ELDORADO 167 



CHAPTER XIX. 



FLOODS AND FIRES. 



California, like most new States during the early 

 stages of their development, suffered losses by reason 

 of imperfect organizations for protection against floods 

 and fires, as well as the results of natural causes. She 

 had her drouths, grass-hopper seasons, and a few 

 earthquakes. Some of these came under my own ob- 

 servation. Notwithstanding these temporary draw- 

 backs, which occurred at long intervals, who would 

 want to leave the genial climate, the cool nights, brac- 

 ing atmosphere, and delightful mountain and seaside 

 resorts, for a land of cultry days and nights, of bliz- 

 zards, cyclones, and fearful tornadoes ? 



The winters of "49, '50, '53, are memorable for de- 

 structive floods, resulting in great loss of property 

 and lives, and to prevent the recurrence of such un- 

 fortunate disasters, the cities bordering on the streams 

 liable to inundation, such as Stockton, Marysville and 

 Sacramento, especially the latter, raised their build- 

 ings and filled in with earth to the height of ten or 

 twelve feet, or above high water mark. The difficulty 

 was greatly aggravated after the advent of hydraulic 

 mining. The debris from these extensive washings 



