Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-31
Tha ssDaiIx Harald,,
sArURDAx. yANUAEv 81. 1891.
WHY Los ANGELES is SPECIALLY FOR
TUNATE.

WHY Los ANGELES is SPECIALLY FOR
TUNATE.
There are great numbers of people
now in Los Angeles county who know
very little about its meteorological con-
ditions, which are quite peculiar. For
six years past the rainfall in this county
has been not only plentiful but redun'
dant, thus leaving many of our new
settlers in ignorance of the status o.
this county in what is known as dry
year.
It by no means follows that the
present will be dry year. But if il
should be, it is well that certain facts
should be borne in view. One of them
is that never in the history of Los An.
geles county have the crops been in such
splendid condition as they are now up
to date. An inch of rain during the
next ten days to two weeks, and few
trifling showers thereafter, would assure
us the biggest crops OF the cereals that
have ever been grown in this county.
During the years of heavy rainfall, such
as last year, for instance, our moist and
bottom lands were comparatively use
less. They were so soggy and flooded
that it was impossible even to plough
them.
The fact should be remembered that
no county in the state is better capable
of standing dry year than Los Angeles,
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This arises from the immense area of
our irrigated and moiss and bottom
lands. Even if our mesa farmers
should suffer from a lack of precipita-
tion this year, the yield from our irri-
gated, moist and bottom lands would
probably insure a greater amount OF
money as the return from the crops than
if the rainfall had been more abundant.
Of course the money would not be SO
generally distributed, but it.would find
its way into the hands of Los Angeles
producers, all the same.
The HERALD has already pointed out
the fact that the OK ange crop is already
assured. In addition, it is the largest
known in years. Our vineyards depend
almost wholly on irrigation, and the
sources of supply for our fumes and
bitches were never more prolific than
now.
1t is fourteen years since Los Angeles
county has known year of drouth. To
reach such an experience we are obliged
to 60 back to the season of 1876-77. In
that year our total rainfall was only
4.85 inches. During the same period
there were at least three years of posi-
tive drouth in such states as New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Missouri.
That famous season was severe one
on Los Angeles county because then our
productive industries were largely sheep
and cattle raising. In that year we had
no grass whatever. Now, while of
course more abundant rainfall would
have given as more plentiful alfilerilla,
the grass nevertheless has had a good
start, and grass is not the important
item with US now that it was then.
Judging by the past, if Los Angeles
county shall be obliged to fall back upon
her moist, bottom and irrigated lands,
in nearly all the other counties Of Cal
ifornia there will be total failure OF
the crops. While we heartily
hope that no such grue-
some experience will be cbronicled,
we have right to point to the excep-
tionally prosperous condition in which
it will leave our own favored county.
Even in the year 1857 there were
certain agricultural developments that
proved the exceptional capabilities of
our soil in seasons of minimum rainfall.
In that year Mr.. Dan Freeman, Of the
Centinela rancho, concluded to retire
from the sheer business and to embark
in farming the cereals. 1t is on record
that the results were most satisfactory
from pecuniary standpoint.
1t is of course quite possible that Feb
ruary may prove to be month OF great
precipitation. If so, the crops OF this
county will be large beyond precedent,
and both the mesa and the lowland
farmer will have cause for rejoicing. But
if it should not be, we have said enough
to show that the position of our
own favored region is ilnpregna-
BILE. There are few sections of the
world of which the same thing can be
said with truth. Los Angeles and San
Bernardino counties will this year send
four thousand carloads oforanges to the
east. Our vineyards may be relied upon
for the greatest yield known for three
years. Our alfalfa fields will yield abun-
dantly of the rich Chilian clover, which
may be counted upon for from sig to
eight crops year. Our irrigated lands
will yield two crops Of potatoes and one
of beans a year. Our orchards of all
grades, both deciduous and citrus, will 60
straight along. Our yield Of the cereale-
barley, wheat and corn--will be greater
than last years. In fine, the real sitn-
alton here needs only to be understood
to demonstrate the immense superiority
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