Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-15
out his threats they will deserve the
contempt of every self-respecting COM
,,o,,r,ifv
ABOUT SEASONS IN LOS ANGELES
CQuMTY

IDere is no QueSJlOn VI tn6 IdCG budJ
the present season in California is a
peculiar one. To begin with, we have
not had dry season since the memora-
BILE year 1S7677. In speaking of years
in Southern California regard should be
had to the fact that the season is dis
tinct from the year. The rainy season
in this state starts in the fall somewhere
about the middle of October and ends in
the spring, so that we are obliged to in
clude two years in the enumeration.
The HERALD has plainly lent itself to
the idea that the current year will be
one of scant rainfall. We struck this
idea early, and have adhered to it. We
have also said that it not only does not
mean a disadvantage to Los Angeles
county, but positive benefit.
And why?
Well, very simply. All the fruit in
terests of Los Angeles are protected by
splendid schemes of irrigation which
will far more than supply the failure OF
capricious dispensation OF the weather
clerk. In the old days it was we'll un-
of wealth to this county. When Los
Angeles was the queen of the COW coun-
ties it was thoroughly appreciated that
what embodied dry year here meant
drouth--drear, grisly and unprodtable-
to the rest of California.
In every dry year known in The
Golden state Los Angeles county has
come to the fore. The Sierra Madres
and the Sierra Nevadas, which form
their union about the San Fernando
tunnel, furnish sources OF water supply
OF incompatible and ineXhaustible eX-
tent. They afford to this section sources
OF irrigation and productiveness not
often known elsewhere on the globe,
outside OF the royal region of streams,
artesian and surface, known as San
Bernardino county.
In addition, in Los Angeles county
we have immense regions known as
moist and bottom lands. In these lands |
the most remarkable distinctively agri-
cultural sections known on the footstool |
for prolific production are located. They |
fall. Whether the year be dry or wet |
the result is the same. They embrace
immense stretches on the San Gabriel
river, on the Arroyo Honda, and, in the
old days when Los Angeles county in
cluded what is now known as Orange
county, they included the whole sweep
of the Santa Ana river, with Santa
Ana, Tustin City and Gospel Swamp as
their most interesting developments.
But, while the San Gabriel and Santa
Ana valleys are the most interesting
theaters of the development OF sgricul-
ture and horticulture in the most south
erly portion of Southern California in
year OF scant rainfall, they by no means
comprise the possibilities of the splen-
did region known as Los Angeles county
even in a dry year. OF late the poten
tiality of capillary attraction has entered
as dominating factor in the returns on
any distinctively agricultural proposi-
ton. There is scarcely possibility
that we shall fail to receive a rainfall
Of from eight to twelve inches this year.
Should we fail to do so, however, we
know that in the celebrated year OF
irouth, 1857, Mr.. D. Freeman and
bis tenants harvested handsome crops
On rainfall OF only ASS inches.
During the past year the people of the
east have suffered from painful drouth.
AS matter of fact, within the last
5hree weeks it was a question as to
whether the inhabitants OF Brooklyn
should have any water at all for domes-
,ic or manufacturing purposes. Three
lines within the last ten years New
Y orkers have been threatened with a
water famine from the drying up of
Jroton lake.
Admitting that the current year
should prove one Of scant rainfall in
southern California, it only means that
,ur resources OF irrigated, bottom and ;
moist lands are so abundant that our
armers would reap unusual profits.
The only class OF our people menaced
would be the farmers on the mesas,
ind all they need to do to come {
Dut in good shape is to resort t. the {
farming methods OF their /,
brethren OF the east. As matter of :
act, neither our farmers nor our or ,
hardists encounter in this benignant {
Innate difficulties enough to pique !
hem to half the possibilities within
heir reach. Nine years out Of ten the .
roblem that confronts them is only too
asy.
In connection with these reflections, r
'hich are based on the pessimist order, I
he fact should not be forgotten that the !.
ainfall, in many OF the best seasons 9
yer recorded in Los Angeles county, be-
all between Christmas and New Years. g
--- - d
We HAVE failed to see from any of our Il
,epublican contemporaries any explana- L
on Of why the undoubted claim OF the u .
'nited States, inherited from its pur- K
lase OF Alaska, to a mare cIduSuna in the M
ering's sea, should be surrendered to G
filtration at the demand of Great I
ritain. When Secretary of State Bay ~
ID held up the claims of this country in
asonably good shape he was de- T