The record-union., 1897-12-21
The Thermometer in Places Goes Down to
Twenty-Four Degrees.
A Sharp Freeze in the Santa Clara
Valley, Ice Forming a Quarter
of an Inch Thick-No Serious
Damage to Crops Reported,
While Fruit Men in Some Sec
tions Consider the Cold Snap a
Benefit.


the coldest Of the season here, and ther-
mometers in some locations make the
temperature the lowest since the winter
of 1S93-94 The thermometers about
San Jose were from 20 down to "a,
some reports even lower. Probably
the more accurate instruments give no
lower than 70.
There was a severe frost and sharp
freeze over the entire valley. No Sc
rious harm was DONE as there was no
crop out to be injured. A few late
grapes, usually destroyed long before
this by rain, may be injured and even
frozen in the valley. In the foothills
they were not hurt, but these grapes
We're merely scattering punches left in
picking Ice formed in places one
quarter of an inch thick.
ORANGES ARE SAFE.
SAN BERNARDINO, Dec. 20.-Re-
ports from the orange growing districts
show that the danger line of frost last
night was approached, but that little or
no damage has been done to the orange
crop. At Highlands the thermometer
fell to % above, and on the Cotton
bench to 81. The crops at Redlands
and the Mission were practically safe.
The lowest point was reached at about
6 o'clock this morning, and only con-
tinued for a short time.
NO DAMAGE AT RIVERSIDE.
RIVERSIDE (Cal), Dec. 2O.-Last
night was the coldest by at least two
degrees experienced here this season.
The thermometer kept well up until D
a. M, when it rapidly fell about two
Il
tered % to 29la, according to the loca-
ton, and at 8 a. m. these figures were
down two to three points. Fruit in low
ground was damaged somewhat, but on
the higher ground there was no dam
age, for the danger point did not last
long enough Orange growers We're
alert, and smudges were made use or
with good result all over the valley.
Actual tests show that the tempersssEra
was increased at least two degrees by
such means.
MOUNTAINS WHITE WITH SNOW.
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 20.-The weather
in San Diego has been unusually cold
the past two days, but was warmer
last night than Saturday night. The
mercury went down to 80 Saturday
night and there was a little frost, but
no damage has been reported anywhere
in the. county. Forty three was the
lowest temperature here last night, and
clouds prevented frost in valleys. The
mountains are white with snow, which
is six inches deep on Cuyamaca Peak,
where the temperature went down TO
. above zero Saturday night, but reg
istered Is above last night.
A BENEFIT TO FRUIT TREES.
STOCKTON. Dec. 20. - The heavy
frost Of the last several nights is re-
ported to have done no particular dam
age in this vicinity. AS far as grain
is concerned. it will delay the seeding.
but otherwise will do no injury. The
fruit men say it is really a benefit TO
them, inasmuch as it kills parasltical
life and also delays the blossoming OF
the trees, so that when they do bear
the heavy frost Of the season will be
practically over
SEVERE FROST AT FRESNO.
FRESNO. Dee. 2O-The frost here
last night was the most severe but one
that has been experienced in Fresno
in the month of December for the last
ten years. In December. 1893, the mer-
curry stood 26 degrees above, and it fell
to that figure last night Up to this
time no damage had been done by frost
to citrus fruits. but last evening the
ripe fruit was damaged, If not ruined.
In anticipation of the cold snap, many
orchardists plucked their pie fruit yes
terday.
SOME DAMAGE DOWN SOUTH.
LOS ANGELES. Dec. 20.-During the
past three days there has been heavy
frost throughout Southern California.
Considerable damage has been done, but
it is not possible to ascertain to what
extent at the present time.
The Pomona correspondent of the
Express says but little damage has
been done in that section.
IN VICINITY OF ONTARIO.
ONTARIO, Dec 20. - 1t is believed
here that last nights frost did not do
much damage to the orange crop. The
crop in outside districts was damaged
some, especially where the trees were
exposed.
LOW TEMPERATURE AT RED
LANDS.
REDLANDS, Dec. 20. The lowest
thermometer reading in Smiley Hights
was 81 degrees. Some exposed parts
of Redlands went down to "a degrees.
Orchardists generally report % and %
degrees Most orchardists to-day
claimed that navels are uninjured but
that Mediterranean sweets are hurt
some Tonight promises to be about
as cold as last night.