The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-21
No DANGER NOW
OF CROP FAILURE
Continued Rainfall in
California.
Special Dispatch to The Cali.

SALINAS. March 20.-The whole Of
Monterey County was treated to another
rain last night and to-day, while this par
tic,lar section received a tremendous
downpour In this city and vicinity II
has rained almost necessarily for the past
twenty-four hours, and from all ind1ca-
tions the storm is not yet over. Inc pa
rometer is very low, the wind Is dow
ing from the southeast and there Is
every indication of several days rain. The
Salinas River, which was swollen con-
siderably by the last storm. has been so
augmented by the present downpour that
in some places 1t is wider than it has
been in years. The many irrigation en-
gines and pumps that are situated near
the river banks are in danger OF being
washed away. The rainfall for this vi
cinity during the storm is 81 of an inch
and for the month over 2 inches. Re
ports come from the south, and especially
that portion of the county where the
farmers have been drought-stricken for
several years, that not only are they
saved from restitution and possible star
vation but that with the last storm and
the present rain they Will be able TO
stock up their larders. Other sections
will get a half-crop of grain, while in the
section between Gonzales and this city a
two-thirds grain crop is assured. Mon
terey's greatest output this year, how
ever will be sugar-beets. The SpreckelS
Sugar Company alone has about 1000 acres
of land near this city ready TO plant 10
beets. Many other ranChers viii put in
beets who up to a week ago did not eX-
pect to raise any. The Spreckels COM
pany's pumps are running night and day
irrigating their ranches No. and No. 2.
At King City, where they have recently
put on a larger force OF men, they VIII
present outlook the new factory will have
to run this season; =,
rain that began here at daylight yester-
day morning has completed the good
work begun by the storm of last week.
Already an inch and quarter of rain
has fallen and to all appearances the
storm is not over. 1t is believed fully
2.5 inches will be the precipitation of the
present storm. There will be a good crop
OF apples and apricots and fairly good
one of peaches and pears. The rain means
thousands of dollars to this section as II
obviates the necessity of expensive trri-
cation plants. Small fruit and vegeta-
bles also are greatly benefited by the
storm. News comes from the southern
coast section of the county where cattle
are raised that many OF the larger
ranch owners who lost so heavily by cat
tie dying from want of grass last year
are restocking their ranges. The feed for
stock in that section is already better
than for years past, and the present rain
assures an abundance for the entire year
throughout thai that section 1d On Tho roin
which fell here on the 18th and 18th inst.
came just in time to save the crops. The
grass is growing fast, and there is no
reason to fear scarcity or feed ior STOCK
this season. Many of the stockraiSers had
made arrangements to move their herds,
but the timely rainfall precludes the ne
cessity of going to this expense. In many
places in this valley the rainfall for the
last storm exceeded an inch. The Salinas
River is booming, and the threatened lack
of water for irrigation purposes Is be-
lieved to be thing Of the past There
will be enough water to 1rrigate the en-
tire Spreckels beet sugar ranch. 1t has
been raining here since yesterday. and
another good rainfall is looked for Should
it fall a heavy crop OF grain ana Ieed
would be doubly assured in this valley
VENTURA. March 20.-Another liberal
instaIlnent Of moisture fell last night,
rea ching all parts of the county. Ven
tura had half an inch, rOXnard, Hueneme
and Simi three-Quarters and Santa Ana
and the Ojai Valley about an inch. An
other storm is approaching. The farmers
are in a cheerful mood. The prospects
are encouraging for the best bean crop
in years. -,
heen visited by another welcome rain.
For the past twenty-four hours the fall
has been 120; total for the storm 24S
inches and for the season 7.O9. The pros
meet could not be more satisfactory than
~ nresent The wind is still from the
Teiny quarter and the sky cloudy.
WOODLAND, March 20.-The weather
was stormy Sunday afternoon. and at
times the precipitation was quite heavy.
'The rainfall at s O clock this morning was
50 of an inch, making 12.18 inches for the
storm. This seems to make reasonably
SANTA CRUZ March 20.-Another good
rain has visited every section OF this
county 1t commenced Yesterday and the
downpour through the night was heavy.
There have been frequent showers to-day.
The rain is of much benefit