New-York tribune., 1896-01-19
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
DROUTH BROKEN BY RAINS-GENERAL,
THEATRICAL AND POLITICAL NOTES.
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNE.I


ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNE.l
San Francisco Jan. lS-The heavy southeast
storm that has ragged for three days all along the
coast has ended all fears OF a dry winter.
throughout the San Joaquin and Sacramento
valleys and in all the southern counties the
drouth had begun to alarm even the cattiemen'
for the feed drying up so rapidly that STOCK
would soon have periraed. The heavy rams
however. have changed all this TheN insure
plentiful feed for stock, and they have moistened
the driest soil so thoroughly that good crops ot
grain are assured and ploughing FOR other crops
NAV be begun a: once as soon the ground is
dry. Fruit-grOwers also welcomed the ram. for
In districts like the Santa Clara Valley. where
there are no artificial means of irrigation. the
trees were beginning to show signs OF lack or
rain In California II Is impossible TO predict
weather with any certainty. Many nave de-
clared that this will be dry winter, because
IN to this present storm the rainfall In Central
California was only five inches, against sixteen
inches to the same date last season. while in
the San Joaquin region and Southern California
It was only one and ee-fourths inches. against
eight the previous year. These figures, now
ever. furnish no criterion ten inches may
fall before the present storm is ended. In the
mountains snow has been falling heavily, which
is a great comfort to the San Joaquin ranch
ers for a heavy snowfall now means abundant
water in all the rivers that supply the great ir-
rigatng canals
Wheat has advanced sharply here on trust
worthy news from sydney that the Australian
wheat crop this year will be about S.5Oo.oOo
bushels short The first shipment for Sydney
Is already on its way from this port. The Har-
bor Commissioners have just discovered that D
per cent commissions have been gathered in for
some time on all contracts by Julius Haste
Superintendent of State Dredgers and rugs
Haste pleaded that the precedent had been set
by others and that the State lost nothing by
the practice but the testimony of those VINO
did contract work showed that they regularly
added this per cent to their estimate The eX-
rosure of this leakage will be sure to lead 10
the stoppage OF other drains that account for
the excessive wharfage and tugboat tolls oil
San Francisco. The sirgle item OF tugnoa,
chandcry which cost $3.50 month when
bought by Superintendent Haste, last mon'h
cost only S47 80. when supplied by the new
public storekeeper.
This has been a stupid week at the theatres.
as nothing above the mediocre has been given
Louis James produced "Marmion win IN,
different success and Marie Wainwright failed
to draw with THE Love Chase. On MONDAY
the Baldwin closes for three weeks
The decay of chinatown is one OF the most
remarkable features of San Francisco lie.
Five years ago Chinatown nad Z0,VUV i1hd pltdHto
and trade was lively. many of the large mer-
chants doing ar extensive business Rents
were higher in Chinatown than in other parts
Of the city Now rents have fallen more thah
one-half in this quarter, real estate is unsai-
able and the population has shrunk TO lo'ooV
The last China steamer carried 700 Chlnameh
back to their homes. the greater part or whom
will not return. At the present rate. Chinatown
in six months will not have 10000 inhabitants
The selection Of Frank Cannon and arthur
Brown as the caucus nominees for Senators in
Utah was received here with much satisfaction
by Republicans who have watched the hgnt
carefully. Cannon is type of the younger
and better Mormon element that wishes to con.
form to law and free Utah from the stain or
polygamy He knows the West thoroughly. as
he travelled all over this coast and spent Two
years at an editorial desk Of THE San Fran
cisco Chronicle" He inherits much Of the abil-
ity of his father. George O. Cannon, and there
is no doubt that ne will make useful member
of the Senate. Brown is not so popular as
Judge Goodwin among Gentiles, but Goodwin
has made many enemies by his bitter edl-
torial articles in the old days that the Nor
mons would not vote for him. Isaac Trumbo,
the Californian. who boasted that he had enough
votes control the caucus, couldn't get any
one to nominate him.