The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-04-23
SPRING IN CALIFORNIA
Winter Rains Arrived Two Months Be-
hind Time, But Helped immensely
(By James Aiken)

(By James Aiken)
Time was, not so long ago. when a
chorus of protests arose almost every
year. along in April and May, be-
cause winter persisted in geting
in the lap of spring. Blu. if Gazette
readers could hear the glad acclaim
California gave upon Winters be-
lated arrival so late as March 4th,
they would agree that the point of
view makes all the difference in the
world.
For this year has made-a new re-
cord in the arrival of the winter
rains. At the end of February. when
eleven months had gone by with only
occasional light showers, ranchers
and tradesmen were almost univers-
ally respondent over crop conditions.
As usual, few optimists chung to
the hope that the winter rains were
only behind time. and as usual, the
optimists won out. California has
had two springs this year one after
a couple of showers in early January.
when the hillsides and grain fields
changed from dusty brown to bril-
liant green within a few days, and
again in early March, when the land
scape had become as brown as be-
fore, but was quickly transformed
again, this time to stay green up to
this time, showers having been fire.
quent and ample. to insure average
yields at least, except as to grain in
some localities. 1t must not be for
gotten that only small acreage of
this immense state is irrigated, grain
and stock raising depending upon
rainfall almost as much as in Mime
sofa.
After publishing an account of last
DEFENDERS phenomenal wind storm
in this section, it is only fair for the
writer to note here that the record
for January and February following
was one of almost continuous spring
conditions, except as to dry weather
but enough of the weather. Have
read that our folks back home have
had more than enough weather in
some respects. along with moisture
enough to insure abundant harvests
for 1912.
And speaking of the folks back
home, am reminded that it has been
our privilege to meet with some of
them almost every month, so far.
In January it was DR.. Pease and the
C. Fred Thompson family, in Feb
ruary Till Tibbetts dropped in for
call that was all too brief, followed
some weeks later by the same kind
of call from Mr.. and Mrs. Fred.
Banker and son, who were conveyed
here in the car Of friend Norton of
Santa Ana. who also brought with
the party his daughters Eleanor and
Alice, now both matrons who have
homes in Santa Ana. Mr.. Norton
is true California booster, always
willing to show the beauties of the
orchards and pretty towns around
Santa Ana to his Redwood Falls
friends.
After the welcome call from the
Bankers and Nortons, came for
few minutes only, two Belview mer-
chants Messrs. Darud and Ellickson
| think piloted by Lew Wallace,
who will be remembered by many
Gazette readers as one of the first
managers at the bank at Vesta, at
the time the bank was looted by safe
blowers. Safe-crackers seem to
think there is good picking where
Lew is, the Newport (Cal.) bank
managed by Lew and Charles Wal
lace having been operated upon by
burglars twice during the past four
years. The bank has been housed
in a building somewhat temporary.
now being replaced by substantial
structure of pressed brick erected
for its occupancy. provided with
vault and manganese steel modern
safe that will make hard nuts to
crack for the most scientific dyna-
inter. In their raid last February,
the craftsmen ran up against a fusi-