The herald., 1898-02-06
RAINS COMING
If the Dry Season Signs
Don't Fail
THE LONG DROUGHT BROKEN
BY STORM IN THE NORTHERN
CITRUS BELT
THE LONG DROUGHT BROKEN
IF Old Precedents Prevail the Southern
Section Should Get Soaking
About Next Tuesday
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 5,-Reports
received here from all sections show that
the rain which began this morning and
continues to fall is general throughout
the state. 1t will prove of great benefit
and in nearly every case will save the
farmers and fruit growers from the
great loss the threatened dry season
would have occasioned. In Santa Clara,
Sacramento, Santa Cruz. Yolo and other
Of the northern counties an abundant
yield of cereals will be assured with a
few inches more rain, and the indica-
tions now are that the desired quantity
will be forthcoming. The recent spells
of cold weather so retarded the budding
of fruit trees that the orchards have not
as yet suffered much injury. In san
Joaquin and Fresno counties and central
California generally the present outlook
is little less promising. but in every
place the rain will do good. The south
ern portion of the state sends words OF
cheer from fields and vineyards and the
anticipation now is for year of pros
perity.
Stockton-Rain commenced in ligh,
fall about noon today and continued
most of the time until evening, when,
about $50 o'clock. what appeared to be a
steady downpour has set in.
| Reports from the valley are that the
rain was quite general but nowhere
heavy. Lodi had good supply. Mer-
ced was getting quite a ducking late in
the afternoon. There has also been a
generous though not abundant fall in
the foothills to the east.
| In the immediate neighborhood of
Stockton grain was not yet suffering for
moisture, though it will not come amiss
Further up the valley. however, the rain
was wanted badly and on the sand lands
of the west side there is much grain
which even a bounteous supply of rain
will not resuscitate.
Sacramento-Rain began falling here
at noon today and is still coming down
tonight More than half an inch has
fallen and il promises to be good,
heavy storm. In this and adjoining coun-
ties the grain has been in splendid condi-
ton all along. albeit little backward
because of the cold weather in January.
Crops in this county and north of here
could have withstood two weeks more
without rain, but of course will he
greatly benefited by the moisture. AS ii
is the farmers are all happy. The open
weather enabled them to plant every acre
they wanted to put in and with timely
spring rains there will be abundant
crops.
San Jose.-There is every prospect to-
night of a good rainfall. 1t has been
showering at intervals since 6 o'clock,
and the sky is still cloudy, with the wind
from the south. Up to date neither the
grain nor the orchards have suffered,
though failure in the former case will
be certain unless the rains come soon.
The heavy and continued frosts of the
past month have been blessing to our
fruit trees, as they have kept back the
buds. With an ordinary amount of rain
this spring, the fruit crops this season
must be large.
Sonoma-One of the most beneficial
rains that this valley has had for a long
time commenced to fall early today, and
has continued throughout the after
noon. saturating the ground.
Farmers and dairymen are rejoicing.
ouence. The fruit outlook is good. The
cold weather of the past two months has
kept the buds back and destroyed or
chard pests.
Santa Rosa.-Rain began falling this
forenoon and has continued ever since
The rainfall this season is now 10.5
inches. At the same time last year it
was nearly 10 inches. While the rain
was very acceptable, no crops are suffer-
ing from lack of moisture.
Santa Cruz.-A heavy rain is falling
this evening. 1t will do much good to
growing crops.
Woodland.-The long dry and cold
spell seems to be over. Showers began
at noon and a rain is falling copiously
this evening. Everybody Is encour-
aged by the outlook for heavy storm.
A large area is seeded. Six inches of rain
will insure the biggest crop ever har-
vested in Yolo county.
Tulare-Rain commenced falling about
-6 o'clock today and is still coming down.
1t is warm, and the outlook is favorable
for good storm.
Fresno.-Showers began falling here at
8 o'clock this evening, and, as the wind
is still blowing from the south, it is
hoped that good soaking rain will fol-
low. Unless rain comes in abundance
soon there will be no grain produced on
unirrigated land in the San joaquin
valley, with the possible exception of
summer fallow, which is still looking
well.
San Diego.-Generally speaking, crop
prospects in this county are better than
the average at this season. In this city
the rainfall to date is 311 inches. In
some parts of the county it is consid-
erably more. But, although the total
is small, the precipitation has come at
the right times to be of most service.
There has been a large increase in the
area of both barley and wheat, and plow-
ing and seeding are nearly completed.
With fair amount of rain, well distrib-
uted during the remainder of the sea-
son, There will be ample crops.
A COMPACT CRACKED