New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-15
PACIFIC COAST TOPICS.

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iFROM ksIox AL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrpuyEI
SAN FRANCISCO. Oct 6.-The first rams have
come. marking the end of the long dry Season. They
came almost without warning overcoming many
IKE summer cloud. for in this climate of two great
seasons no one makes any provision for the
casional shower Since May not drop of RAIN has
fallen until last week. Hence the absence of tho
umbrella on san Francisco streets, except in the
hands of the British or Eastern tourist. One Of
the compensatiOns for the dust and mOnotOny OF
the California summer that you are not compelled
TO carry an umbrella. Picnics and camping parties
are announced without the inevitable Eastern pro-
vlso, II 1t doesn't RAIN II is unusual here to
cloud as big as a mans hand IN this clear, in
tensely blue sky, which suff,rs no change for six
months of the year. Tho advantages to camping
parties and all others who depend on an outdoor
life may be appreciated by those no have spent a
rainy week in the AdirOndacks along the st.
Lawrence-a week which the almanac declared
would be clear and warm. So great is the reliance
here on the heavens that the farmer leaves his crop
OF wheat piled In bags IN the field. Occasionally
he allows IL TO as late as October and this
negligence costs him dearly when the first rain
comes In the shape of the tempest that has recently
passed over the State. This damage. with the de-
struchon OF much of the natural cured hay on the
pasturages of the Coast Range Is the extent of the
loss by the heavy showers From every other
point of view the rains are great blessing. They
have laid the clouds OF dust, cleared the air of
smoke, cleansed the sewers, washed the coat of
CRIME and dust from all buildings, and put an end
to the Sunday picnic whose return home late ia the
evening is marked by parade through the streets
with bands playing and flags flying.
After these early rains the California landscape
is well worth seeing. The wealth of color which
marks it in May is no longer here but in Its stead
IS softness of tint and cearness of outline which
can be equalled at no other season. San Francisco
is entitled to the name of the City of Magnificent
Views. Fog and smoke in summer combine to blot
out the superb prospect but when these foes TO
fine scenery driven off, the city and its suburbs
afford series of picturesque views surpassed in
this country. Tho harbOr is filled with feet of
wheat ships waiting their turn to receive cargo
steamships and tugs plying in and out; coasters
slip down from the Sacramento River their decks
piled high with boxes of fruit rising out of the
clear blue water are the half-dozen islands which
dot the bay, and which seem to be only stones
throw from the shore Everywhere is this illusion
of distance which seems to bring the remote and
inaccessible within easy reach. Mount DiablO,
fifty miles away, seems as though 1t could be
reached by an easy walk of five mics. while Tam
ulpais. bold headland which overooks the Golden
Gate, but is ten miles distant, and accessible only
by hard climbing, seems no further away than
Brooklyn Heights from the Wall Street Ferry.
Politics continues to absorb attention in this
city. Rival Republican conventions have nom,
mated complete tickets and the split In the party
widens daily. The Democrats, as in NewYork, are
strainlng every nerve to heal all faction fights and
take advantage of the quarrels IN the other camp.
The prospect is that they will meet with success
unless they commit some monumental blum
der The campaign orators of both parties
are making the State res0und with their ell
oquence, and the funny feature OF it Is that
both use the same kind of stage thunder Each
leading candidate claims to be the only Simon Pure
Anti MonODoiist, AMI the honest granger by this
time must be in a sad state of bewilderment and In
cined to turn his back both parties. The Repub-
Gcaps were forced TO declare in favor of the en-
forcement of the Sunday law but the candidates In
their speeches contrve to assure the hquor-dealers
that their inalenabe right to sell gin on the sew
entb dav will be respected. and TO draw some NICE
distinctions between legal and the Biblical day OF
rest.
Reports from all parts of the coast show that the
season has been a good one for the farmers. The
wheat crop for the year amounts to 49,3l1,oOO
bushels or nearly round 100000 bushels
the State with the single exception of the bonanza
erop of 1880 The surplus for export is estimated
at 1874 800 tons. Prices have been good and there
are an abundance of ships 70 carry away the crop,
so that the year may be called great success for
the California farmers. In spite of the attention
given to fruit and wine wheat still holds the POSI-
ton on this coast that cotton retains III the South
ern States 1t ia a crop that means so much ready
money with no expenditure after 1t Is taken from
the ted and II is not perishaOie ne statistics III
regard to profits of grape orange ana owe culture
are very seductive. but the experienced FARMER
knows that theory and practice III 1rult CROWN 90
not often agree. The chances OF loss anu ClsasleI
are tar more numerous than III Wheat gIpNlnei 50
he abides 10y the staple crop that nothing Dut dry
season can rum.
People in society are making preparations for
the return of the Princess LOuse-an Important
event which has no fixed date IN BRUSH ColumoIa
the yce-Tegal party have mad an ehthuslasilc re-
ception In that PARKWAY corner OF the Queehs
Dominion LOYALTY seemed more eager ana ardent
than in London itself A lady correspondent from
Victoria tells me that society was stirred 10 us
centre there By the prospect or the V5U, auu thdt
the receptions and parties were brilliant and sue
cessful here was much OyerlauilDg OF Ihe IeCOIus
Of court etiquette and a large amount Oh tiiIc wa
spent by those who expected 10 De presenter 70 Io
Princess in practising the art OF retiring Iroib
room without turning round. IN spite Oh lolI pIdC-
tee many were 50 embarrassed 0y ther luot uleeIl
ing with royalty that they deliberately 'uI i
their backs on tho Princess ana several aIIoI
ing the Marquis. pas ,ed the Princess Dy WLthVuI
recognition! Another lulcrou5 feature oI tnls
drawIug-room reception was the presence ol
Chinese who came TO pay his respects, As Ao WIZ
died ocross The room there was a sudden pause IN
the ceremony and look of distress on tno Idce Vi
the Marques aid. but gesture from us InasGl
showed that he did not share the an l'neeo @
ment of the coast, and John Culhaudu WIS PAC
scented IN due form. The GONerhOI ,,Oencldi -
taking much interest IN the resources OF tne lo'
and the stay of the party may be prolonged ioi S'