Year: 1871

wind and rain with which the city was visited on
the 18th Of last month. The people here are so
little subject 20 such experiences that they are
greatly excited and alarmed by what seems
very ordinary event to those who have a fresh
remembrance of the play Of the elements in other
regions. But it must be confessed that this
would have been considered quite blow any
where, except, perhaps, by those deyotees Of
science who are spending the winter on the top
of Mt. Washington. The lightning was SO intense
and continuous, that for an hour or two the
heavens seemed sheeted with fame, while furious
blasts made the largest buildings tremble The
most serious result was the falling of brick
wall upon a tenement. by which three persons
were killed. Californians conclude that they
would rather have an occasional tremor of the
earth beneath, than such a fierce commotion
overhead. No movement was felt here cor
responding with the heavy shake lately expert
enced at the Islands, The only occurrence of
the kind reported during the last month upon
this coast, was a shock of some violence at
Eureka, Humboldt County, two hundred miles
north This took place on the I'd of March.





10 the south, over the passage by Congress- of
the Southern Pacific Railroad BILL This line is
designed to extend from point on the eastern
border of Texas near the 3lst parallel of latitude,
to Fort Yuma, in the south eastern corner Of
California. Branches at the extremiiies will
connect the main road with New Orleans, on the
one end, and with San Diego and San Francisco,
on the other. The distance from tNe Gulf Of
Mexico to this, the metropolis Of the Pacific
Coast, will be about 1900 miles,-a saving of 500
miles between ocean and ocean over the route Of
the already existing Pacific road. Land to the
extent of nearly 2O,OOO,OOO of acres has been
granted in aid of the work, and the completion
is required within ten years. In the meantime,
the Northern Pacific road is being pushed for
ward with energy so that there is prospect Of
three great routes betting the continent. gi-
gantic scheme of emigration is planned in con-
nection with the last named enterprise. To
secure the settlement of their lands in Oregon,
the Northern Pacific Company propose to bring
out $4,000 emgrants from Germany, the induce
meat offered being a very cheap passage via
Panama, and a grant Of land on most liberal
terms, to each settler.


The month of March is passing without bring
ing us yet the spring rains for which agricuturists
look with anxiety. As the ancient Egyptians
watched the instrument that marked the rise OF
the Nile, and tn refrom presaged famine OF
plenty so here the rain gauge is noted with eager
interest to see whether the aggregate number Of
inches gives hope for plentiful crop. As yet,
the number falls short of what is required for
prosperity, but the rains have come in such
manner as to be utilized to the utmost degree,
and hopes are entertained that even under the
worst of future circumstances fair crops may be
gathered The interests Of California are now
SO closely connected with agriculture thai disaster
here involves universal calamity.


The Mercantile Library Association of this
City have just issued their Annual Report They
possess a magnificent building valued at 100000,
and library of 10000 volumes. The lottery Of
last summer which so many will remember with
twinge of pain was financial success but the
retiring President Of the Association himself
confesses its demoralizing effect 1t may be
questioned whether even the rescue of useful
institution from threatened bankruptcy is
sufficient compensation for the harm that has
resulted from the means resorted to. The Insane
Asylum at Stockton holds more than one victim
of the disappointed hope which it produced.
And besides this, an impetus has been given to
similar schemes throughout the State.


The eagerness Of men to rush after the slight
est hope of easy gain has had an amusing Illus
tration in the city lately. 1t appears that one
or tive Mexicans, of an investigating turn Of
mind, undertook search for gold in the sands
on the beach near Selby's Reduction Works.
They we're reported to have found some glitteriDg
grains, and forthwith thousand people-men,
women and children-betook themselves to the
spot, some to look on curiously, many to search
for fortune. Every available spot is taken up BY
the sangune miners, who diligently wash the
sand in old pans and every sort Of extemporized
rocker" Others carry away sand in bags and
cans, to search at leisure. This pursuit Of fortune,
however, is rational and promising in comparison
with an enterprise in which another dreamer has
embarked A friend recently called the attention
Of your correspondent to aquantity Of ships stores
which be said were about to be put on board
vessel soon to sail in search Of secreted treasure.
There is a certain Island IN mid Pacific, where, as
sundry fools believe, some pirate concealed, years
ago, a store of his ilLgotten coin. More than one
party has made search for it. But now q woman
having had revelations from spirits to its exact
locality, has purchased vessel and is sending it
to the island It adds another illustration to the
proverb, that "a fool and his money are soon
parted


California has lost the brightest star in her lite
rary armament by the departure for the East Of
Bret Harte. He was a genuine product Of the
Western Coast, and ought to have continued on
the soil that has given his works the acy favor
that won popularity. Few have attained literary
success in 50 brief a time and through SO limited
an amount of productions as he. a few poems
and prose sketches have brought him fame as
wide as the world Of English readers. He has
rot left this State for lack Of appreciation. nor
for want Of profitable opportunities 1t remains
to be seen whether the author Of the Heather