Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-14
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
Peculiarities Of the California Climate
varied PrOducts-lsOlatiOn of San
Francisco-W hOles0nie Growth Of the
State.
nee Of TIE EVENING STAR.

BEN1CIA, CAL, April 9Th, 1888.
This II one of the brightest and loveliest Of
California days. Spring is just putting on her
fresh and fragrant robes, aud week Of gentle
showers has made the hills and valleys shine
with new life and luster. The sky this morning is
azure brightness, the gardens are blooming with
all varieties Of roses, the fields are adorned with
brilliant vegetation, the San Pablo and Suisun
bays are sleeping in quiet beauty beneath the
soft sunlight, and Monte Diablo towering
In the dim distance crowns the whole
scene with indescribable majesty. The
climate of California is very peculiar. 1t
combines both the tropical and arctic elements.
Standing at the capital In the midst of the sum-
mer solstice, with temperature Of from 800 to
1909, the gittering SHOWS of the Sierras are dis
tinctly visible; and by taking the transconti-
mental cars few hours travel will transport you
to an arctic landscape Or by embarking on an
afternoon steamer to San Francisco you will. in
a few hours. come within the circle OF those
strong cool preezes which sweep up the bay.
The fact Is, there are
TWO DISTINCT CLIMATES IN THIS STATE
the one being the land and the other the sea
climate. The latter derives it's low temperature
from the ocean, the water Of which along the
coast stands at from $50 to $40 all the year
round. The evenness of the ocean temperature
is owing to a steady current from the north.
which is accompanied also by winds in the same
direction during the entire summer season. or
rather, from April to October inclusive. 1t is
mostly laden with mists in dense clouds. which
1t deposits at the foothills and on the slopes Of
the highlands. or carries q short distance into
the interior wherever there is a break in the
land-wall. The land climate is nearly the oppo-
SITE In summer and autumn it Is hot and dry,
caused by peculiar cOntiguration of the earth's
surface. Even the SUBMITS of those mountains
W In t1ntr
high temperature in the middle of the day.
In one sense California is isolated from all
the great centers OF civilization. 1t is about as
far from New York as the latter Is from London
1t is also more
DIVERSIFIED IN IT'S STRUCTURE AND PRODUCTS
than any other portion of our national domain
1t contains the highest mountain yet discovered
In North America, and the Yosemite valley is
the wonder Of the world. The productions are
so diversified that it is still a vexed question
which Of the four great industries agriculture
manufacture, mining or commercials de-
stined to predOminate. This same diversity
distinguishes the people as well. Northern
purltanlsm, southern chvalry and the yeomanry
OF eastern and western society commingle on
this coast. Besides. we have the Indians, Span
lards and Chinese. which are important factors
In the social forces of this section. These d.
verse elements constitute great problem In the
social science OF our age and country. Further
more, one of the most remarkable features of
the Caifornians from the beginning has been
thelr persistent adhesion to specie basis while
all the rest of the country has been triling with
paper. Even In the darkest days of the war;"
as one has said gold was as steady In circu-
latlon as it was in Europe" The national banks
pay their debts and deposits in gold. The post
offices of the state place the same value on
specie and paper. California is fast becoming
the center of the bullion operations of
the world 1t has always opposed the
policy of paper currency. and has thus escaped
the consequences Of the financial panics of the
east. But coin circulation gives confidence and
stability to all departments OF trade. The edu.
catlOna interests of the commonwealth are re-
celylng earnest public attention. Apart from a
frst-class system of public schools the state
university occupies commanding position ON
the Pacific coast. 1t receives the interest on
81 50,0OO, besides the cost of the site, build
ings, apparatus, &c. Schools and churches are
multiplying in every community, and these civil
1zing agencies are rapidly augmenting the sew
eral forces of this growing population. W.