The San Francisco call., 1905-03-17
RAINSTORN IN SOUTHLAND
Will HELP The GROWERS
Downpour Delays All Traffic
Railroad Property Is Damaged

LOS ANGELES, March 16.-Southern
California continues to be the storm
center of the State, and rain fell over
the entire section throughout the day
The earth having been thoroughly sat
urated by the great storm of last Sat
urday Sunday and Monday, the flood
waters have turned what by courtesy
have been called rivers and which
have been dry, sandy washes for years
into muddy, rushing streams.
The greatest sufferers from the pro-
longed downpour are the railroads.
Only one Hne-tne Sunset route of the
Southern Pacific east of here is in
operation, and trains over this line are
travelling far behind schedules. The
Santa Fe is experiencing much trouble
on its line between this city and Bar
stow, particularly in FL Cajon Pass,
where landslides have repeatedly bur
red the tracks deep beneath tons
cf rock and gravel loosened from the
mountainsides by the heavy rains. Five
westbound passenger trains are stall
ed on the Santa Fe line just east of
the scene of trouble and four between
the pass and San Bernardino. Other
westbound trains over the Santa Fe
have been diverted to the Southern Pa
Cific via Ash Fork and Maricopa. 1t
is expected by Santa Fe officials to get
some of their delayed trains through
by tomorrow unless further landSlides
prevent their movement.
Three of the long delayed southbound
trains over the coast line of the South
ern Pacific reached this city to-day.
They reached point near Glendale
shortly after noon to-day, but were
there held up again because of dam
aged track. Many of the passengers
secured vehicles at Glendale and ar
rived in this city over the country
terday afternoon in covering the ninety
miles hetA ean Santa Barbara ard this
city. There will be no more trains sent
north from here over the coast line
until the track is in shape to carry
them without delay.
Several trains are still tied UP at
Santa Barbara, and it may be another
day or two before they reach Los An
geles.
The local postoffice was idle to-day
for the first time in its history. Not a
single sack of mail came in from the
east or north, but tons of letters are
expected to reach the office on the
dozen or more stalled mail trains
within a hundred miles of Los An
geles.
Some damage to streets resulted
from the food waters pouring down
from the hill district to-day. The burst
ing of a storm drain at Fourth and
Flower streets turned the thorough
fare into a canal several feet deep, the
water carrying a heavy coating of
crude oil, washed down from old dump
holes in the oil district. At Ninth and
Hoover streets a lake ten feet deep
was formed, the water covering hand
some lawns in the vicinity and flooding
the cefiars--ef many private residences.
The total rainfall for the last twenty
four hours has been 1.SS inches, and for
the season 1856 inches, against, a total
of 4.95 inches on a corresponding date
last year. 1850. ~.
The great benefit that will result
from the unusual precipitation cannot
be overestimated. All storage reser-
voirs, many of which had been dry for
several years, are running over their
brinns; streams are flowing bank full
and the depleted underground supply
of water upon which this section in a
great mees sure depends for its supply
throughout the dry months has been
replenished after several years of vir-
tual drouth