The San Francisco call., 1898-01-12
Vagrant Storm Center Carries Relief to
 Farm CTS.
It Will Be Followed by Another Storm To-Day or To-
 Morrow.
Ship Captains Preparing for Trouble With a SOutheaster and
 Heavy Bar.

center playing around in the middle latitudes, came down the coast yes terday, and following in its track came the welcome rain, for which far mer dairyman and cattle ranger have been watching so long.
 It is not a big storm-only a sugges- tion of some swirling, whirling tangle of wind and mist which lies out in the ocean off the coast of Washington, waiting for a chance to break past the line of mountains along the shore and to sweep eastward over the country This big storm is coming, and may pass the meridian of San Francisco sometime tonight of tomorrow, but in the meantime the little one-small, however, only in comparison to some that have passed and may pass again has brought it's rain and its snow, and is now well on it's way to the inte- rior to spread it's blessings farther in land.
 The rain area reached from up the coast beyond Point Reyes to below Santa Cruz, and not more than a few miles in from the shore, but as the hours passed the area grew larger until at o'clock it was reported from nearly as far east as Stockton, and down at Fresno and San Luis Obispo the dispatches told of cloudy skies and jubilant farmers.
 It was showing along the coast above Point Reyes, and from the summit of Mount TamalpaiS came the message that there was an inch of snow already on the ground and no signs of ceSsa- tiOn. Kings City, down in the Salinas Valley, told of more rain, and from Red Bluff came the report of more snow at that place and along the foot hills. To weather man snow is the same as rain, so the beneficial effect of the storm must be measured from the Salinas plains to the mountains above Eureka, with the night still to pass and the larger storm coming on from the west to fulfill the promise of its smaller companion.
 The storm may be very big one or it may not-that is something which will have to be developed later: but it has been plated by the weather of flee and its course has been outlined as crossing the extreme northern part of the State. The low path of the smaller center will have a tendency to bring 1t to the south, and while the little Will water the southern plains the big one, if it comes up to the con- tract, will bring full and plenty to the northern valleys and hllsides.
 With the rain, however, has come the wind, and things were lively along the NdNCi AIOlll III consequence yesterday. Old BoreaS seemed to be Sorely per pleXed as to which point of the compass to select for his bellows, so he com promised by blowing from every direc- tion. There was a south wind piping up the coast in the morning, but this gave place to as good blow from the west In the afternoon it veered around to the southeast, and while it sang merrily among the housetops of the city from that side, it was blowing a gale from the northwest at Point Reyes, thirty miles away Itwas clearly mixed between the two storm centers, for natures law demands that it blow toward one or the other, but when the big low arrives there will be no inde- cision. Ship captains are getting their heaviest haWsers ready and are put ting out extra anchors and stacking off more fathoms of chain, pilots souint at the clouds and predict heavy bar. and longshoremen are preparing to turn an honest penny by heIping some restless ship to hold on to the wharf or keep her from chafing her sides or grinding her bows as the waves come to the aid of the humming winds
 A number of vessels ready to sail for the north have decided to remain in port to await change in the weather. The British torpedo destroyer Sparrow hawk and the cruiser Phaeton Dut to sea yesterday, however, and the little boat is likely to have a lively time of it on the Oregon coast
 The Oakland boats did not get very much of the storm, but Tiburon and SausaEto steamers got the full benefit of the swell that came in through the Golden Gate. They pitched and tossed at great rate, and in conseuuence there were no passengers on them save those whom business brought to the city.
 The rain Stoppad all ,,,orl, o1o,,-x .l front, and East street had quite a de- serted appearance.
 The most bedraggl man to be seen. from Meiggs wharf to the Mail dock. was George A. Knight, the attorney. Whenever there is any heavy weather on the bay he is bound to be out in 1t on his launch the Athlete Yester- day he got all he wanted of salt water. He was soaked from head to foot, and the cabin of the launch was flooded. MT. Knight only laughed at his wet ting, and said he felt month younger than he did when leaving his office early in the afternoon
 Forecaster Hammon of the Weather Bureau believes the big storm will bring at least an inch of rain before it passes over the State. That it is com ing is sure, from the fact that the winds at Fort Canby, on the Washing ton coast, are blowing straight from the east and are increasing hourly. Iney are hurrylng toward the aD- preaching storm center and are gather ing velocity as they draw nearer. At yesterday afternoon there had been no rain reported from there but MT. Ham mon expected to hear of a downpour before this morning.
 The value of the shower can hardly be estimated. The dairying sections and the cattlemen had to have it or the cattle would have had to be re- moved to other sections where the grass keeps green longer. It has come just in time, and when the irrespoosi- ble little Tow" has led Its older brother out of the State and given some idle Thigh" a chance. the farmers will be in clover-if the flow" does not overdo