threading the intricacies of the
law for the benefit of his clients, deemed his farm
on the Sacramento worth $4,000 last December. |
this February he can hardly give 1t away /
Another, a military, man has expended rising of |
100000 on these 1ule lands, and he like many of /
his neighboTs looks upon fortune swept away in |
night. Yet these lands are so fertile that prob
ably other sanguine will come TO the 'front.' pit
themselves against the riyer-god, to become prob
ably victims of his rayages on some rainy winter |
years hence.
A potent cause of this damage is asserted to be
The filling up of the river beds with mining debris
The Sacramento Is said to have its bed filled up
from to feet, (the exact feet varying accord
ne miner or a farmer tells the tale,) conse-
Iuentiy, the channel of the waters having been
1t no longer flow to the sea, when
he rams and melting SHOWS make an extra de-
nand for outlet.
The rainfall for the season in this city thus far
las been 70 inches than double that of either
If the past two years and yet its volume has been
much less than has fallen upon Honolulu in the
anne time A California wet season would pass
1t your islands for dry one.