Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-06-20
lrrrrR FROM SAN DIEGO.
Railroad Matters -Baia California
Politics. etc.


EDITOR HERALD. AS Of yore, railroad
talk is the main topic here. The "Bee
Line" starting from Frank Kimball's, is
to be built right away. This is reported
10 be move ON the railroad checker
board to checkmate the Central Pacific
people and prevent them from building
their branch in here from Dos Palmos, as
it is said they will have to do before
they can get the Texas h Pacific land
grant. 1t is also reported that the Santa
Ana branch Of the Southern Pacific will
be extended to this point in the near
future. The California Southern is also
being repaired at the usual Boston speed,
which is very slow to Californians. Mr..
Nickerson said in his speech on the occa-
sion of opening this road, some two years
ago, that rivers in this country were
'bottom up" The recent experience
that he has met with in the river bust
ness is quite the reverse of this, for they
have been ION top" of his road to the
tune of $500, 900, this year; or at least it
is said that it will cost that amount to
repair the damages to the road by the
flood Of this winter. Bay and climate
also come in and claim portion of the
honor for furnishing matter to talk
aboat; the latter, though, is somewhat
in disgrace Just now, as it has not been
on its usual good behavior lately. Twen-
ty-four inches of rain and still raining is
more than "climate sharrs" contracted
for. Large quantities OF hay have al
ready been destroyed, and it is thought
by some that one-half of the grain crop
will be lost from rust, ETC., in conse-
quence Of the over abundance OF mois-
lure. The fruit and grape crop will also
be much lighter than usual from the
same cause, consequently it will not be
as fortunate season as was anticipated.
Prices for all kinds of produce range
high, and probably will continue to do
so through the year.
MINES.
The placer mines in Baja California
are attracting some attention again. A
Mexican gentleman came in from them
Yesterday with one thousand dollars in
coarse gold dust. He was, including the
tina OF the journey, four months in TAX
ing this out Part of the time he had to pay
ten cents gallon for water to wash out
the gold with; the balance Of the time
it iained enough to supply it in the
creeks. He thinks that considerable
gold can be taken out of that country, if
any way could be derived that would
furnish good supply of water to work
the mines with. He found some OF the
guiches, in favorable places, very rich,
but they were generally distant from
water--from one to three miles-and to
dig out the Gold bearing dirt, put it into
rawhide bags. and pack it on burros, or
mules that are half.starved, it makes it
cost as much as it is worth to get it.
POLITICS.
The Republicans are jubilant Just now
over the nomination of Blaine and Lo-
gan. Will Nj Smith holds the Repuli-
can sponge" and il his statements can
be relied on, the "nill'' that comes off in
November next will result in an easy
victory for his ticket. From the ap-
pearance of things just now, the Demo-
cratic ribbons" seem to be in the hands
Of Major Levi Chase, who assure me
that the Democratic ticket will be elect
ed by an overwhelming majority.
Our local politicians are warming 1t up,
and the number of candidates that are
willing to sacrifice themselves in the SER
vice of the ''dear people" are as numer-
aus and about as hungry as the army of
"cut worms" that recently appeared
here. The Courthouse band Of patriotic
leeches that have signally succeeded in
raising up the revenue OF the county, as
it is their political duty to do, for the
last two years, are desirous Of continu-
ing in office, and claim that it is nothing
more than right that they should have
another term so as to get "even," as
they say it cost them more than they
have made to get elected two years ago.
No one but themselves believes this to
be anything but a sort of political ro-
nance; for our receipts and expendi-
lures for county purposes exactly balance
now, as they did before the railroads paid
thirty thousand dollars taxes in this
county. Our taxes are the same as they
were before we had any railroads; there
has been no reduction in our assessments,
and the county has nothing to show for
this money. To say that the money has
| Deen eApeuueu is easy enough, puV UC
find out how and where, is problem
that some of our ex-State officials thai
were found "short" can probably solve
By the way, how would 1t do for some
competent authority to overhaul our
county officials, official cash-books,
vouchers, etc. 1t might result as it has
with the State, beneficially to tax payers;
by causing slight Mistakes" etc., oi
''delinquents in office" to ''refund," and
it certainly could not hurt, or damage
any honest officials record.
WHALING.
This business has been unusually good
Gff. the heads here, for the last few
months. Two whaling companies have
been engaged at it, aud they have taken
it is reported, some six thousand barreli
of oil for the season. They use the har-
poon-gun in killing the fish, with good
results. N.
San Diego, June IL, 1884.