New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-08
RAIN IN CALIFORNIA.
THE DRIEST SEASON SINCE ls49-lHE GOV
ERNOR ILL-IMPROVEMENIS-O PICM
SMUGGLING.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


San Francisco. Feb. 7-Ghe mucb-needed rain
came this week though the showers have been
too lieh5 Yet thoroughly 10 please the farmers
Ra;u las fallen CT three days from one emu oil
the State to the other but the average rainfall
is not over half an inch. The heaviest ram Is
reported from the southern counties, where about
an inch has fallen. In the large wheat growing
districts showers have been light, merely moiSten-
inc the surface of the ground but the probablli-
ties of more rain falling in few days are good
The extreme drouth has been checked and
though grain has not been greatly benehted-the
pasture has been much improved and fruit helped
January was phenomenal MONTH as the rainfall
was not so light in this city in the same month
since 1852. The rainfall for the last month was
only 9S-100 Of an inch. The season has been
the driest since ls4g One of the marked
peculiarities of this season is the large number
of storms which have come across the Pacific
Coast but too far north to bring any moisture
TO California, Oregon Washington.
The most significant thing that has happened
in the State Legislature at this session is the
overthrow of She bosses who have controlled
the San Francisco Fire Department and made II
q party machine The new Governor is de-
termined that the Fire Commissioners shall be
appointed by him instead of by the city au-
thorities and he has won the fight after close
battle The result will do much to purify city
politics
Governor Markham is in poor health. and for
nearly week has been unable to attend to any
official business He went TO his Inauguration
from a sick-bed. and he does not seem to regain
strength.
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company this week
bought $50 lots at the foot of Mason-St. which
are inside the new sea wall for sheds and offices.
When the sea wall is finished. the lots will be
fed-in immediately and building will be be-
gun. This purchase marks the movement Of large
corporations toward the North Beach. where water
is deeper than in the southern part of the city.
This removal is due mainly to the prospect of
having a belt railway around the water front.
which will facilitate the handling Of freight. Ii
is expected that work will begin on this road
within sixty days. 1t will be constructed by the
Harbor Commissioners
The customs authorities have been unusually
vigilant recently in watching for struggled opium,
and they were rewarded this week by the capture
of a quantity of the drug worth over $4,000.
1t was all consigned TO the rich Chinese merchant
Sang Yuen, who removed 90 per cent Of it,
the law allows, leaving 10 per cent for the ap
praisers TO pass upon. The packages were en-
tered as soy and other Chinese delicaceS. When
examined about one-half was found to be opium
Detectives finally ran down the smugged opium
in a warehouse, and it was cOnfiscated.
The Pacific Yacht Club, after staggering along
for months under heavy debt, has succumbed
1t has been decided to form new club putin.
the old Indebtedness in the form Of bonded
debt. Under the new rules there will be no
paying members.
Several Sacramentans, including George w.
Mayon II. &. Ackley and c. r. Miles, have started
on a novel pleasure trip 10 Guatemala. They
chartered the steamer FareIlone, and, with their
wives and children, expect to be gone four months
linn
the vessel with young horses and cattle, for which
there is a lively demand in Guatemala and they
will bring back coffee and spices.
Tho Timing IIahlf-PrnnrlefAr ST. Fashion Hotel