The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
GOLDEN DROPS, THOUGH HARDY Rain Falls Upon Fields Bleached by the Long
 Drought. Slow but Steady Downpour In the Northern Part of the
 State. Weather Bureau Station Re-estap- liShed at Independence, lnyo
Weather Bureau Station Re- -esta b. lished at Independence, Inyo
 County.

The present rains have not been general throughout the State, the northern part having been visited in spots only Ihere are grave doubts as to whether the visi- tatton has been of any benefit. Weather Official Hammon is inclined to the opln- ion that 1t would appear to have caused serious injury, especially to the cherry crop, and 1t will have tendency 10 make that fruit burst open; that IS, 1T the rains will reach the cherry sections al all IL will also rot considerable of the cured nay that has been lying on the ground put may probably produce more oi that Vaiu- able article in other localities.
 MT. Hammon further said: Ihe raln- fall, though steady, has been compara- lively light, and up to last night It had not reached half an inch in this clty. The conditions all yesterday afternoon were favorable for a continuance, put the slightest change in atmospneTlc conul- tions would give us dry weather again It looks as if this might be the long eA- pected rain which failed to materlaIlze last winter. The barometer has been slowly falling and there have been some rain storms in the plateau region. The wind has been southeast o1 Polnt heyeS and this presages more showers ana rom present indications we Will nave rdiH Sunday"
 A weather bureau station has been re-established in the little town or 1noe- pendence, 1nyo County, anG IS III cLiaI $ Q d. O ical position of this station IS me one for weather observations, slluateo as is is northwest of an immense slIetcn VI territory six hundred miles long py aoout two hundred miles wide, occupying the outpost of this area
 This section contains the highest ana lowest land in America with the exception of Alaska Mount Whitney, over lo'O2O feet high is sixteen miles from 1ndepenQ- ence, covered with perpetua! snow, Wnlle violets are to be seen growing III "Iitrei l,S,
 tl,o of thn mol Pine On the other hand, Death VaiIey, about forty miles from the mountain IS 400 feet below the level of the sea. ,
 Climatically, the weather stauon occu- pies one of the driest spots on the Paclnc Coast, the percentage or humidity Ire Quently going as low as per cent, when the winds are brisk and nortneTiy, It's opposite being Eureka, mboldt county, on the north, where the average humldlty far exceeds that figure. IhereIore rom its geographical and fav0TaDIe Uila,raeio HaeIo situation, Independence Will De an eAGef- lent place to study meteorological phe- nomena- ,.,
 The station Is to be equipped with complete set of self-recording inslr ulneIlts by the United States Department or Agrl- culture after July l, 1S9S us lnstI ulneii.s ,ls at present are self-register, showing wlIio velocity, thermometers, DaroineleIs' ldIli and snow gauges and wind Vane, ana these are sufficient to render the odtd gathered there of great importance 10 lle forecast officials of the PaclIc C@oase' @ Daily forecasts are distributed as wide " as the limited mail facilities will allow and this station will fill iong-telt want in that section of the State ana the Ie- suits obtained will be invaluable
 SAN JOSE, May 14.-Showers nave peen falling since. 2 D. m., and the prospects are good for ,H con11naa1ue Gnasine s will be bene ficial. The cherries will come out better and late sown grain and pasturage ianos will he benefited. The fruit crop Will re- ceive a much needed stimulus, and Ii the downpour continues it will answer TOT contemplated irrigation. BarIeX III may Le De damaged somewhat, but this Will De more than Offset by the benefit in other dlrec- tionS. ,., ,,,a have been most welcome three weeks ago began falling here at 330 this afternoon; It will be of benefit to grain, put VIII damage mown hay and chernes' Which "A ANDERSON, lAHF May 14.-Rain began fall ing at 2:30 D. m. and mas continued stead fly Considerable hay IS gown M fr1,it nne traes ple and late sown grain. Prospects are good for an all-night rain.
 at 2 o'clock this afternoon ana up 10 5 this evening over a half-inch has falIen, with prospects of the storm contlnulns all night. Orchardists are Tn the midst @ of gathering cherries and all ripe 1ruit will be somewhat damaged The penent to other varieties of fruit will much more than offset the damage to cherries. Tn fact two inches. of rain at this tlme would be the salvation of fruit-groWers; as the lack of moisture ln Ine gIounu would have caused small yield and poor quality of all late varieties of fruit. Much hay has already been cut in this vicinity and rain naturally would result m oaIn- age but the benefit to grain would be more than an offset. The rain comes Tn the right time for the 500 acres planted in sugar beets The beetS are growing nicely and without doubt will yield well.
 MONTEREY, May 14.-Rain began fall, ing here this afternoon at l o'clock, and continues in a steady downpour. Up to 7:30 D. m the precipitation was .6S of an inch Reports from outlying districts state that considerable rain has fallen and comes as perfect goostsHu o.ia, .o iar Fruit ranchers in Carmel Valley will be especially benefited, and much expensive irrigation will be spared them oy to-uay rain. Grain is too far gone to receive ben eft from the rain, but cattlemen here about say if the precipitation continues during the night sufficient grass VII 1a, De assured to keep cattle Tn Monterey Couh- ty through the summer.
 PETALUMA, May 14.-Rain has been falling heavily for the past ten hours ana indications are for a continuance. Con siderable hay has been cut, put Will not be injured unless the downpour IS pro longed. Fruit is not far enough alons to be materially damaged and the 1aIm- CTS say the rain will be of vast Denent.
 SANTA ROSA, May 14.ARain has been falling in Sonoma County since noon. for their hay, are jubilant over the proscc poets of much feed and good crops of corn.
 SANTA CRUZ, May 14.-Rain com menced falling at o'clock and there ,Ti nas been an unceasng downpour since: The damage to hay already cut is slight com pared with the thousands of dollars ,t pen eft which this rain brings With It. mere will be no damage to cherries, as they were not far enough along.
 HALFMOON BAY, May 4-lt com, menced raining here at noon to-day ana for almost five hours fell without inter- mission The precipitation comes most opportunely, as it will save the grain crop from almost total destruction- IT the rain continues at intervals for a.. few days this vicinity will produce almost an average crop.
 SAN RAFAEL. May 4--There was slight drizzljng rain in this county yes terday which increased to a heavy shower to-day and shows no signs of abating tonight. Farmers are happy