Page:California Highways and Public Works Journal Vols 8-9.djvu/34



URING the mouth of December, 1929, the weather in general throughout the state was not abnormal in most respects in comparison with December weather in past years. The only feature at all unusual was the concentration of rainfall, into the single storm of the month and over that portion of the state north of San Francisco and Stockton. During the month of November and to December 9th, no rain fell at any point in the state.

On December 9th the storm commenced, centering its rainfall in the drainage basins of the Sacramento and Feather rivers, and continued until the 15th, with light rains only falling for the next few days. Some rain fell during this storm over most of the northern part of the state. The heaviest recorded precipitation in 24 hours was at Kennett on the upper Sacramento River on December 12th, when 10.79 inches fell, followed on the next day by 3.14 inches. The storm extended into the lower San Joaquin Valley with light rains only. A fall of 11 inches was reported from Buck’s Valley on the Feather River on the 11th.

On the North Pacific coast fairly heavy rains fell, but not out of the ordinary. The maximum at Eureka was 1.35 inches on December 14th. The heaviest rain at Santa Rosa was 3.32 inches on December 10th. There was no rain at Bakersfield, Los Angeles nor San Diego. December storms in the past have usually been more general, with some rain in southern California, and also have usually been spread out more evenly throughout the month.

At the beginning of the new year the precipitation throughout the state was far below normal, and in the northern part, where the only considerable rain fell, it is not more than two-thirds of normal, in spite of the fact that in some parts the December storm precipitated rain in excess of the monthly normal. At Sacramento the seasonal rainfall to January 1st has been 4.21 inches as compared with a normal of 6.32 inches. There is practically no snow in the Sierra Nevada, while normally there should be at least 5 feet, hard packed.

No direct general comparison of the weather conditions in the December just past can be made readily with Decembers in previous years, on account of the unusual distribution of rainfall, both as to time and locality. At the beginning of the storm all the rivers in the Sacramento Valley were at extremely low stage, but none of them reached dangerous heights. The highest water was in the Sacramento and Feather rivers. The gage at Sacramento read 23.0 as against 26.5 in the March, 1928, storm. The water reached 14.0 on the Marvsville gage, while it was at 24.0 in March, 1928.

Water passed down the Sutter By-pass and Tisdale By-pass and discharged over Fremont weir about 2 feet deep. The tidal reclamations in the lower Yolo By-pass were flooded, as was Prospect Island. There was no need to open the gates of the Sacramento weir for this storm. Why shouldn’t husbands be left at home while wives go vacationing? Somebody must consume the sardine catch.

Who remembers the old-fashioned hick who felt real wicked and devilish while watching the Bloomer Girls play baseball?

How the pastor talked to the highwaymen who sought the cash that he did not have: “Ah, gentlemen, I might, indeed, have something to give you if only I had such energetic fellows as you to pass the plate now and then.”—Christian Register.

“Yassah,” said old Link, “business very good. Done bought a pig fo’ ten dollars, traded pig fo’ a barrer, barrer fo’ a calf, calf fo’ a bicycle, and sol’ de bicycle fo’ ten dollars !”

“But yo’ don’ make nothin,’ Link!”

“Sho ’nough, but look at de business ah been doin’,”—Montreal Star.

“Anatomically considered, laughter is the sensation of feeling good all over, and showing it principally in one spot. Morally considered, it is the next best thing to the Ten Commandments. Theoretically considered, it can out-argue all the logic in existence. Pyrotechnically considered, it is the fireworks of the soul. If a man can’t laugh, there is some mistake made in putting him together, and if he won’t laugh he wants as much keeping away from as a bear-trap when it is set.”—Josh Billings.

An old colored woman who came to the Governor of Tennessee:

“Marse Govenah. I want my Sam pahdoned,” said she.

“Where is he, auntie?”

“In de pententiary,”

“What for?”

“Stealin' a ham.”

“Did he steal it?”

“Yes, sah, he suah did,”

“Is he a good nigger, auntie?“

“Lawsy, no, suh. He’s a pow’ful wo’thless niggah.”

“Then why do you want him pardoned?”

“Cause, yo’ honoh, we’s plum out of ham ag’in.”