New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-17
RAIN IN CALIFORNIA.
CROP PROSPECTS MINISTER swTFT-GoLD
FIELDS-THoMAS MAST.

CROP PROSPECTS, MINISTER SWIFT-GoLD
FIELDS THOMAS MAST.
lbY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrRusEl
San Francisco, March e.-The great storm which
has lasted nearly all the week has done some
damage to the railroads and the telegraph lines of
the State. Rain has fallen heavily in all parts,
and good crops are assured. The wet season has
been peculiar II opened with heavy rains in Dc
eember Then came long dry interval which
lasted nearly two months: the ground was thor
ougbly dried. and grain and fruit began to show
unmistakabe signs Of the drouth. Then came
q light rain. which did little good and the vine
yard districts were almost in despair when the
present storm set in, The rainfall has been al
most Unprecedented. reaching in this city nearly
four inches and in some parts OF the Napa and
Sonoma Valleys actually amounting to seven inches
Throughout the San Joaquin Valley the rainfall
has been from one 70 two inches. sufficient to in
sure the best grain crops since 1880 The rain
has given great impetus to business, as it means
the best season California has had for ten years.
The appointment of John F. Swift Minister
20 Japan was received here with much favor. He
is one of the leaders of his party, but has never
been subservient to political managers His lnowl-
edge of Oriental affairs is probably more thorough
than that of any one else on this Coast, unless it
Hong Kong. Japan is now in that formative
period in which the influence of representative
Americans may be exerted to the great benefit
of the former nation and to the marked advantage
OF our own interest This opportunity has been
wholly neglected by Minister Hubbard, who pos
sessed no qualifications, either social or political,
for this important mission.
Among the deaths of the week was that OF Rabbi
Elkan Cohn, of Temple Emanuel He came to
this country in 1851, and took charge of a Re
formed Hebrew congregation at Albany, n. Y.
HE came here In 1850, and in lew years con-
verted an orthodox congregation to his own
Reform views He built in Sutter-st
q large synagogue, which is the finest
specimen OF ecclesiastical architecture west
Of the Missouri River. Whom the First Uni
tartan congregation were without q church, owing
TO the erection Of their new building and the
destruction of the old one, the Rabbi secured per-
mission for them to occupy his synagogue on Sun
DAYS. which they did for nearly year.
The Italian Chamber Of Commerce of this
city has devoted itself for several years to the
encouragement of Italian trade with this port
The report made this week shows that the imports
of italian merchandise have increased from
$4,000 in 1885 to 100000 last year. The
imports of olive oil last year were valued at
nearly 100000.
Thomas Mast has been engaged by "The
Examiner as cartoon artist His first sketch
was a huge elephant labelled Republican Party"
climbing over President Harrison after the spoils.
1t was rough drawing, and rapid printing was
disastrous to It, The result was that the elephant
looked as though some one had thrown inkstands
at the page Since then Mr.. Mast has taken
rest
Local Mexican merchants will send in few
DAYS 10 President Diaz O handsome silver punch
bowl and set, valued at $4,000. The bowl Is gold
lined, with ornaments of inlaid quartz diamonds
and rubies
Reports from the new gold field in Lower Cali;
fornia are very conflicting, but all the returned
prospectors unite in declaring that the stories OF
large finds by placer miners are canards. NO one
but Mexican or Indian would be satlsned WIN
the wages which are earned in washing art 40
Santa Clara The prospectors are returning 10
San Diego at the rate of twenty 10 thirty each DAY
bed be developed s but that nothing be done with
ont capital
The Southern Pacific Railway Company has re-
Gently laid 800 miles Of track in the heart OF the
San Joun Valley on Tsev h FoSd with the
coast line. The development of the great San
JOAQUIN Valley is one Of the most wonderful
features of California's growth. Large tracts are
hs;nr Siyided and sold in small farms Of ten or
twenty acres, on long time and settlers are coming
IN hundreds, Within three miles oil Fresno large
sI3SoOo, the land bringing from sS7 so to S2l0
per acre Next week there is to be a sale OF 1000
acres of the Haggin and Teyis tract IN Kern
County, near Bakersfield.
. The MERGED Land and Water Company, OF which
the heirs Of Charles Croker are the largest own
ers, proposes to encourage settlers by reiundlng
railway fares 30 all those who purchase land and
develop il Most of the subdivisions are in twenty
acre tracts and special attention will be gwen TO
raisin grapes, for the cultivation OF winch tne
great canal offers abundant water
There is no question that the railroad surveying
sarties concerning whose movements In Nevada ana
Utah SO many mysterious reports have recently been
made, are engaged by the Union Pacific Inc
nroof lies in the time-checs which they negotiate
With the grocery stores at Austin, New. 1t is be-
Eeyed that the line win cross the Sierra through
Yankee Blande Pass. The northern line. from Ore
eon will 20 through Beckwith Pass and come
Sor,r along the route Of the Donahue line, which
r. Is expected the Union Pacific will absorb, thus
ss.s,rin q a .6irant entrance to San Franclsco