Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-03
CALIFORNIA; BIG DROUGHT.
uay sixteen Dollars Ton and Horses u
Dollar and a.Iialf "A Hcad-bepiora-
bic Condition in the Citrus belt


who has been favored to enjoy cir
cular tour down the coast from san
Francisco and return via the san
Joaquin Valley may interest the
readers of the News"
Coming down from the barren regions
of Nevada to the green and fertile
slopes OF the sierras has always excited
the admiration OF visitors, and those
who have been fortunate enough to en-
Joy this experience nave always looked
forward to the leafy verdure and
orange blossoms of the foothills of CAL
ifornia; the transition Is SO sudden, ana
the change so remarkable, that 1t is
not easily forgotten.
This year Is the exceptional one n
merciless drought prevails from the
latitude Of San Francisco south. North
of this region the fields are grecner anu
the aspect more agreeable to the eye
A difference of nearly twenty inches in
the annual rainfall in and about san
Francisco. will give an idea Of the slight
waterfall. Here In our valleys there Is
a difference OF about three inches be-
tween 1897 and 1898: and we are dread
ing the prospect. and for the FIRST time
In the memory OF man there Is no
water running down North Temple
street In the waste nume on the first OF
May.
Along the line OF the railroad there
is an absence of the usual rank GROWTH
the famous lily and other flowers are
seldom seen. the wheat fields are thin,
the reads dusty, the cattle lean, water,
pools drying up and the sad vlshged
farmers look as though they would
rather have had war with spain
than drought, but they have both
calamities to face now and this is
something to be dreaded.
In San Francisco the effects are not
SO marked; it looks as II usually does
excepting that few hard freezing
nights in January nipped the flowers
and retarded their growth. The ques-
ton as to where their hay liz coming
from TO feed their stock is the one
that Is worrying them very much now
already shipment has been made
from Utah, and II the railroad comes
to the rescue by reducing rates, vast
amount win be shipped from our north
ern settlements In fact. 1t Is not saying
too much when | assert that all our
surplus hay butter, wheat and other
products will have a ready market In
California. This fact will affect our
Utah farmers materially.
Among the new features In and
around San Francisco, none Is more in
teresting than n climb TO the summit
of Mt. Tamaipais. located north or
San Francisco bay. 1t overlooks the
whole surrounding country for n great
distance. 1t costs one dollar and forty
cents to make the trip, which includes
sail across the bay, passing the fort
ress OF Alcatraz to Sausalito, thence
to Mil valley. and up the mountain on
steep but good grade, whirling and
twisting around knobs and promi-
nences. through canyons and eminences.
ever climbing upward and onward un-
til point near the summit is reached,
thence up an easy foot path to the top
most peak, and natures map of ocean,
headland, bay, cities. forts, forests,
plains and other features Is spread
out before you. The elevation is $50.
feet. Should a fog prevail, you can
can look upon blllowy ocean OF
clouds stretching in every direction-a
scene of unusual beauty.
Just now the war spirit Is very ac-
tive in California. the quota of men
needed by the government is ready
and more, II necessary. Near all the
offices of the leading newspapers
crowds surround the bulletins. eagerly
watching for news. Long sheets OF
muslin. reaching from roof almost to
the lower story on rollers, are written
In plain reading. giving all the latest
Items. Many Of the towns along the
coast are without protection. and II
one or two Spanish warships should
come up the coast. they could make
matters lively for a time, but should
the same vessels run out Of coal they
would be helpless logs. Coal is n more
potent factor To keep off warshlps than
cannon on the Pacific shores north OF
Mexico. Privateers might do consid-
cradle damage.
My road to southern California was
the coast line railroad and stage Raj
TO Surf, thence by stage 70 miles tC
Santa Barbara. Excepting near Mon.
terey and Templeton drought hold.
complete sway. The Salinas river usual
iy large one, contains a few ribbon,
of water. otherwise the bed Is dry
where salmon and other sea-fsh ar,
caught In seasons of plenteous rain
fall.
After passing through the long tunnc
at the head of the Salinas valley, yol
emerge ON the slopes of the coast rang
still more dry than ever. San Lui
Oblspo. city of considerable import
ance, is reached and from this poln
sothward the rainfall decreases, all thu
stream beds We're nearly dry with bu
few exceptions. The cattle that roam
these hills have been shipped away I,
Nevada and northern California. Tn,
Southern Pacific railroad makes n clear
cut of one half rate to enable the farm
ers to move their stock away; hardly
green SPOT Is seen, save and eSccp
where Wen is located or tiny stream
let runs TO the ocean near by.
Many of the canyons through which
the stage line runs are very picturesque
on your right Old Ocean is seen mos
Of the way; the stage service is very
good. Were 1t not for this season o
drought l am inclined to believe this gar
In the great railroad system controlled
by the Southern Pacific company would
be closed and an elegant summer lin
be In operation, doing away with thu
hot line In the San Joaquin valley.
was talking to farmer on the SAN
ia Clara valley, near Ventura, who wat
believer in lucern and irrigation; h,
proudly told me that he had just Gu
40 acres of lucern that realized 81 GOO
having sold the first cutting ut $40 pei
ton. He told me also that when every
body else was planting fruit trees. N
tried lucern and MS consequence ht
Is fortunate farmer in season o.
drought. wherever there Is permanent
spring, or mountain stream, and lrri
cation. the effects OF dry season airs
not 80 apparent, notably in Southern
California.
So great Is the scarcity OF hay II
the southern part of California tina
horses are being sold at $50 each. II
Los Angeles the fat obtained after cut
ting them up and cooking, is used fol
making soap, the bones for fertilizers
the hides for leather. ! have been in
aF.I IA 90 . 60.