Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-01-22
come Matters tor Thought.

come Matters tor Thought.
From the poignant way in
which the San Francisco Chronicle
deprecates the ravages of the north
wind we are inclined to think that,
maugre the reported rainfall tele-
graphed from the northern and
central counties, they are in quite
NJ bad . plight as we are down
here in Los Angeles. Quite evil
IDENTIFY they have bad the rains
that have been heralded, but these
have been undoubtedly followed
by fierce, drying north winds,
which have absorbed all the avail
able moisture. and more, for
they suck the very SUBJ
stance out Of the soil. 1t re.
qulrss easily twice as much rain
fall in that portion of the State
lying north of San Francisco to
produce crop as is needed In this
section; and, the north wind there
is simply uncomfortable in its de-
vastations. We think that il Is q
reliable proposition that, If Los
Angeles, this year, shall have a
notably deficient rainfall to the
end, the whole State will suffer
from what is known as q dry year.
That being the case, We recur to q
proposition which has always
seemed to US absolutely impregna.
BILE, viz, that Los Angeles county,
on the whole, can come out OF a
drouth better than any other Sec
ton of the State. To begin with,
the sources Of the Los Angeles, the
San Gabriel and the Santa Ana
rivers and other streams are so re-
mote that experience has proved
that they are not in the least af-
fected by dry year, their volume
being equable and undiminished
10 the worst drouth. Owing to the
same cause the we'll known moist
lands of Los Angeles county are
always to be depended upon. Their
.-untAiling moisture is due to the
seepsge of An extent of snow clad
mountains which may reach clear
to the Wahsatch, for anything we
know to the contrary. As a mat
ter of fact our crop of the citrus
fruits for the current year Is al
ready assured, and very bounti-
1ul and satisfactory crop it is. An
unusually dry year may diminish
the yield Of the grape by one third;
but, as against this drawback, we
can set off the fact that, since the
last unpleasant visitation Of that
kind, forty per cent. Of additional
vineyard is now in bearing condi-
ti0n. AS to all other staples,
except wheat, We are assured
of large yield, even iC-
Guiding barley, which is lrri.
gated to q much greater extent than
is generally believed. AS TO corn,
We are certain of q yield which
would, In any year, sell for 81, ,0O0,-
600, and which, In season Of high
prices, may go to exceptionally
high figures, and bring in $500, 900
more.
Our sheep interests may suffer
severely, but 1t must be borne in
mind that the profits of this busi-
ness are so exceptionally great
that 1t can far more than stand the
discount involved in an untoward
year. Disaster only overtakes this
interest one year in five or six,
and capital invested in sheep
increases at q rate which would
guarantee o usance of fifty per
cent. per annum.
At the worst, there are close upon
two hundred Thousand acres OF ir-
rigabIe lands in Los Angeles coun.
ty. They are now being flooded to
40 unheard Of extent, from our in
Vulnerable streams and zapjas.
The loss OF the spontaneous grasses
Of our mesa and other lands will be
at least partially made good by an
unusual area planted in alfalfa,
which yields from six to eight
crops . year.
Taking the citrus fruits, the corn,
wine, brandy, barley and vegeta-
bles, which are certain product
Of our irrigated lands, and our 9th.
Or abundant products, We repeat,
what we have affirmed before,
that, il there is a scant crop
throughout the whole State, Los
Angeles county will come out with
big money In the pockets of her
people.
The drawback to this picture,
which we give merely as one of
cancellation, and not as a roseate
outlining Of possible good, is that
our mesa farmers-those who de.
pend on the ordinary rainfall-will
undoubtedly suffer. This lie q SUBJ
jsct for keen regrets. That aspect
Of . dry season has 30 impressed Us
khak dyripO efv of fbo aavan uaa r.