The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-02-14
The Daily Bulletin.
W ESTERN RAMBLINGS.
Special Correspo ndencs to The Bulletin:

physical feature of this section of Southern
California are somewhat peculiar. Look
ing either north, east or south, high ranges
OF mountains obstruct the view; some OF the
most prominent peaks are covered with
snow the year around. Along near the base
Of the mountains, the lands slope toward
the level plain in the broad valley. In the
mountains there are narrow strips of land
susceptible of cultivation, and used princi-
pally for the raising of potatoes.
The climate is as varied IS are its physical
features. II is q sterstyped expression here
that one can find any kind of climate de-
sired, and that too, within distance Of but
four miles. Upin the near approach to the
snowy peaks, ice from six to eight inches is
found on the lakes, and put up for summer
use in the valley. Strange as it may ap-
pear, yet it is true the warmest location IN
winter is along the bench lands at the base
Of the mountains. Only yesterday we drove
out to visit the favored sections lying in
close proximity 10 the foot bills. We found
garden peas, potatoes, tomatoes and oil
kinds of vegetation, green and Aourishing
and flowers of tender nature blowing over
the hills; we gathered violets and blue bells
as fresh a. ever seen in spring. 1t is here
where the earliest fruits grow; peach trees
in certain localities are now in bloom. Or
ange groves in all their beauty flourish
along the foot of the mountains. After get
ting several miles out, we come into To-
cality where, owing to the cool, damp at
mosphere, fruits are uncommon in winter,
but it is more difficult to have the citrous
fruits do 90 we'll About seven miles north
east of this town we found the most favored
section We have visited IN all our travels,
for the raising of all kinds OF fruits, and
with the most delightful climate. Several
new bitches are in course of construction,
that are being built with an eye single to
the saving OF water, and to irrigate as much
land a. possible. The bitches are lined
with stone and then cemented that no water
can be wasted by seepage. In the building
of these bitches, the mountain ridges are
tunnelled in some places, and at others the
ditch channel Is curved out along psrpen.
dicuar cliffs, and thus the water is carried
out of the rugged canyons on to the
bench lands along the base of the
mountain. Water is everything, 20 to
speak, more valuable even than the land
itself. The water system is peculiar, being
sold or divided up by the hours run. The
use of the water contained in the ditch
that carries some 800 inches of water ID
rated to those using it, at frsm $500 to
100 per hour, being entitled to it only
every ninth day. Other bitches rate other
wise in proportion to the amount of water
they carry, and the length Of time tina,
must elspse before each one can have 1t.
The above applies to perpetual water rights
which, when once acquired, continue to all
future time with no additional expense ex-
cspt small tax necessary to keep the
ditch in repair. The locality above men.
toned 10 being rapidly improved by parties
| from the east. The land is of sandy
loan, and well suited for oranges, lemons
LINES, apricots, peaches, apples, plums, fig
and olives, and large orchards are being
put out. Coming on gradual descent tt
the lower lands We find within distanc,
of i've miles every appearance Of diffsren
climate; tender grams and vegetables ar
frost-bitten, and the orchards, though ex
tsnsive, contain no citron fruits. Artesiar
water is abundant, and the country shows
evidence of long settlement. Some of the
old, original Mormon settlers are still
here. We are told that there is at less
one Mormon settler here who took part il
the Mountain Meadow massacre.
The climate of this section of country il
somewhat different from that nearer tn.
seaboard, which is some sixty miles dis
tant. The atmosphere is dryer; In spring
and fall the weather is most delightful
temperance steady; the nights cool, thu
days clear, with . pleasant breeze. Ii
midsummer the days are hot, ranging
from 90 to l05 degrees In the shade TO-
some hours; but the nights are pleasant
The rain, what falls here, comes in tn.
winter; the weather is mild; and when not
rainy the days are clear, and in certain
localities frosty nights, sometimes colo
enough to frsezs little ice on still water
There are no days in winter when it is toe
cool to work in the open air in shirt sleeves
The most disagreeable features of the
weather here are an occasional 'norther,
which il cool, heavy wind, sometimes
blowing for several days. usually iu thu
winter months, and dust storms that may
come at any time during the year. Those