The herald., 1898-03-15
FRUIT BADLY NIPPED
IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
ORCHARDS
A WILD STORM AT STOCKTON
Knocks Down Barns and Unloads
Lumber Cars-Unusual Weather
in the Northern Citrus Belt
Associated Press Special Wire

SACRAMENTO, March 14.-Thomas
county, who was in Sacramento today, said
that frost had done considerable damage
to apricots and almonds in that vicinity
last night. He estimates the damage to
his own almond crop at $1,000. Word was
received from Vacaville this afternoon say
ing that the damage in that district was
slight. No damage has been reported in
this vicinity.
A STOCKTON STORM
STOCKTON, March 1.-There is scene
of devastation just east of the city limits
which was caused by the fierce wind Sat-
urday. The Heeney storage barn went
down witha crash which could be heard
for blocks around, carrying with it two
large trees and another building in the line
of the fall The north end fell out into
Hazelton avenue and blockaded traffic
The barn, which was built some ten years
ago. was one of the largest In the county
and capable of holding many hundred tons
of hay. Lumber was blown off fat cars
in the Valley road train crossing the Lin
coin street bridge.
While many farmers are going to lose
their crops If it does not rain. the Woods
Bros. on Roberts island propose to irriga.e
a tract of over 1000 acres on the middle di-
vision of the island, and contemplate the
cutting of the levee for that purpose. They
must first secure the consent of the recl1-
nation district, as the work is dangerous.
The plan is to put in a sluce about twenty
feet wide thorugh the big levee at dis
tance of about four feet below the lowest
water. This will give a stream all the
time and at high tide will pour big vol
ume of water through the sluice
FROST AND STORM
CHICO. Cal, March 14-There was light
frost here last night. Fruit suffered very
little. but early vegetables were much in.
jured. A heavy wind prevailed today, uu-
roofing several small sheds near town.
FRUIT NIPPED
VISAL1A. CAL, March 14.-A hard freeze
last night destroyed some of the apricot
crop and injured prunes seriously. Other
fruit was nipped and the damage done is
considerable.
N. c. B. ORANGES
MODESTO, Cal March 4.-Considerable
damage was done by frost in this section
last night. On the north side blossoms
were frozen from the fruit trees and the
young shoots ruined. A thin layer of ice
also formed on still water The fruit crop
especially oranges, will be much shorter
than was anticipated on account of this
frost
SAN JOSE STRUCK
SAN JOSE, Cal, March 14.-The cold
north wind which struck San Jose Satur-
day afternoon. ragged all yesterday and
did serious damage to young grain by STOP
ping growth and drying out the ground.
The cold was sufficient to do a great deo-
of injury to fruit in some parts of the val.
ley this morning there being a white fros,
in this vicinity.
STILL PLANTING
| SACRAMENTO. Cal, March H.-wb;,.
in many places the farmers are prayins
for rain. grain is now being planted in thi,
vicinity with the expectation of producing
good crops Wood, Curtis & Co.. of this
city, are putting in 1900 acres of barley or
the McNasser ranch, about five miles dowr
the river. They have great traction en-.
gines for operating the big gang plows, and
the work is being done rapidly. Over In
Yolo, Holt Bros. of Stockton today com.
menced to plow with traction engines or
the Hayes & Garoutte tract of 22OO acres
which will all be seeded for a crop this
year. In both cases the land is low. and
not easily affected by drouth
THE WEATHER SERVICE
SAN FRANCISCO, March 14-In a let.
ter received here today Professor Willis
L. Moore, chief of the weather bureau al
Washington, says:
"The bureau is attempting to do a great
deal for California and for sub-arid south.
west states. Provision has already beer
made for money to establish a station or
Mount Tamalpais, at Independence, and
at several other places in the states i'm.
mediately east of California. This in.
crease in expenditures will result in a ma
terially improved service for the important
fruit regions of California"
1t is advised that werk on the meteoro.
logical station of Mount Tamalpais be al
once begun, so that it may be occupied by
July.