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 AGRICULTURAL 
 
 IP7- 
 
 OTHIEIE^ I^ESOXJJE^OES 
 
 CALIFORNIA. 
 
 COMPRISING TWENTY YEARS OF PROGRESS; A DESCRIPriON OF THE PRIN- 
 CIPAL VALLEYS OF THE STATE; ITS GENIAL CLIMATE AND WIDE 
 RANGE OF PRODUCTION ; HOW LANDS ARE TO BE OBTAINED, AND 
 WHERE THE IMMIGRANT MAY FIND THEM ; THE LANDS OP THE 
 CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY ; FRESH WATER TIDE 
 LANDS; VARIOUS MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING 
 ESTABLfSHMENTS ; THE CALIFORNIA PACIFIC R. R. CO. ; 
 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA; RECENT MINERAL DIS- 
 COVERIES ; SAN FRANCISCO ; VALLEJO, &C. 
 
 By TITUS FEY CRONISE^ 
 
 AUTIIfiu OF THE " NATURAL WEALTH OF OALIPOHNI *." 
 
 ■WTITU T^;^k■ElSrT'2■-OI^rE IX.LTJSTK,A.TI01SrS. 
 
 ^I^^l-^^— i— 
 
 A. ROMAN & CO., SAN PHANCISCO. 
 
 BRAINERD fe WAITE, .^fie River Street, Troy, N. T. 
 
 i 
 
FAClffI© MW WAt 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA, 
 
 ST & 39 Second. Street, Sacramento. 
 
 LELAND STANFORD, Pres. H. F. HASTINGS, Vice Pres. 
 
 JOSEPH CRACKBON, Sec JOS. ffl. FREY, Phys. in Chief. 
 
 SCHREIBER & HOWELL, Gen'l Ag'ts. 
 
 DIRECTORS : 
 
 . Sacramento, Cal. 
 
 LELAND STANFORD, Pres. C. P. R. E., 
 
 ROBERT WATT, State Comptroller . ., , 
 
 B. F. HASTINGS (John Sime & Co., Bankers) San Fransisco, Oal. 
 
 NEWTON BOOTH (Booth & Co., Merchants), Sacramento, Cal., 
 
 LEONARD GOSS, Merchant; " / 
 
 EDGAR MILLS (D. O. Mills & Co., Bankers) 
 
 SAMUEL LAVENSON (Locke & Lavenson) 
 
 CHARLES CROCKER, Gen. Supt. C. P. R. R., 
 
 P. H. RUSSELL, Merchant, 
 
 H.F.HASTINGS (B. F. Hastings & Co., Bankers), •' 
 
 J. H. CARROLL (J. H. Carroll & Co., Merchants), " 
 
 D. W. EARL, Merchant, 
 
 JAMES CAROLAN (J. & P. Carolan, Merchants), : 
 
 E. B. KENYON Capitalist " 
 
 ROBERT HAMILTON (Baker & Hamilton), " 
 
 Capital in GOLD COIN, ■ $350,000. 
 
 Assets over $700,000. 
 
 Policies issued payable in either Gold or Currency. 
 
 All Policies and Dividends actually non-forfeitahle. 
 
 California is the only State in the Union which exempts all classes of_.5'oUoies from execu- 
 tion whereon the Annual Premium does not exceed $500. # '\, 
 
 Advances made in Cash at any time on Policies or fujiare Dividen/ife. ' 
 
 Thirty Days' grace on Annual Renewal Premiums. ^ ■ 
 
 After Two Annual Premiums are made, the Compiny will, ev^n Two years after the last 
 Payment, js-TOc either a paid-up Policy for the proportion of PremWims received, or pay the equi- 
 valent in Cash. / 
 
 As the rates of interest are greater in Calif orn!® than in otper States or Europe, the profits 
 and dividends accruing to the insured will be proportionately Mcreased. 
 
 JVevada, Idaho and Dakotf-Z. A, ^RUMSEY, Virginia, Nevada. 
 
 07-egon and Upper Taciflc Coasi—STO'V^ALL & ROBB, Portland, Oregon. 
 
 Z7?«>%-B. GjjRAYBOULD', Salt Lake City. 
 
 SCHREIBER & HOWELL, 90 La Salle Street, Chicago. 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013757087 
 
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TliB 
 
 AGRICULTURAL 
 
 OTHEie, i?/Eso"D"ie.oEs 
 
 CALIFORNIA. 
 
 COMPRISING TWENTY YEARS OF PROGRESS; A DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIN- 
 CIPAL VALLEYS OP THE STATE; ITS GENIAL CLIMATE AND WIDE 
 RANGE OF PRODUCTION ; HOW LANDS ARE TO BE OBTAINED, AND 
 WHERE THE IMMIGRANT MAY FIND THEM ; THE LANDS OF THE 
 CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY; FRESH WATER TIDE 
 LANDS; VARIOUS MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING 
 ESTABLISHMENTS ; THE CALIFORNIA PACIFIC R. R. CO. ; 
 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ; RECENT MINERAL DIS- 
 COVERIES ; SAN FRANCISCO ; VALLEJO, &C. 
 
 By TITUS FEY CRONISE, 
 
 AUTHOU OV THK " SATVUi-h WBALTH OF CALIFOKN I IL." 
 
 ■V^ITii T-WEISTT-S'-OITB ILLTTSTR-A-TIONS. 
 
 A. ROMAN & CO., SAN FRANCISCO. 
 
 BRAINEKD & WAITE, 266 Eivee Stkebt, Tkot, N. T. 
 1870. 
 
COIS^TEIS^TS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 California at first Supposed to be a Desert. Damaging effect of this Opinion. 
 Ignorance of its Resources and early Obstacles to Success. Fallacies Cor- 
 rected. Unexpected Capacities of the Soil and Climate. Other Evils now 
 happily Averted. Progress made in the Right Direction. Need for Reli- 
 able Information. Geographical Position. Area, Varieties of' Land. Cho- 
 rography of theState. Its System of Mountains 5 
 
 CHAPTEE II. 
 
 The principal Agricultural Valleys of the State. The Hydrographic System 
 of California. Seasons and Climate. Temperature. Agricultural Products, 
 Variety, Quantity, &c. Wide Range of Production. Neglected Products 
 and Pursuits 14 
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 Various Mechanical and Manufacturing Kstablishments. Industrial Enter- 
 prises and Works of Internal Improvement. Everything Done on a Large 
 Scale. Improving the Channels of Interior Commerce. The Class of Immi- 
 grants most needed in California. The most Expeditious and Satisfactory 
 Methods for Obtaining Lands. Where the Immigrant may find Lands for 
 Settlement. Central Pacific Railroad Company. Route of Road and Char- 
 acter of the Country through vrhich it passes. Wheat, Grazing and Orchard 
 Lands. Vineyard and Dairy Lands, Mines and Quarries. How Lands are 
 Sold. Policy of the Company 25 
 
 CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 Solano County; Vallejo. Napa County, Calistoga Springs. Fresh- Water 
 Tide Lands. Lands in the great San Joaquin and Tulare Valleys. Remarks 
 of Dr. R. P. Ashe. Choice Tracts of Land for Sale. San Luis Obispo 
 County 41 
 
 CHAPTEE V. 
 
 Los Angeles County; Commissioner Wilson's Letter. Choice Lands on the 
 Market. San Diego County. Railroads. Map. The California Pacific 
 Railroad. Mineral Wealth. San Francisco. Occidental Hotel. Harpen- 
 ding's Buildings. Bank of California. London and San Francisco Bank. 
 Pacific Insurance Company. Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company of 
 California 64 
 
Agricultural anb otl)cr Hcsouraa of California. 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 California at first Supposed to be a Desert. Damaging effect of this Opinion. 
 Ignorance of its Resources and early Obstacles to Successi Fallacies Corrected. 
 Unexpected Capacities of the Soil and Climate. Other Evils now happily Averted. 
 Progress made in the Right Direction. Need for Reliable Information. Geo- 
 graphical Position. Area. Varieties of Land. Chorography of the State. Its 
 System of Mountains. 
 
 California at First Supposed to be a Desert — Damaging Effect 
 OF THIS Erroneous Opinion. 
 
 It is now just twenty years since the discovery of gold was 
 made in California. During the first eight or ten years following 
 that event, the greater portion of the inhabitants were engaged in 
 mining, a business that proved so remunerative and enticing, that 
 little attention was, meantime, paid to any other intere.st or call- 
 ing. Searching after and gathering gold was with the masses the 
 sole, all absorbing, pursuit. For this alone they had come to Cali- 
 fornia, having absented themselves temporarily from their homes 
 for the purpose. 
 
 It formed no part of their plan to settle in the country, to 
 acquaint themselves with its character, or aid in the development of' 
 its more permanent resources, concerning which they were alike 
 ignorant and careless. The most of their number saw little of the 
 State, except the mining regions, generally the least valuable and 
 inviting portion of it; and left, knowing scarcely any more about 
 its varied forms of wealth or the capacities of the soil than if they 
 had never been here at all. So far, however, as these early adven- 
 turers had formed any opinion about the country, it was, as a gen- 
 eral thing, unfavorable; the most of them leaving under the 
 impression that it was, with some unimportant exceptions, a mere 
 
6 
 
 desert. It was known to all that there were a few fertile spots, 
 such as those selected for the sites of the old Missions, and certain 
 small valleys where- fruits and grain could be grown with the aid 
 of careful culture and irrigat.on; but, beyond this, it was not 
 supposed that any considerable portion of the country was adapted 
 to agricultural pursuits. How erroneous these opinions were is 
 now well enough known; but how damaging their wide dissem- 
 ination may have proved, is not generally so well understood. 
 Scattered far and wide by those who would naturally be consid- 
 ered good authority, and propagated at a time when it was desira- 
 ble that a larger proportion of the population should turn their 
 attention to the cultivation of the soil, and when special encour- 
 agement should have been given to an immigration of farmers, 
 they doubtless did much to deter that particular class from coming 
 here, besides tending otherwise to seriously prejudice the best 
 interests of the State. The only way left to correct these mistaken 
 notions was to practically disprove them, a work that has since 
 been so effectually accomplished, that California is to-day everj- 
 where known as the first fruit growing, and according to its popu- 
 lation, the largest grain exporting country in the world, the fame 
 of its wheat fields almost out-rivaling that of its gold mines. 
 
 Ignorance of its Eesources and Eaely Obstacles to Success. 
 
 Gradually as our people came to understand the peculiarities of 
 the soil and climate, and to get familiarized with the new and 
 strange circumstances under which they found themselves placed, 
 the impediments in the way of successful farming and kindred 
 pursuits disappeared. Many of their first efforts, from misappre- 
 hension as to the proper time of planting, imperfect culture, and 
 other mistakes, now easily avoidable, resulted in total or partial 
 failure. Not all at once, did even the most laborious and obser- 
 vant attain success. Little by little and through varied experi- 
 ment and persevering effort was this end achieved. First the 
 seasons had to be studied and the most suitable times for plowing 
 and planting ascertained. Then the adaptability of various soils 
 to particular crops and the best modes of tillage had to be deter- 
 mined; what varieties of grains, fruits and seeds were best suited 
 to the soil and climate had to be found out, the utility of manures 
 and the necessity for irrigation had to be tested. Safeguards 
 against the depredations of squirrels and gophers and other 
 
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unheard of pests had to be sought out and applied; all of which 
 heavily taxed the energies and means of the new comer, who had 
 everything to learn by actual trial, the experience of his prede- 
 cessors in the country being so limited and imperfect as to mis- 
 lead and embarrass rather than aid him in his perplexities. 
 
 After years of persevering toil and costly experiment, these 
 obstacles and annoyances have been so far overcome that the hus- 
 bandman finds them no longer formidable; the bountiful harvests of 
 the past three years being proof how nearly they have at lenght 
 been remedied or removed. 
 
 The history of farming in California, brief as it is, has been one 
 of constant investigation and discovery. At first it was thought 
 nothing could be grown and brought to maturity, unless planted 
 on the richest interval land and carefully irrigated. Such was 
 the belief of the native Californians, who never attempted to raise 
 a crop or plant an orchard or vineyard, without a strict compliance 
 with these conditions. 
 
 Fallacies Coeeected — Unexpected Capacities of the Soil and 
 
 Climate. 
 
 The American population after turning their attention to farm- 
 ing, were not long in discovering with their inquiring and eager 
 enterprise that this was all a mistake; it being found that deep 
 plowing and seasonable planting were all that was necessary to 
 insure the perfection of the cereal crops, while trees and vines, 
 after they had once become rooted, grew as well and yielded a 
 better quality of fruit without, than with irrigation. Then, too, it 
 soon became apparent that grain could be grown on- the broad 
 valleys and uplands as well, and in certain seasons even better, 
 than on the rich alluvial bottoms. Farms were laid out and tilled 
 with profit throughout the mining regions, once thought so barren, 
 while gardens were successfully cultivated high up in the foot 
 hills of the Sierra Nevada, where it was formerly believed grass 
 could scarcely be made to grow. 
 
 Thus, gradually, the area of the arable lands became extended, 
 until it had covered the broad plains and the foot-hills and reached 
 even to the summits of the mountains. Vineyards, before confined 
 to the rich soil of the valleys, began to climb the hillsides, and 
 orchards and gardens were to be seen wherever the settler found 
 a spot otherwise suited for a home; every year supplying addi- 
 tional evidence of the varied capacities of the climate and the won- 
 
8 
 
 derful fertility of the soil. Further and further into new fields 
 of fertility, the plow was pushed always to be followed by boun- 
 tiful harvests, while the acclimation of one semi-tropical fruit after 
 another established the broad range in the vegetable world, over 
 which the productive energies of nature had been made to extend. 
 
 For a long time it was thought that the greater portion of 
 southern California, though favored with a rich soil and a most 
 desirable climate, was too dry to ever become a good farming 
 country. This, too, now turns out to be wholly an error ; recent 
 experience proving this to be scarcely inferior to any other section 
 of the State as a grain growing region; while for sheep and cattle 
 raising, dairying and fruit growing and wine making the southern 
 counties are fully equal, if not superior, to the northern. Late 
 experiments tend to establish that ^n ith proper tillage and early 
 sowing good crops can be made in ordinary years throughout that 
 section; while the grassy hills and plains afford a pasturage not 
 only abundant, but which by its rich and nutritious properties 
 imparts a peculiarly fine flavor to the productions of the dairy. 
 
 The winter of 1867-8 having been unusually wet, rendering 
 the cultivation of the valley lands in many places impracticable, 
 farmers were obliged in such cases to resort to the sandy and 
 gravelly plains previously neglected, or to retire with their plow- 
 ing further back into the hills than ever before. Thus, extensive 
 tracts of unpromising lands were jjlanted, rather as an experiment 
 than with the hope of making full crops. It turned out however, 
 that these lands not only produced well, but gave more than an 
 average yield. And thus it is we are constantly progressing, 
 making useful discoveries, opening new avenues for agricultural 
 and pastoral enterprise, and pushing it into new fields of produc- 
 tion. Through these discoveries, for such the results of these 
 experiments really are, the scope of our farming operations is 
 being steadily enlarged and the capacities of the country more 
 thoroughly ascertained; nor is it probable that with all our pro^ 
 gress we have more than just entered this new world of discovery. 
 What is to come from further explorations and trials; from an 
 altenation of crops; the application of manures; the practice of 
 irrigation; the construction of railroads; the necessities of a more 
 diversified industry, and other novel conditions, not easily foreseen, 
 yet likely to arise, may in part be conjectured from the experience 
 of the past. 
 
Othee Evils, now Happily Averted. 
 
 But not alone through ignorance of its resources at home or 
 their damaging misrepresentation abroad has the prosperity of 
 California been marred and its progress retarded. In the uncer- 
 tainty of titles to lands, and the costly and vexatious litigation 
 growing out of the same; in the unsettled character of its popula- 
 tion, made up for a long time mostly of adventurers, or, at best, 
 mere sojourners, ignorant of its wants and indifferent to its welfare; 
 in the incompetency and corruption of its legislators and other 
 officials, intent only on enriching themselves while they burdened 
 the State with debts for which it received no equivalent; in the 
 imperfection of its laws and the laxity of their execution, leading 
 to insecurity, violence and crime, and finally in the careless and 
 extravagant habits of its people, and the low standard of public 
 and private morality that generally prevailed, it has had to 
 encounter the most deadly foe to its prosperity and the greatest 
 obstruction to its progress. But as these, too, have mostly become 
 things of the past, having been in a great measure corrected, we 
 pass them over lightly; having alluded to them not because they 
 are now pressing evils, but with a view to explain how it is that 
 California, after so many years, has so few inhabitants, and how, 
 with so many advantages and so much natural wealth, individual 
 accumulations have been so small. 
 
 Progress Made in the Eight Direction. 
 
 Without attempting more than a passing allusion to the moral, 
 social and educational improvements of late years; it may be 
 observed that California has during this time enjoyed the benefits 
 of good government and the faithful administration of wisely 
 framed laws; that it has reduced its public debt until it is no longer 
 burdensome; has procured in great measure the settlement- of con- 
 flicting land titles; acquired a more stable population; established 
 a liberal, richly endowed and efficient system of public instruction; 
 founded a multitude of churches, reformatory, literary and eleemo- 
 synary institutions, having evolved order from confusion and devel- 
 oped the elements of a high and pure civilization in as great pro- 
 fusion as any other people. What has bean done in the way of 
 manufactures, internal improvements and other matters pertaining 
 to material progress, will be found noted elsewhere in these pages 
 
10 
 
 California having, thus, largely corrected the abuses that at one 
 time threatened to engulf it in ruin, and vindicated its good name 
 from the odium that formerly attached to it, and having, more- 
 over, begun to attract the attention of the rest of the world by its late 
 shipments of breadstuffs, showing an ability to compete with the 
 great grain growing districts of our own country and Europe, the 
 present seems an auspicious moment for presenting to the public 
 abroad a few leading facts touching its resources, and the induce- 
 ments it offers for the investment of foreign capital and the immi- 
 gration of every class to its shores; whether the object in coming 
 be health, pleasure, or the active pursuits of business. 
 
 Need for Keliable Infoemation. 
 
 It is notorious that writers and speakers on California have too 
 often indulged in a tone of exaggeration and sometimes even of 
 fulsome praise. Sensible of the impolicy as well as injustice of 
 such a course, everything like overstatement or unfairness has been 
 avoided in this work, only such facts having been embodied therein 
 as seemed well authenticated, practical and of general application; 
 it being the design of the writer to make the information conveyed 
 so entirely reliable that it might safely be adopted as a guide to 
 the stranger, and serve as the basis of the most important business 
 transactions. 
 
 Before enteriug upon a detailed description of the climate, agri- 
 ' cultural resources, and other matters of economic interest in Cali- 
 fornia, it may be well to present a few facts touching its 
 
 Geographical Position, Area, Varieties of Land, and Choro- 
 
 GEAPHY, 
 
 Accompanying the same with a more extended outline of the 
 latter, since upon that the country is largely dependent for its unique 
 hydrography, as well as for certain climatic peculiarities and eccen- 
 tricities, not otherwise easily explained. 
 
 The State of California lies between the 32d degree and the 
 42d degree of north latitude, being nearly 700 miles long and a 
 little more than 200 miles wide. It is bounded on the north by 
 Oregon, on the cast by Nevada and Arizona, on the south by 
 Lower California, and on the south-west and west by the Pacific 
 Ocean. It embraces within its limits an area of about 160,000 
 
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 (11 
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11 
 
 square miles. Of this territory about 40,000,000 acres of land may 
 be set down as arable, and the greater portion of it being such as 
 would, if cleared of timber and reclaimed from overflow, produce 
 most kinds of fruit and fair crops of grain. This land, except 
 where covered with dense forests or subject to overflosv, produces 
 nearly everywhere a gx'owth of native grasses, the principal of 
 which is a species called bunch grass from its growing only in 
 scattered clumps and never forming a sod. It is found chiefly on 
 the mountains, hills and open plains, the valleys abounding with 
 clover and other varieties of grass. Large sections of the coast 
 range are covered with wild oats, which grows alike in the depres- 
 sions and upon the hills. Of the overflowed lands, being mostly 
 what are denominated tide lands, there are 4,600,000 acres in the 
 State. In some spots they produce a coarse grass, but are for the 
 greater part covered with a growth of tides, and are incapable of 
 being cultivated till reclaimed from overflow by dyking. The 
 great body of these lands lies along the lower portions of the 
 Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. 
 
 Of the dense forest lauds fit for tillage, but which cannot be 
 plowed until cleared of timber, there are perhaps three or four 
 million acres iu the State, there being more than five times that 
 quantity of heavily timbered land too rugged and rocky for the 
 plow, and, as a general thing, too elevated to admit of fruits or 
 grain arriving at maturity upon them. 
 
 Vast extents of forest lands lying along the lower slopes and 
 the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, are sufficiently open 
 to admit of being plowed by the removal or girdling of a few 
 trees. All this land is admirably adapted to the culture of the 
 vine and most kinds of fruits, while much of it could also be made 
 to produce good grain. The entire area of California, excepting 
 what is absolutely desert or included in the heavily timbered and 
 more mountainous portions, may be considered grazing land. 
 Much of the latter, however, as well as of the arable land is of 
 inferior quality, consisting of a light gravelly soil yielding but 
 little pasturage and incapable in even favorable seasons of growing 
 an average crop of grain. 
 
 Occupying the south-eastern parts of the State and covering 
 nearly one-fifth of its area is a vast extent of barren country com- 
 prising a portion of the Great Utah desert with the Mohave and 
 Colorado deserts lying further south. With the exception of a 
 few small valleys and fertile spots of limited dimensions the whole 
 
12 
 
 of this region is hopelessly sterile, consisting of alkali flats, sage 
 barrens, volcanic plains, and beds of drifting sand, sprinkled over 
 with black isolated buttes and clusters of basaltic mountains and 
 desolate hills, and being almost entirely without wood, grass or 
 water. 
 
 From this classification of its lands it will be seen that a very 
 large proportion of California is not only unfit for the plow, but 
 even for grazing purposes, a circumstance that should not be 
 overlooked in estimating its ability for sustaining population; 
 though this is perhaps equal to that of any other country of like 
 area. 
 
 Chokogeapht of the State — Its System of Mountains. 
 
 California contains two principal chains of mountains, the Sierra 
 Nevada and Coast Range, there being also subordinate groups and 
 ranges. The Sierra Nevada, much the highest but shorter chain, 
 commences near the north end of the State and extends along or 
 near its eastern border for about two-thirds its length. The Coast 
 Range, also beginning in the northern part of the State, runs south 
 parallel to and near the sea for a distance of about 500 miles. It 
 is composed of several parallel ridges, separated from each other 
 by numerous valleys, the width of the entire belt varying from 
 forty to sixty miles. Some of these valleys are quite narrow, 
 while others are so broad as to assume the character of plains. 
 They are generally fertile, moderately well wooded and watered, 
 and in consequence of their accessibility, mild, healthful and equable 
 climate, constitute the most desirable places of residence in the 
 State. The general elevation of the Coast Range varies from five 
 hundred to three or four thousand feet; a few of the higher peaks 
 reaching a much greater altitude. Along their northern portions 
 and at a few points further south, these mountains are well tim- 
 bered. The soil upon them is nearly everywhere good, and being 
 within the moistening influences of the ocean air, crops here are 
 less dependent upon the rains than in most other parts of the State. 
 For the same reason the pasturage supplied by the wild oats and 
 native grass, is always abundant. In some places the most westerly 
 ranges of these mountains border closely upon the sea, while again 
 a wide space, composed of low hills or elevated plains, interposes 
 between them and the shore. Though this portion of the range 
 abounds with small streams, no considerable rivers have their 
 sources in these mountains. 
 

 Mt. BROERIE, NEVADA FALLS. 
 
 YOSEMITE FALLS. 
 
13 
 
 Jn the SieiTa Nevada, on the contrary, a very lofty range and 
 covered for more than half the year with snow, many large rivers 
 take their rise, and flowing down its western declivit}"^ marli the 
 same with canons from 2,000 to 3,000 feet deep. This range is 
 also timbered to its very summits with magnificent forests of pine, 
 spruce and cedar, while along its lower slopes and foothills 
 stretches the great gold bearing belt of the State. 
 
 Both to the north and soutli of these two main chains of moun- 
 tains are other scattered groups and short ranges, the entire north- 
 western part of the State having an elevated and rugged surface. 
 Nearly all these mountains, except portions of the Coast Eange 
 and some clusters further south, are well watered and timbered. 
 Along their base the forests are more open, being much scattered 
 on the foot-hills, but growing more stately and dense as their 
 summits are approached. 
 
 Above 6,000 or 7,000 feet, however, the timber begins to dwarf, 
 many of the more loftj' peaks and ridges containing little or none 
 at all. Along the lower portions of the Sierra Nevada, there is 
 much bunch grass, and higher up, often on the very top of the 
 range, manj'- small meadows, to which herdsmen drive their stock 
 for summer pasturage. 
 
14 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The principal Agricultural Valleys of the State. The Hydrographic System of 
 California. Seasons and Climate. Temperature. Agricultural Products, Vari- 
 ety, Quantity, &c. Wide Kange of Production. Neglected Products and Pur- 
 suits. 
 
 The Peincipal Agricultural Valleys of the State 
 
 Consist of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, the Tulare, Santa 
 Inez, Cujama, Santa Susana, Pajaro, Siinta Clara, Sunol, Amador, 
 Livermore, Napa, Sonoma, Petaluma Bereyessa, Wolfskill, Cache 
 Creek, Russian Eiver and Eel River — some of them very small 
 and others of great extent, but all distinguished for the large pro- 
 portion of the good land they contain. There are many other val- 
 leys of scarcely less fertility and extent than those named, but 
 being mostly in remote parts of the State and as yet but sparsely 
 settled, they do not call for especial notice. The Sacramento, San 
 Joaquin and Tulare valleys, all occupying the same depression 
 and really constituting but a single valley, have a united length 
 of near five hundred miles with an average breadth of fifty miles, 
 embracing within their limits nearly sixteen million acres of land, 
 more than one-half of which is of excellent quality and nearly all 
 susceptible of tillage. The most prolific and valuable, as well as 
 the most beautiful valley in the State is, however, that of Santa 
 Clara, lying on either side and south of the bay of San Francisco, 
 a region unsurpassed in the excellence of its soil and climate, and 
 in the elements of the picturesque and beautiful. 
 
 Many of the other valleys enumerated are not, however, inferior 
 to this except in the matter of size, while some of the plains in 
 the southern part of the State, such as those in the vicinity of Los 
 Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Bernardino, are equally as pro- 
 lific and even more varied in their productions than the choicest 
 of these northern valleys, their only objectionable feature being the 
 somewhat greater heat of the summers in that quarter. Many of 
 these valleys contain scattered groves of oak, while in others, such 
 as the Sacramento and San Joaquin, nearly all the timber is found 
 in narrow belts growing along the principal streams and water 
 courses. Along the margins of these valleys as they rise into the 
 foothills on either hand, a more scrubby species of oak, and higher 
 up, of pine, grows in considerable quantities. 
 
15 
 
 The Hydeogeaphic System of Califoenia, 
 
 Though unique is simple and easily understood, the San Joaquin 
 and Sacramento rivers which ai"ise, the one at the southeru and 
 the other at the northern end of the great interior valley and 
 meet near its centre, drain, with their tributaries, more than 
 one-half the entire State. All their important branches have their 
 sources in the Sierra Nevada, whence they flow in a westerly 
 direction; and although many of them are large streams, only a 
 few are navigable and that for a short distance. Both the Sacra- 
 mento and San Joaquin are navigable from their confluence in the 
 bay of Suisun, a distance by their windings, of nearly three hun- 
 dred miles. None of the other rivers in the State, of which there 
 are several of considerable magnitude are navigable for any dis- 
 tance, except the Colorado forming the boundary between Cali- 
 fornia and Arizona, up which light draft steamers have made their 
 way, at favorable stages, over 600 miles. But few streams flow 
 down the eastern declivities of the mountains though a large num- 
 ber, especially in the Sierra Nevada run in an opposite direction. 
 Many streams dry up entirely in the summer, which during the wet 
 season become large torrents and even considerable rivers. 
 
 California contains but a comparatively small number of lakes, the 
 principal of which are Kern, Tulare, Owens, Mono, Tahoe, Clear, 
 Eagle, and three or four others in the northeastern corner of the 
 State. Some have a great depth while others are quite shallow, sev- 
 eral of the number lying east of the Sierra Nevada having no outlet 
 to the sea. The waters of this latter class, are so impregnated with 
 alkaline and other salts as to be unfit for use, and even destructive 
 to fish and all other forms of animal life. 
 
 Seasons and Climate. 
 
 Properly speaking, California has but two seasons instead of 
 four, as is generally the case with countries within the same degrees 
 of latitude. These seasons consist of the wet and the dry; the 
 former constituting the winter and the latter the summer of this 
 coast. 
 
 The wet season usually sets in about the middle of November; 
 at which time there is likely to be four or five rainy days followed 
 by a period of dry weather. The rain-fall in that month varies, at 
 San Francisco, from half an inch to seven inches and a half; about 
 one year in five or six not more than half an inch falling, while 
 
16 
 
 the quantity at long intervals amounts to as much as above stated. 
 The amount of rain in December, the vrettest month of the year, 
 averages more than double that of November, there usually being 
 heavy storms about Christmas. January is also apt to be a wet 
 month, though somewhat fickle, the precipitation occasionally 
 being excessive and again very scant. The same is true of Febru- 
 ary, though this month is generally drier and almost always con- 
 tains a week or two of uninterrupted clear weather. During 
 March there are commonly many wet days, though the aggregate 
 amount of rain is less than in February; the annual precipitation 
 being more uniform and certain in that than in any other month. 
 The rain-fall of April reaches about three-fifths that of March, 
 but is occasionally much less, there being at long intervals none 
 at all in this month. From the first day of May till the middle of 
 November there is but little rain, the total yearly fall during that 
 period averaging less than two and one-half inches. The mean 
 quantity of rain that fell at San Francisco during the past seven- 
 teen years, was as follows : In February, 3.08; March, 2.76; 
 April, 1.74; May, .82; June, .05; July, .02; August, .01; September, 
 .09; October, .57; November, 2.74; December, 5.37; showing a 
 total average quantity for each year of 21.76 inches. Some years 
 it happens that the amount of precipitation is much less than in 
 others; thus during the climatic year extending from November 
 1st, 1850, to the end of October, 1851, it only reached 8.31 inches, 
 and in 1863-4 only 8.59 inches; whereas, in 1862', 18.14 inches of 
 water fell in the month of January alone; the entire quantity fall- 
 ing during the climatic year 1861-62, having amounted to 38.06 
 inches. This was the wettest and the other two years above named 
 the driest occurring during the period of seventeen years; the 
 former having brought a destructive flood and the others being 
 attended with short crops of grain and grass, leading to the loss 
 ef large numbers of cattle. 
 
 For every year of extreme drouth, however, there are four or 
 five having a sufficiency and one perhaps an excess of rain. Two 
 extremely dry seasons rarely ever come together, though two and 
 even three tolerably wet ones follow each other in succession, the 
 three past years supplying an instance of this kind. . 
 
 For December 1866, the rain gauge at San Francisco showed 
 the extraordinary precipitation of 13.15 inches, and for the same 
 month of the following year 12.85 inches, the other months of each 
 year having been as wet as usual; while considerably more rain 
 
17 
 
 fell from November 31st, 1868, to the 1st of December, 1869, than 
 the average. 
 
 It would appear, so far as experience extends, that an extremely- 
 wet year or series of years is apt to be followed by one of drouth. 
 An unaccustomed drouth when it does occur is not restricted to a 
 particular section, but extends over the entire State. But while 
 such is the case, the annual fall of rain is never uniform over the 
 whole of California, but varies greatly in different sections. 
 
 In the vicinity of San Francisco, the average annual supply is, 
 as above stated, 21.76 inches. In going north or east this amount 
 increases, while in going south and southeast it diminishes. At 
 San Diego, there is but one-half the precipitation that there is at 
 San Francisco; while along the northern coast and in the interior 
 it is three or four times as great. The mean annual quantity at 
 different points in the State, as determined by observations 
 made through a series of years, was as follows : At Fort Yuma, 
 3.24 inches; at San Diego, 10.43; at Montery, 12.20; Stockton, 
 15.10; Sacramento, 18.23; Placerville, 52; South Yuba, 95.28, and 
 at Eed Dog, Nevada County, 64 inches. The rain-fall throughout 
 the Colorado and Mohave deserts does not much exceed that at 
 Fort Yuma, situated in the extreme southeastern corner of the 
 State. In the regions lying east of the Sierra Nevada, and in the 
 southern part of the San Joaquin valley, it is also greatly restricted. 
 
 It frequently happens that there is no rain whatever, in the sum- 
 mer and early fall months, the total quantity that fell at San Fran- 
 cisco, from the first of June till the end of September, having been 
 but 2.50 inches during the seventeen years mentioned. October is 
 also a dry month, its yearly average during that entire period 
 having been less than half an inch. During the wet season the 
 rains, with the exception of a few days, do not fall continually, but 
 rather in showers, the nights being more likely to bring falling 
 weather than the days. 
 
 Temperature. 
 As regards heat and cold, the climate of California is also marked 
 by great uniformity in particular localities, while it may differ widely 
 at points not far distant. Thus, the coast climate is very equable, 
 the difference between the mean temperature night and day, and 
 summer and winter being very slight. In proceeding inland 
 however, or ascending to greater altitudes, this disparity increases 
 until it becomes extreme. In the central, eastern and southern 
 2 
 
18 
 
 portions of California, and in fact everywhere beyond the reach of 
 the ocean air, the hot season begins about the middle of May and 
 continues to the close of September, and in some localities later. 
 Owing to the absence of clouds and moisture the heat is intense, 
 and continues with but little interruption, except at night, through- 
 out this period. The nights, however, are everywhere cool; which 
 by permitting sound and invigorating sleep prevents the debilita- 
 ting effects experienced during the summer in most other counti'ies. 
 In the coast climate owing to the mists that drift in from the 
 ocean, the sun is often obscured during the dry season, while in 
 the interior there is not a dozen cloudy days throughout the entire 
 summer season. 
 
 Except upon the higher peaks and ridges, very little snow falls 
 upon the Coast Eange, while in the valleys of that region it is 
 rarely ever seen unless at a distance. On the Sierra Nevada, 
 Trinity, Klamath and other northern mountains, however, it falls 
 every winter to a depth varying from ten to twenty feet, and in 
 some places deeper. On the lower foothills of the Sierra, there is 
 but little snow, and in the great Sacramento and San Joaquin Val- 
 leys none at all, or at least none that ever lies for more than a few 
 hours at a time. South of Monteryand Stockton, except at consid- 
 erable elevations, snow is unknown. None of the lakes or streams 
 of California ever freeze over, unless, perhaps some of the latter 
 at points high up in the mountains. As a consequence no ice that 
 will keep through the summer can be obtained in the State. 
 
 So mild is the climate that only in a few localities is stock, 
 except it be work-cattle, ever housed or foddered in winter. But 
 once in seventeen years has the mercury at San Francisco fallen 
 as low as seven degrees below the freezing point; while it is no 
 uncommon thing for the winter to pass without its dropping to 
 forty degrees above zero. But once in that time has the thermom- 
 eter ever indicated a heat of ninety-eight degrees, there havino- 
 been but six days in which it ever rose as high as 90". The mean 
 noon temperature at that point throughout the year is 63.7°, that 
 of December the coldest month in the year is 55"^, and of Septem- 
 ber the hottest 69.5°. The mean annual temperature of the Coast 
 climate, does not differ greatly from that of San Francisco, grow- 
 ing somewhat warmer as one recedes from it in every direction, 
 especially towards the south and east. 
 
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 t 
 
 I. • 
 
 
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19 
 
 The mean annual temperature and also that of the several sea- 
 sons at a number of prominent points in the State is exhibited by 
 the following table : 
 
 LOCALITIES. 
 
 bpring. 
 
 Summer. 
 
 Autumn. 
 
 Winter. Year. 
 
 San Fra.ncisco. 
 Sacramento .. . 
 
 Benicia 
 
 Monterey.. .. 
 San Diego . ... 
 Fort Yuma. .. 
 Humboldt Baj 
 
 56.5 
 
 56 
 
 56. 5 
 
 54 
 
 60 
 
 72 
 
 52 
 
 Degs. 
 6U 
 
 69.5 
 67 
 59 
 71 
 90 
 67.5 
 
 Degs. 
 59 
 61 
 
 60.5 
 57 
 
 64.5 
 75.5 
 63 
 
 51 
 
 46.6 
 
 49 
 
 51 
 
 52.5 
 
 67 
 
 43.5 
 
 Degs. 
 56.6 
 58 
 68 
 
 55.5 
 62 
 73.5 
 61.5 
 
 Though the mean summer temperature of the interior and south- 
 eastern parts of the State is made to appear low by the above 
 table, it should be remembered that the average for the entire sea- 
 son is reduced to a low point by the prevailing coolness of the 
 nights; the day temperature throughout the entire summer in 
 these sections ranging from 80° to 100°; the hottest portions of 
 the State being the great valleys of the interior, the foot-hills of 
 the Sierra Nevada, in which lie the gold mines, and the Mohave 
 and Colorado deserts. 
 
 In the latter and throughout the southern part of the San Joaquin 
 Valley, the thermometer during the middle of the day stands for 
 weeks at a time at 100°, and in some localities, as at Fo>i't Yuma, 
 even higher. About noon, however, a cool breeze is apt to spring 
 up, which without greatly reducing the heat renders it much more 
 endurable. 
 
 Thunder and lightning, hail and the aurora borealis, are ail 
 meteorological phenomena of rare occurrence in California. So 
 little apprehension have the inhabitants of injury, from even the 
 most dangerous of these agents, that lightning rods are never used; 
 and. although the electric fluid has been known to strike, there is 
 uo well authenticated case of life ever having been destroyed by it. 
 
 Earthquakes also, though very common in certain localities, and 
 occasionally felt in all parts of the State, have almost cea.sed to be 
 regarded with alarm. Death from sun-stroke is very rare, if, 
 iudeed, it has ever resulted from this cause in a single instance. 
 
 Ageicultukal Pkodtjcts, Variety, Quantity, Value, &c. 
 Prior to 1864, no very marked results were reached in farming 
 in California, the export of agricultural products with the excep- 
 tion of wool, not having been such as to attract attention abroad. 
 
20 
 
 And owing to the drought that prevailed in 1863 and 1864, Cali- 
 fornia had but little grain or other farm produce to spare, flour 
 having been to some extent imported. In 1865, our export trade 
 began to assume larger proportions, and in the subsequent year 
 the total value of all the exports from the port of San Fi'ancisco, 
 exclusive of treasure, exceeded $17,000,000, and during the years 
 1867 and 1868, the aggregate shipments of produce amounted to 
 over $45,000,000. 
 
 The value of all our agricultural products for the year 1869, 
 including those consumed at home and sent abroad, is computed 
 to have been $30,000,000, being $6,000,000 in excess of the gold 
 yield of the State for the same period. The value of manufactured 
 goods and wares, including machinery and articles of every descrip- 
 tion made in the State that year, is estimated at $31,000,000; which 
 added to the foregoing makes atotal of values of $85, 000, 000 created 
 in a single year by a population of 550,000 souls, to say nothing of 
 the extensive improvements, made meanwhile in every department 
 of industry. In estimating the achievements of our people, made 
 in these several departments of business, it should be remembered 
 that it is scarcely more than ten or twelve years, since general 
 attention was turned to any one of them, the origin of most of our 
 important manufacturing industries, not dating back so far; and, 
 although stock raising and wool growing had for a number of 
 years been successfully carried on, not until the past few years 
 was general farming actively and extensively engaged in. 
 
 The number of milch cows and the dairy products of the 
 State have during the past two years been largely increased, it being 
 estimated that about 8,000,000 pounds of butter and 4,000,000 
 pounds of cheese were made during 1869. Many of the dairies 
 here are very large, containing from 100 to 1,000 cows, and in a 
 few cases a much larger number. Milch cows receive neither 
 stabling nor fodder during the winter. Horses and cattle of all 
 kinds as well as sheep are suffered to run at large and pick their 
 feed the year through; and though they generally get thin in flesh 
 during the winter, they fatten up rapidly early in the spring, and 
 remain in good condition until the old grass is spoiled by the 
 next winter rains. 
 
 Owing to the mildness and healthfulness of the climate, domes- 
 tic animals keep in good flesh, with a smaller amount of food here 
 than elsewhere. They are also noted for docility and in all cases 
 wonderfully precocious and prolific, horses and cows reaching 
 
21 
 
 maternity one year earlier, and sheep and swine fully six months 
 earlier than in the Atlantic States. Nor does this fruitfulness 
 and precocity appear to interfere with their growth or otherwise 
 tend to physical deterioration. The manner in which sheep and 
 swine multiply is astonishing; and yet they attain a good size, are 
 vigorous in constitution and fatten readily. Disease among domes- 
 tic animals is little known, and those used for labor perform their 
 tasks with greater apparent ease than in other countries. 
 
 The averge yield of grain, growth of fruits, vegetables, &c., as 
 well as the increment of stock, and the products of the orchard, 
 garden and vineyard, are large in California, considering the facility 
 and certainty with which they can be raised. Plowing is gener- 
 ally done in a hasty and superficial manner — no manures are used; 
 the harvesting of grain is wastefiilly performed; many of the fields 
 are left to seed themselves with no other culture than simply a 
 harrowing, and sometimes not even that, and yet the avei-age yield 
 of wheat throughout the State has been over 20 bushels to the 
 acre; the average yield of barley, 28 bushels; oats, 27; Indian 
 corn, 33; rye, 20; buckwheat, 40; peas, 30; beans, 27; Irish pota- 
 toes, 45; and sweet potatoes 60 to the acre. With careful culture 
 and greater economy in harvesting, these results could, at very 
 small additional cost, be largely increased. At present a consid- 
 erable proportion of the grain raised is the product of " volunteer 
 crops," which, though they cost but little labor, never give a yield 
 equal to those planted in the regular way, thereby reducing the 
 average yield much lower than it would be with more thorough 
 tillage. 
 
 Fruit trees, vines and berry bushes bear abundantly; apple 
 trees sometimes yielding two, and strawberry vines three crops a 
 year. Vegetables of every description, where the soil is properly 
 prepared and there is a sufficiency of moisture, also give bounti- 
 ful returns, California having been distinguished in this line of 
 production; and what is more remarl^able, these results have gen- 
 erally been attained without the use of artificial fertilizers or extra 
 attention. Pumpkins weighing 240 pounds; squashes, 140; beets, 
 200; carrots over 30; sweet potatoes, 12, and the common kind 
 as much as 6 pounds, have in many instances been grown; while 
 apples weighing 1^ pounds, quinces, 2; pears, 3J; onions, 3, and 
 cabbage and water melons, 30 pounds each, are not at all rare. 
 Strawberries raised in extensive patches can often be seen in the 
 markets, weighing 1| to 1^ ounces, while clusters of grapes meas- 
 
22 
 
 uring from 15 to 20 inches in circumference, iind a foot or more in 
 length can be picked in almost any thrifty vineyard, much larger 
 bunches having been grown where the circumstances were special- 
 ly favorable. In the southern counties of the State, growths exceed- 
 ing the above proportions by at least one-third, are not consid- 
 ered rarities. All these products are generally solid, fine grained 
 and well flavored, and are raised in the open air. 
 
 Wide Eange of Peoduction. 
 
 Some idea of the capacity of California for growing the most di- 
 versified products and of the greatest excellence, can be obtained by 
 a visit to any of the large San Francisco markets, selecting for this 
 purpose the month of April, the least favorable of any in the year 
 for a full display of our agricultural, pomological and floral 
 wealth, and when the markets of the northern and western States 
 of the Union are wholly devoid of new fruits and vegetables, and 
 such a thing as fresh flowers, except grown in hot houses, is not 
 to be seen. In these markets, as well as throughout the central 
 and southern parts of California generally, are to be found in pro- 
 fusion even in the winter season, apples, pears and quinces, all as 
 fresh, plump and well flavored as when taken from the tree, 
 oranges, limes and lemons, of enormous sizes, excellent flavor and 
 perfectly fresh, having perhaps been picked but a day or two; 
 figs and olives, also just from the orchard. Every manner of veg- 
 etable is to be seen here just from the field and garden, having 
 been left in the ground until required for use. Cabbages that 
 will nearly fill a bushel basket, solid and well headed, are plenti- 
 ful; turnips, beets, carrots, parsnips and squashes of enormous 
 size lie in heaps about the market; lettuce, radishes, cellery, 
 asparagus and similar vegetables are cheap and abundant. Even 
 thus early in the season, there are plenty of new potatoes, peas 
 and tomatoes, while the stands loaded with huge bouquets remind 
 the stranger that the most tender and beautiful flowers never cease 
 to bloom in San Francisco. 
 
 If one visits the stalls, he will find their shelves loaded with 
 fresh butter and honey, for this is the best season of all for milk, 
 and bees have already got to work aftei- a partial and temporary 
 suspension of their labors during the winter. New cheese also 
 begins now to make its appearance, and fresh hen's eggs are plen- 
 tiful; the season for those of the gull and other aquatic birds hav- 
 
23 
 
 ing not yet arrived. Of fish and game, there is no lack, whether 
 it be in supply or variety. Rabbits, deer and hare, geese and 
 ducks, snipe and plover, quail, pigeons and small birds of differ- 
 ent kinds are brought in from every quarter and sell at low prices- 
 Later in the season, when these animals have had time to fatten, 
 bear steak is always to be had in the markets. The huge quarters 
 of beef and mutton, exhibited on every side, indicate the size to 
 which domestic animals grow, and how easy it is without stall 
 feeding to keep them fat throughout the winter. 
 
 We are now speaking of what can be seen in the month of April, 
 with us the most untoward in the calendar, for an exhibition of this 
 kind. If the San Francisco markets are visited four or five months 
 later, there will not only be found a vast increase in the variety 
 of the articles displayed, but also a marked improvement in the 
 quality of many kinds, as well as a more general abundance. 
 
 By this time, the later fruits, apples, pears and peaches, as 
 well as the grape, have come into market, though the season of 
 the earlier fruits is not yet over. Strawberries are still plentiful, 
 while flowers abound more than ever. Everything is now luscious, 
 cheap and so abundant that none need lack. Superb peaches sell 
 at a dollar per basket, and poorer ones at less than half that price. 
 Delicious grapes can be bought for six or eight cents a pound, 
 apples at one dollar per box, and all other fruits at corresponding 
 prices; and yet so precocious and prolific are the vines and trees, 
 that the vintager and orchardist find their occupations profitable, 
 and few classes are more sure of making money than the horticul- 
 turist, whose garden is located near a good market. 
 
 Neglected Pkoducts and Puesuits. 
 
 Apart from the cereals, which have heretofore formed the prin- 
 cipal and most profitable crops grown in the State, it is found on 
 trial that many other products, elsewhere constituting important 
 staples, can also be successfully and profitably grown. In this 
 category may be mentioned flax, hemp, the hop, and the sugar 
 beet; the castor bean, chicory and the osier willow; the mulberry 
 tree and manj"^ kinds of nuts; all of which could no doubt be raised 
 to advantage; the economical culture of rice, cotton, tobacco, the 
 sugar cane, and the tea shrub, being for the present a more open 
 question, though it is known that both the soil and climate are 
 suited to the growth of most of these productions. 
 
24 
 
 There are a number of minor pui'suits in this department of 
 industry that have not yet been largely, and some of them not at all 
 engaged in, but which open very inviting fields to labor; such as 
 the drying and the preparing of canned fruits, the making of rai- 
 sins, the feeding of silk worms, &c., the most of which could be 
 performed by women and children. 
 
 The facilities for prosecuting these several branches of business 
 with comfort and success, are altogether greater in California than 
 in any other part of the world; and, however much they might 
 be extended they could hardly be overdone. 
 
 In the collection of mustard seed, valuable for its oil and as an 
 article of export, of the amole or soap plant, yielding an excellent 
 article for upholstery — of the sap of the pine and other resinous 
 trees, valuable for the manufacture of oils, pitch and turpentine; 
 the planting of trees for fencing and fuel and in a variety of simi- 
 lar occupations, heretofore overlooked, a large amount of unskilled 
 labor will yet be able to find profitable employment. 
 
'ft* 
 
 r. 
 
 •__.» 
 
 
 5> ? i * J ^ 51 ft ^ - 
 
 / 
 
 I 
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 '■%. 
 
 
 111 
 
 z 
 
 Ul 
 
 > 
 
 
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 M r -! 
 
 ?j 
 
 
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 u 
 
 ICM 
 
 
25 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Various Mechanical and Manufacturing Establishments. Industrial Enterprises 
 and Works of Internal Improvement. Everything Done on a large Scale. Im- 
 proving the Channels of Interior Commerce. The Class of Immigrants most 
 needed in California. The most Expeditious and Satisfactory Methods for 
 Obtaining Lands. Where the Immigrant may find Lands for Settlement. Cen- 
 tral Pacific Railroad Company. Route of Road and Character of the Country 
 through which it passes. Wheat, Grazing and Orcliard Lands. Vineyard and 
 Dairy Lands, Mines and Quarries. How Lands are Sold. Policy of the Com- 
 pany. 
 
 Various Mechanical and Manufacturing Establishments — 
 Industrial Enterprises and Works of Internal Improve- 
 ment. 
 
 Besides having created an agricultural industry capable of yield- 
 ing values equal to $30,000,000 per year, and opened mines giving 
 an annual product of $24,000,000, California has meantime ex- 
 pended vast sums in building up a manufacturing interest, which 
 as we have seen, turns out an amount of values not inferior to that 
 realized from her entire agricultural products. Large amounts ot 
 money have also been expended in the construction of reservoirs 
 and water ditches; in the erection of quartz, lumber and flour mills, 
 and in building railroads, wagon roads and other works of internal 
 improvement. 
 
 Among the leading manufacturing and mechanical establish- 
 ments, thus founded in the State, the greater portion of them 
 being located in San Francisco, may be enumerated the following: 
 Four woolen mills, three of large capacity and all in successful 
 operation, with three or four others projected and likely soon to 
 be erected; two powder and two paper mills, making a sufficiency 
 of powder and of all the ordinary kinds of paper, for home consump- 
 tion and some for export; two fuse and one cotton factory, an 
 extensive cordage and a wire rope walk; each turning out large 
 cables and producing very superior articles in its respective line; 
 two glass-works, making all the more common kinds of glass-ware, 
 the material for which are easily procured and abundant; about 
 forty tanneries, several of them very extensive, and all turning out 
 leather of the finest and best quality; three sugar refineries, work- 
 ing up over sixteen million pounds of raw sugar annually, giving 
 products valued at two and half million dollars; one large rolling 
 
26 
 
 mill, furnished with all the gear and appliances requisite for mak- 
 ing railroad, bar, sheet and every other description of iron, as 
 well as for forging the largest class of anchors, steamship, shafts 
 and similar ponderous pieces of machinery; over twenty foundries, 
 many of them of large capacity, giving employment to between 
 two and three hundred hands each, together with a larger number 
 of boiler works, brass foundries, saw and file factories, and other 
 minor establishments of the kind; the whole employing a large 
 labor force and turning out, in the aggregate, an immense amount 
 of work; several large establishments for refining petroleum and 
 for expressing and manufacturing the vegetable oils; works for 
 smelting lead and manufacturing that metal into shot, sheets, pipes, 
 &c.; a number of potteries, whereat great quantities of stone and 
 earthern wares are made, clays for making these as well as the finer 
 kinds of crockery, fire-brick, crucible, &c., being abundant; two 
 chemical and acid works, producing all the various articles of this 
 kind needed for home use, with large quantities for shipment 
 abroad, the crude material required in their manufacture being 
 mostly found plentifully in the State; one type foundry, manufac- 
 turing type from metals taken out of our own mines, and at a 
 price that fairly competes with the imported article. 
 
 We manufacture wagons, carriages and agricultural implements 
 of every description on a very large scale; also harness, boots and 
 shoes, made from home tanned leather; brooms and brushes, from 
 corn raised in the State, this plant growing luxuriantly in many 
 localities; furniture, in immense quantities, also made mostly from 
 woods of home growth; besides which we are engaged extensively 
 in the manufacture of clothing, wood and willow ware, cigars, 
 starch, glue, soap, candles, matting and matches; yeast, powders 
 and spices; pianos, organs and mirrors; saws and cutlery, furs, oil 
 cloths, gold leaf, jewelry, straw goods, 'gloves, &c. We have now 
 many extensive cooperages, bag factories, metallurgical and assay- 
 ing establishments; i-ice and salt mills; hose, door, sash and blind 
 factories; put up immense quantities of preserved fruits and vege- 
 tables; cure and pack meats sufficient for all home requirements, and 
 in fact engage in nearly all the leading branches of business and 
 manufacture carried on in the old and crowded communities of 
 the East, making largely every article required for domestic use, 
 and even exporting considerable quantities of certain kinds every 
 year. 
 
 Besides engaging thus largely in manufacturing, we have estab- 
 
27 
 
 lished a number of large shipyards, whereat many vessels of every 
 class and capacity, including ocean going steamers are built every 
 season; have opened and extensively worked quarries of marble, 
 slate, freestone, granite and other valuable building stone, and 
 make also superior cement, lime, &c. 
 
 It may be observed that many of the products of California are 
 distinguished for their excellence, having a preference among con- 
 sumers over those imported from abroad. Thus, in many agri- 
 cultural districts the farmers will use no other plow than that 
 made in the neighborhood ; teamsters invariably prefer wagons 
 and harness of California make, while foreign built quartz mills 
 have never yet been able to gain any foothold in this State. Ma- 
 chinery of this kind has been gotten up abroad with great care 
 and sometimes at less cost, perhaps, than it could have been made 
 for here ; but after a brief trial it has almost always been rejected 
 and that of home make substituted in its place. So marked is 
 the superiority of our quartz mills that we have not only been 
 able to supply the demands of the entire coast in this line, includ- 
 ing lower California and the northwestern States of Mexico, but 
 have of late filled orders for mills to be used in the Atlantic States. 
 The quartz miners of Arizona, Utah, Idaho and Montana, though 
 they might in some cases, owing to lower freights, obtain their 
 machinery cheaper from the East, invai'iably send to California for 
 everything they require in this line. There are now being con- 
 structed in San Francisco, and in the extensive shops of the Central 
 Pacific Companyat Sacramento, great numbers of railroad cars and 
 locomotives, all of which it is found can be made here equally as 
 well as in the Atlantic States or Eui'ope. 
 
 The superiority of our climate, the abundance in which we 
 possess most descriptions of the raw material, such as wool, lum- 
 ber, the various woods, metals and minerals, so essential to the 
 cheap production of many kinds of wares and substances ; our 
 immense water power, scattered over all parts of the State , vast 
 forests and deposits of petroleum, with no inconsiderable quantity 
 of coal, all convenient to hand, guaranteeing never-failing supplies 
 of fuel for the generation of steam and our central and commanding 
 position on the western shores of the continent, all point to the 
 building up here of immense manufacturing and mechanical in- 
 terests. 
 
 Among other industries established and improvements efiected, 
 not to mention those of minor importance, are the following : — 
 
28 
 
 Over six hundred miles of railroad built and in operation with 
 nearly as much more in course of active construction ; more than 
 two thousand miles of expensive wagon roads, the most of them 
 running through mountainous districts and several leading over 
 the Sierra, the whole having cost not less than $2,000,000 ; nearly 
 six thousand miles of water ditches, supplying water for mining 
 operations, irrigation and motive power, and constructed at an 
 outlay of 120,000,000 ; five hundred quartz mills, carrying over 
 10,000 stamps, earning annually $12,000,000, and erected at a 
 cost of about $10,000,000 ; one hundred and fifty flouring mills, 
 turning out nearly 2,000,000 barrels of flour every year with ca- 
 pacity to make twice that quantity ; three hundred and sixty saw 
 mills, some of them very extensive, and cutting in the aggregate 
 about 200,000,000 feet of lumber annually. Immense sums of 
 money have been expended in the business of prospecting and 
 opening mines, some single tunneling operations having cost nearly 
 a quarter of a million of dollars and required ten or twelve years 
 for their consummation ; from all of which it will be seen that our 
 people, however reckless and extravagant they may have shown 
 themselves in some respects, have not been lacking in industry 
 and enterprise. 
 
 EVEEYTHING DONE ON A LaEGE ScALE. 
 
 It is a characteristic of Californians, not only to push everything 
 in which they engage with energy, but to prosecute operations on 
 an extended scale. Thus, it is no uncommon thing to see fields 
 of grain embracing three, and even four thousand acres be- 
 longing to one proprietor. Many individuals in California are 
 owners of tracts varying from ten to fifty thousand acres in extent; 
 some farmers planting as much as five thousand acres of land 
 every year, besides owning perhaps ten or even twenty thousand 
 sheep, two or three thousand head of horses and cattle, and a 
 thousand head of swine. One firm in the State has enclosed 75,000 
 acres of land on which they pasture 3,500 head of milch cows. 
 Several wool growers own flocks of fifty or sixty thousand sheep 
 each. Many single vineyards in the larger grape growing coun- 
 ties contain from three to four hundred thousand vines, while or- 
 chards with three or four thousand trees of each of the more 
 common varieties of fruits are frequently to be met with. Two 
 orange groves near Los Angeles contain 4,000 trees, some of which 
 bear as many as 3,000 oranges every year, the whole averaging 
 
29 
 
 1,500 to the tree. Nurseries of two or three hundred acres, gar- 
 dens of one hundred, and strawberry patches of forty or fifty 
 acres are not uncommon things. 
 
 Many mining, lumbering and other operations are conducted on 
 a scale of corresponding magnitude. Some of the ditches built 
 for conducting water into the mines have cost, with flumes, branches 
 and reservoirs, over $1,500,000. Many of the saw mills in Hum- 
 boldt and Mendocino counties have each a capacity to cut between 
 five and six million feet of lumber annually. The Hayward quartz 
 mine, opened to a depth of more than 1,200 feet, has, during the 
 past twelve years, yielded a total product of $5,000,000; of which 
 nearly one-half was net profit, while the Blue Gravel Claim at 
 Smartsville, has, for several years past, given almost equally good 
 returns; these two mines representing each the better class of 
 claims to which they respectively belong. 
 
 Improving the Channels of Interior Communication. 
 One of the most pressing wants felt by the California farmer, 
 as well as the miner, has been that of good wagon roads and rail- 
 roads establishing cheaper and more expeditious communication 
 between San Francisco and the interior, a want which is now for- 
 tunately about to be, in a good measure, supplied. After years 
 of delay the era of railroad building seems at last to have arrived, 
 there being at the present time, in addition to that ali-'eady com- 
 pleted, several hundred miles of track in course of actual con- 
 struction, leading from the metropolis to various important agri- 
 cultural districts and mining centres; while a much greater extent 
 has been projected, portions of which will, no doubt, be built 
 within a short time. With these additional facilities to cheap 
 transportation and travel, the value of farming lands will greatly 
 appreciate, and the settlement of the more remote sections of the 
 State be materially hastened. The building of graveled wagon 
 roads, where most needed for travel, is also being vigorously en- 
 tered upon, and many farming communities, which have hitherto 
 been isolated, will soon be put in easy communication with good 
 markets and shipping points during the winter. 
 
 The Class of Immigrants Most Needed in California, 
 And who would be most likely to benefit themselves bj' coming 
 here, are certain skilled artizans, practical miners and small far- 
 
30 
 
 mers — more especially the latter. Not but that all other classes 
 of laborers would find here ready and remunerative employment, 
 with openings for advancement and the accumulation of property, 
 such as do not present themselves in any other pai-t of the world; 
 yet to such as wish to settle in the country and become landed 
 proprietors, employing themselves and owning their own homes, 
 California presents strong and peculiar inducements for immigra- 
 tion. In the first place the expense as well as the trials and hard- 
 ships, incident to starting farming operations, are by no means so 
 great here as in most other countries. Many of our largest and most 
 wealthy landholders spent the first few years of their farmer life here 
 in canvass tents or the rudest kinds of turf cabins, some having no 
 other shelter for the first season than their immigrant wagons. If 
 the settler be poor almost anything can for a time be made to serve 
 for shelter to himself and family, so mild and healthful is the 
 climate. In the next place, land, comparatively speaking, is every- 
 where cheap, and can usually be obtained on very easy terms. It 
 is generally of excellent quality; is mostly free from stone and 
 timber, being clear and ready for the plow. It is easily broken 
 up, and, when properly tilled, is almost sure to bring a good crop 
 every year, being rich enough to produce well without the aid of 
 fertilizers or artificial watering. Bj' summer fallowing, the farmer 
 may put in his seed at his leisure, having the entire summer and 
 autumn before him. In any event he need scarcely ever be hur- 
 ried with this part of his labors. So also in harvesting, he has 
 ample time to gather his crop, which may without receiving dam- 
 age be left standing for weeks after ripening, and remain for even 
 months after being threshed on the field without detriment. Barns 
 and sheds are not much needed, whether for housing, stock or 
 sheltering grain. Very fair crops can frequently be secured by 
 simply harrowing in the seed left upon the ground after harvest; 
 a great deal of land being seeded and put in after this manner. 
 Work-animals, owing to the kindly influence of the climate, are more 
 tractable, easily kept, and capable of performing more work than 
 in the Atlantic States. The farmer here is not much troubled 
 with wild animals or vermin, nor is the grain likely to suffer from 
 insects, rust or other causes of blight, while it is never killed by 
 frost or smothered by snow. The straw is almost always clean 
 and strong, and the berry plump and bright; California wheat hav- 
 ing a good reputation abroad for the flour it makes, while owing 
 to its extreme hardness and dryness, it stands long sea voyages 
 
31 
 
 better than any other. The average weight of our wheat, as well 
 as most other kinds of grain overruns the fixed standard, sometimes 
 to a notable extent. 
 
 A most important gain is likely to be effected in favor of the 
 California farmer, through the promised successful introduction of 
 the steam plow, an implement that could be used to great advan- 
 tage, owing to the remarkable freedom of our lands from stones 
 and other obstructions. This plow, a California invention, has 
 been sufficientlj^ tested to almost conclusively establish its char- 
 acter as a most effective pulverizer of the soil, and a great labor 
 saving machine. 
 
 As already stated, the climate of California is extremely invig- 
 orating and healthful, and the soil everywhere prolific almost 
 beyond example. No other country is so free from endemic dis- 
 ease, or capable of bringing to perfection so great a variety of 
 valuable products; none being possessed of such strong vitalizing 
 and acclimating powers. Here in nearly every part of the State, 
 except in the extreme north can be seen the olive and the apple, 
 the pUim and the banana, the hardy grains of the north, and the 
 delicate fruits of the tropics growing and maturing in the same field 
 together. No other country in the world offers such inducements 
 to capital, such opportunities to labor, or such a favorable field for 
 the growth of a wide and varied industry, as this. Our unoccu- 
 pied lands are so broad, our wants so numerous, and our resources 
 so diversified that we really have room and need for all that may 
 choose to come. We require the experience, energy and enter- 
 prise of our own people ; the money of the capitalist to help 
 inaugurating new industries and in opening our mines — the 
 small farmers of Germany with their frugal habits and patient 
 industry — the vine and silk growers of France and Italy, with 
 their skilled and pains-taking labor, the operatives of Lowell and 
 Manchester for our factories; the men of Lancashire and Sheffield, 
 for our shops and forges; the colliers of South Wales and the 
 miners of Cornwall to aid in the development of our mineral 
 wealth, and, in short, our necessities call for all classes of artizans 
 and laborers as well as the surplus capital of the old world, 
 inasmuch as the whole could be furnished with homes and employ- 
 ment, and set to work in a field that promises to all, if not a 
 surperabundant wealth, at least, a comfortable subsistence and a 
 fair reward. 
 
32 
 
 The most expeditious and satisfactory methods foe peocuking 
 Lands in Califoenia. 
 
 While there is still a great extent of public land in this State 
 open to settlement under the homestead and pre-emption laws, 
 that most, convenient to good markets has been already largely 
 taken up, either under these laws, or by purchase under various 
 classes of land warrants, large tracts having been secured by indi- 
 viduals and companies who now hold them for sale under patents 
 issued to them by the General Government. In most of these 
 cases, as well also as from parties holding under Spanish grants, 
 these lands can be bought at moderate prices and on easy terms. 
 It often happens, therefore, that persons wishing to obtain small 
 parcels of good land advantageously situated, may better buy 
 from this class of owners than to incur the delay, trouble and 
 expense attendant on pre-empting or purchasing directly from the 
 Government. The main object with the settler is to obtain a good 
 title, with as little trouble and expense and as soon as possible— 
 fixedand certain boundaries being at the same time a considera^ 
 tion of moment. This cannot, of course, be done where the public 
 domain has not yet been surveyed, as is the case with a great 
 portion of it in California. The settler, after finding a piece of 
 the public land that suits him, must first ascertain whether or not 
 it is unoccupied and open to pre-emption and purchase, and whether 
 or not it has been surveyed. If liot surveyed, he must pay for 
 the services of a surveyor to connect the lines of the township 
 in which his tract is situated, with those of an adjacent township 
 already established, and to further ascertain where the sectional 
 and subdivisioual lines in the neighborhood of his tract will fall 
 when the land comes to be finally surveyed. For this service the 
 settler must pay out of his own pocket ; he being left in doubt as 
 to the correctness of the lines run until the regular survey is com- 
 pleted, sometimes a period of several yeais, and which may finally 
 disclose that his improvements are not upon his own land. Owino- 
 to certain causes of delay, incident to California, it often happens 
 that five or six years may elapse between the time the settler 
 enters upon his quarter section and the filing of h\b township 
 plats in the local land ofiice ; after which he must prove his 
 claim, show by witnesses that the land is open to pre-emption and 
 that he has complied with all the requirements of the law; after 
 which, on payment for his land, he receives a Government patent. 
 Owing to these uncertainties and vexatious delays, it is generally 
 
33 
 
 better for the settler to buy what land he wants from private 
 owners, holding under Government patents, even if he have to 
 pay a somewhat higher price for it. 
 
 Where the Immigrant may Find Lands for Settlement. — Cen- 
 tral Pacieic Railroad Company. 
 
 By way of aiding immigrants and others desirous of obtaining 
 lands in California, we have been at some pains to collect infor- 
 mation as to parties having large tracts for sale, and the towns 
 upon which the same can be purchased. As the Central Pacilic 
 Railroad Company are the largest land owners in the State, we 
 first present a brief statement in regard to the quantity, quality 
 and situation of their lands, and the conditions upon which they 
 are now disposing of them to settlers. The grant made by the 
 General Government to this Company, to aid them in the construc- 
 tion of their road, amounts to 12,800 acres per mile; all of which 
 has been patented to them since the completion of this great 
 enterprise, and is now held by the Company for sale, considerable 
 tracts having already been disposed of. 
 
 Route of the Road and character of the Country through 
 
 which it passes. 
 
 From Sacramento city, the capital of the State, in latitude 
 38° 31' north and iu longitude 121° 29' west, the general course 
 of the railroad is northeast, over the river bottom and level 
 praii'ie lands, a distance of twenty-five miles: at this point it meets 
 the rolling timber lands and low hills that lie at the base of the 
 Sierra Nevada mountains; reaching one of the main spurs of the 
 Sierras it ascends to the summit, a distance of one hundred and 
 five miles from Sacramento, and at au elevation of 7,042 feet above 
 the sea. At the crest of the mountain it passes through a tunnel 
 and alons: the mountain side to the bank of the Truckee river. 
 This river is the outlet of Lake Talioe, whose surface is 6,247 feet 
 above the sea; its waters flow northeast and empty into Pyramid 
 Lake, one of the lakes of the great American Basin whose watei's 
 have no outlet to the ocean. The road follows the banks of the 
 Truckee river to the Big-bend of the Truckee, a distance of 190 
 miles from Sacramento. From this point its course is northeast 
 until it meets the Humboldt river, which flows westward and also 
 3 
 
34 
 
 empties into the Great Basin; it follows up the banks of the 
 Humboldt river to its source, and so on in the same general direc- 
 tion around the northern end of Great Salt Lake. 
 
 Alluvial oe "Bottom" Lands. 
 From this statement it will be seen that the Company has every 
 variety of land, situated in the diiferent climates between semi- 
 tropical and temperate. Near the City of Sacramento it has large 
 quantities of what are called bottom lands; that is, lands that are 
 overflowed by the rivers and streams in winter, and which are 
 annually enriched by the deposits brought down by the water 
 from the mountains. Like the valley of the Nile, they produce 
 yearly unvarying large crops, the deposit during each rainy sea- 
 son causing them to be iuexhaustil)le in their fertility. They yield 
 every variety of garden and field vegetable cultivated in a semi- 
 tropical climate, including potatoes, onions, cabbage, pumpkins, 
 beets, tomatoes, peas and the various small fruits. Large tracts 
 are annually planted with maize or Indian corn, of which heavy 
 crops are produced. Many farmers have cultivated tobacco, 
 which has always been found profitable. On these lands are also 
 grown large quantities of hops, from the cultivation of which 
 many persons have become wealthy. The hops produced are not 
 excelled by any known in the markets of the world. From the 
 fact that it never rains in this climate during the season they are 
 maturing thoy lose no portion of the extractive principle for 
 which they are used, and are said by brewers and others who 
 make use of them, to be from ten to fifteen per cent more viiluable 
 than those grown in climates where there are summer rains. 
 Many plantations have been made on these lands with mulberry 
 trees, which thrive almost without cultivation. It is found that 
 the climate of California is admirably adapted to the silk worm, 
 and that here it is not subject to the diseases that aflTect it in 
 Europe. The weaving of silk goods has been commenced in Cali- 
 fornia, and there are not as yet mulberry trees sufficient to supply 
 the yearly increase of silk worms. It is expected that in a few 
 years California will export silk. Many kinds of fruit are grown 
 on these lands, such as the pear, apple, plum, cherry and peach. 
 The largest peach orchards in the State are situated on " bottom 
 lands. " 
 
35 
 
 Wheat, Grazing and Oechaed Lands. 
 
 East of these alluvial bottoms the road runs for a distance of 
 twenty miles through rolling prairie lauds, alike well suited to 
 grazing, fruit and grain growing. The land at first is nearly level, 
 becoming more uneven and better timbered as we proceed east, 
 the trees consisting of scattered groves of oak. This land is 
 covered with a variety of native grasses, and in the spring with 
 myriads of wild flowers. Cattle do well, and a good deal of dairy- 
 ing is carried on here. With the exception of work animals, stock 
 require neither fodder nor shelter througliout the year. All the 
 cereals except Indian corn can be grown here to advantage. 
 
 Grazing Lands and Sheep Ranges. 
 
 Still going east along the line of the railroad, after leaving the 
 prairie lauds, the road passes over about twenty-five miles of roll- 
 ing lands and low hills. These contain groves of oak trees, and 
 many tracts are heavily timbered. In the more elevated regions 
 of this section the oaks are intermixed with pines. The land in 
 this section not only produces wheat and barley but will, if not 
 cultivated or too closely grazed, produce the native wild oats, 
 which were found growing upon them at the time the Americans 
 took possession of the country. Among these hills are grazed 
 large herds of cattle, horses and sheep. At a distance of twenty- 
 five miles from Sacramento, on the line of the railroad, and within 
 a distance of fifteen miles on each side, more than fifty thousand 
 sheep are grazed throughout the year. No hay is cut or saved for 
 these sheep, or if any is given them it is for the short period after 
 the first rains in December, before the springing up of the new 
 grass. The best sheep ranges of the State are in this section ; 
 the wild oats and native grasses are nutritious and abundant; the 
 proves of oaks afford shade from the heat of the mid-summer sun 
 and the numerous streams flowing through these hills give a 
 plentiful supply of water. 
 
 Vineyard Lands. 
 
 The success that in California has followed the cultivation of 
 the European grape, has led to the planting of numerous vine- 
 yards. After an experience of eighteen years, the fact has been 
 demonstrated that in no place do the various kinds of European 
 
36 
 
 grapes, both for wine and the table, thrive so well and produce 
 such excellent qualities of wine and table fruit, as on the hills that 
 lie at the base of the Sierras. The soil is composed of the worn 
 down particles of granite, quartz and slate, intermixed with lime 
 from the numerous bands of limestone that traverse the mountains. 
 Since the European grape was cultivated in this State — and there 
 arc vineyards planted by the Jesuit Missionaries that are ninety 
 years old — no instance has been known of a failure of the gi-ape 
 crop. There are no frosts to injure it at the time it is in blossom, 
 and no rain to injure the fruit during the period of ripening. 
 Some of the largest vineyards in the State are on lands purchased 
 from the Eailroad Company, some of them producing from fifteen 
 to twenty thousand gallons of wine annually. 
 
 Eaisins. 
 
 A new industry has been developed by Mr. B. N. Bugbej', on 
 a piece of land purchased trom the Railroad Company near the 
 town of Folsom, that is, the cultivation of the raisin grape, and 
 the manufacture of raisins. The process of converting the grape 
 into raisins is so simple that it can be done by children; when the 
 grape is ripe the bunches are cut and spread upon boards in the 
 sun, and turned each day until cured, after Avhich they are boxed 
 and forwarded to market. Recently, Mr. Bugbey, in addition to 
 making 17,000 gallons of wine and 3,000 of brandy, also made 
 30,000 pounds of raisins in one year. Of the unsold lands of 
 the Railroad Company, there are at least 15,000 acres, all of which 
 are suitable for vineyards. 
 
 Valley Lands among the Hills. 
 
 Ascending the Sierras, and above the vineyard lands, the oaks 
 give place to dense forests of pines, firs and cedars. In the val- 
 leys of these hills are numerous farms and dairies, as well as sheep 
 ranges. In these valleys all the fruits of the temperate climates 
 are cultivated with remarkable success. The principal field crops 
 of this region are barley, potatoes, turnips and hay. 
 
 Timber Lands. 
 The pine forests of these hills, in quantity and in the quality of 
 lumber made, are hardly excelled on the North American Conti- 
 nent. They give employment to many saw mills and a large 
 
PLACER MINING. 
 
 JEHOVAH GAP. 
 
37 
 
 number of men. The construction of the railroad through this 
 region has cheapened the price of lumber, and in a large measure 
 stopped its importation from other States. A large feature in the 
 business of the railroad is the transportation to the valleys of 
 lumber for building and fences. The average price in the valleys 
 for lumber for fences, since the construction of the railroad through 
 the pine forests, iis sixteen dollars per one thousand feet. In a few 
 years, when the railroad will have reached the vast mineral region 
 of the treeless interior of the continent, these inexhaustible forests 
 will support a large population of men engaged in felling trees, 
 and manufacturing lumber. Of timber lands and valleys among 
 the bills of the timber region, there remains unsold, belonging to 
 the Company, at least 500,000 acres. 
 
 Dairy Lands in the Mountains. 
 
 In the Sierra Nevada, there are many valleys, some of them 
 quite extensive, producing an abundance of grass during the sum- 
 mer, at which season numerous herds of sheep and cattle are 
 driven to them for pasturage. Dairj'men also drive their cows 
 here making butter and cheese throughout the summer. 
 
 Mines and Quaeeies. 
 
 For nearly fifty miles, the railroad runs through a region 
 abounding with both the precious and the useful metals, the lands 
 containing gold and silver being excepted from their grant. The 
 balance, however, which is very considerable, even in the mining 
 districts, belongs to the Company as well also as that containing 
 only the more common metals. Near the road are extensive beds 
 of iron ore, copper veins, and quarries of granite; the latter having 
 been opened in many places and giving employment to large num- 
 bers of men. Nearly all the granite thus far used in the State, 
 including that used for fortifications, for the new capitol at Sacra- 
 mento, and for the bulkhead, in the harbor of San Francisco, as 
 well as for street and building purposes, has been from quarries 
 on lands purchased from the Company. 
 
 Lands belonging to the Company containing limestone, with an 
 abundance of oak and pine wood on the same, are to be found at 
 various points near the line of the road, within a distance of forty 
 miles from Sacramento. Many of these quarries have been opened, 
 and large quantities of lime are transported by the railroad to 
 
38 
 Sacramento, and from this point distributed over the State. White 
 and variegated marble, for building and ornamental purposes have 
 been discovered at several points, and work has been commenced 
 in opening the quarries and forwarding the product to market. 
 
 Estimated Population the Lands will Support. 
 From what has been stated, it will be seen that the Railroad 
 Company has every variety of land for sale, including alluvial, 
 bottom, prairie, grazing, wheat and vineyard lands, as well as 
 lands covered with forests of oak and pine, and containing iron 
 ore, granite, limestone and marble. It has been estimated, that 
 the lands of the Company, remaining unsold, will support a 
 population of one and a half million of persons, while the estimated 
 present populatiou within the limits of the railroad reservation 
 does not exceed 30,000. 
 
 How Lands aee Sold. 
 
 The price fixed by the Company for the best class of agriculture, 
 wheat, orchard, dairy and vineyard lands is $2.50 per acre ; oak 
 woodland, $5.00 per acre, and first-class pine timber land, $10.00 
 per acre. To men who will settle upon and cultivate the soil it sells 
 agricultural lands on a credit of five years if desired, the purchaser 
 paying at the time of buying twenty per cent of the principal, 
 the remainder to bear interest at ten per cent per annum; oak and 
 pine lands must be paid for at the time of purchase. At the Com- 
 pany's office, in Sacramento, maps can be seen showing the route 
 of the road, course of rivers that flow through the land, and the 
 United States surveys designating the lands granted to the Com- 
 pany and those retained by the Government ; also the towns, vil- 
 lages and settlements within the railroad grant. A person desiring 
 to purchase is directed to poiuts near the line of the road where 
 he can examine the kind of land desired. After selecting the land, 
 if he wishes to pay for it in full at the time of purchase, he does 
 so and takes a fee simple deed under the United States patent. A 
 purchaser from the Company can buy any quantity of land, or as 
 many sections as he may desire, but, as has been explained, each 
 odd section being surrounded by four even numbered sections, 
 which are retained by Government for settlers, no compact body 
 of land can be sold of greater extent than one section of 640 acres. 
 Supposing the purchaser desires to purchase a quarter section — a 
 
39 
 
 tract of half a mile square, containing 160 acres — and that he 
 Avishes this land on the credit allowed by the Company, one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres at $2.50 per acre would be $400 ; twenty 
 per cent of $400 is $80 ; he would pay this $80 to the Company 
 leaving $320 due, on this he would pay interest at ten per cent, 
 or $32 per year, for five years, payable yearly in advance. At the 
 time of making the payment of $80 and the first year's interest, 
 he would receive a contract for a deed from the Company, signed 
 in duplicate by him and the officers of the Company, in which he 
 would agree to pay the yearly interest and the balance due at the 
 end of five years, and the Company agreeing on its part to give 
 him a fee simple deed when the balance was paid. At any time 
 the purchaser desires he is allowed to pay the balance due and 
 take his deed, thus stopping the payment of interest. The Com- 
 pany will not, however, receive it in installments. Piactically but 
 few persons avail themselves of the five years' credit, although 
 purchases are frequently made on credit, j'et in most instances by 
 the second or third year they are enabled, from the sale of their 
 crops, to pay the balance due and receive their final deeds. 
 
 Advantages to the Purchaser of Railroad Lands. 
 
 The purchasers of railroad lands have many advantages over 
 those purchasing from the Government, some of which can be best 
 explained by stating the mode in which the Government disposes 
 of its public lands — the even numbered sections — within the rail- 
 road reservation. A person to acquire title from the Government 
 by pre-emption must first go upon the land, commence its culti- 
 vation and erect a dwelling house ; he then files in the United 
 States Land Office his " declaratory statement ;" that is a document 
 setting forth that he has selected a certain piece of land, describ- 
 ins: it. toofether with the date of his settlement, the fact that he is 
 a citizen, or has legally declared his intention to become a citizen, 
 his age, etc. After three months he must appear at the United 
 States Land Office, with two witnesses, where a trial is had and 
 proof made on oath before the Land Officers that he has complied 
 with all the provisions of the i^re-emption law. If the law has 
 been complied with he then pays $2.50 per acre and a receipt is 
 given him ; in a year or two a patent is received and he returns 
 his receipt and obtains the patent for his land. No man can obtain 
 from the Government, by pre-emption, more than 160 acres of land 
 and having received this his privilege is exhausted. 
 
40 
 
 There is one other way by which a person can obtain lands from 
 the Government — on even numbered sections within the railroad 
 reservation — and that is, by filing a homestead claim ou eighty 
 acres. As in the case of pre-emption, he must erect a dwelling, 
 live on, and cultivate the land ; he must then file in the U. S. 
 Land Office his declaration of homestead, setting forth substan- 
 tially the facts as in the case of pre-emption. On the day he files, 
 he receives a homestead certificate. If he continue to live on the 
 land and cultivate it for five years, from the day of filing, he can 
 after that time, make proof of the facts as in the case of pre- 
 emption, and if the law has been complied with, he returns his 
 certificate, and in time will receive a patent without other expense, 
 except the fees of the officers and the fees of an attorney, if neces- 
 sary that one should be employed. Pre-emption cannot be for 
 more than 160 acres, nor a homestead for more than 80 acres on 
 Government land within the railroad reservation. Neither the 
 pre-emption nor homestead can be abandoned, sold, mortgaged or 
 leased until after the patent is issued. Ou the other hand, the 
 purchaser from the railroad is not limited as to quantity, and when 
 the money is paid and the deed issued, the land is his in fee simple 
 to do with it as he pleases. 
 
 Policy of the Company. 
 This has always been to dispose of their lauds at low prices and 
 on easy terms, preferring to sell first those near the line of the road, 
 and to men who will live upon and improve them. All communi- 
 cations relating to this subject should be addressed to B. B. 
 Eedding, Land Agent, Central Pacific Eailroad Company, Sacra- 
 mento, Cal. 
 

41 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Solano County; Vallejo. Napa County, Calistoga Springs. Fresh-Water Tide 
 Lands. Lands in the Great San Joaquin and Tulare Valleys. Remarks of Dr. 
 R. P. Ashe. Choice Tracts of Land for Sale. San Luis Obispo County. 
 
 Solano County. 
 
 In this county there is a good deal of superior farming land now 
 in the market, offering at moderate prices. A large proportion of 
 this laud is owned by Gen. J. B. Frisbie, who has always mani- 
 fested a spirit of liberality and fairness in the disposition of his 
 lands. This gentleman is also largely interested in the eligibly 
 located and prosperous town of Vallejo, situated on the eastern 
 side of Napa bay, twenty-three miles north from San Francisco. 
 It contains about 5,000 inhabitants, and since 1866 the growth of 
 the ijlace has been rapid, the annual increase in the pojiulation 
 having been estimated at thirty per cent. 
 
 During the year 1869 three hundred houses were erected, and 
 preparations are being made for the construction of many more. 
 The site of the town is composed of low hills, with gentle ascent 
 near most of the water front, back of which is a valley extending 
 northward forty miles to Calistoga, and south-eastward are gently 
 rolling hills reaching to Benicia, six miles distant. The valley in 
 the rear of the town, where the heart of the future city is likely 
 to be, has enough natural slope to furnish convenient drainage. 
 Four miles east of Napa bay is the Diablo ridge of the Coast 
 Mountains, 1,000 feet high, furnishing a picturesque background, 
 and offering, in the valleys at its western base, a number of beau- 
 tiful sites for elegant country residences and fine farms. The 
 harbor is four miles long, a quarter of a mile wide and four 
 fathoms deep at low tide. It looks narrow, but is as wide as the 
 harbors of London, Antwerp or Hamburg. The holding ground 
 is excellent, and the protection against the winds almost perfect. 
 It is deep enough for any vessel that sails the Pacific. The es- 
 tablishment of a Navy Yard on Mare island, immediately oppo- 
 site Vallejo, may be accepted as proof that the harbor is unob- 
 jectionable for the largest vessels. The water front is well adapted 
 for convenient use. The distance from the solid upland to deep 
 
42 
 
 channel is not great in any place, and in some spots it is not more 
 than sixty yards, so that wharves to accommodate the largest ves- 
 sels can be built at little expense, and warehouses can be erected 
 near the shipping without much filling in. Seven wharves are 
 already in use and there is room for a great many others. Ac- 
 cess by water is convenient from nearly every direction. Napa 
 bay is the natural head of ocean navigation on the waters tribu- 
 tary to San Francisco bay, which is not only the centre but the 
 monopolist of all the foreign commerce of the Pacific coast from 
 the gulf of California to the strait of Fuca. Suisun bay is a con- 
 siderable body of water and lies further inland than Napa bay, 
 but it is shallow, and no vessel drawing more than six feet can 
 ascend the Sacramento or San Joaquin rivers in September at low 
 tide. Access by land to Vallejo is also convenient. It stands 
 near a narrow strait, which separates the deep from the shallow 
 waters, the ocean from the river navigation of the State. To this 
 strait converge nearly all the valleys of the interior, and all the 
 streams of the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, between Fort 
 Tejon and Goose lake, a distance of more than 500 miles. It is a 
 focal point from which wagon roads and railroads can radiate iu 
 every direction on level routes. 
 
 The California Pacific Rail Road runs from Vallejo to Sacra- 
 mento through a fertile district. The route is level and straight, 
 for most of the distance, and is lined by grain fields which stretch 
 away as far as the eye can reach. 
 
 The Napa Valley Railroad connects Adelante on the California 
 Pacific Railroad, seven miles from Vallejo, with Calistoga, whence 
 stages run to Russian river and the great natural wonders of the 
 Geysers and Clear Lake. The latter occupieB the crater of an 
 extinct volcano, and on its shore is a bank of crude brimstone 
 through crevices in which burning hot sulphureous fumes con- 
 tinually rise with a roaring sound. Haifa mile from Clear Lake 
 is Borax Lake, which has no outlet, and is one of the chief sources 
 of the borax supply of the future. Napa Valley is noted for its 
 beauty and fertility. St. Helena, at the northern end of the val- 
 ley, is the principal brandy district of the State, the grapes grown 
 ihere being particularly rich in the qualities needed for good 
 brandy. Calistoga, the White Sulphur and the Napa Sulphur 
 Springs are favorite summer resorts. 
 
 The Sonoma Valley Railroad, to connect Suscol, on the Napa 
 Valley Railroad, eleven miles from Vallejo, with Healdsburg, in 
 
43 
 
 Russian Valley, and thence to be extended to Cloverdale, Ukiah 
 and Humboldt Bay is to be commenced in the Spring of 1870, and 
 it will bring into Vallejo the trade of a rich district, which has a 
 large area, a fertile soil, a moist climate, abundant timber and 
 excellent pasture, lacking only swift and cheap access to market 
 to become one of the wealthiest and most populous parts of the 
 State. The road is necessary to both Russian Valley and Vallejo, 
 and will undoubtedly be built at an early day. Railroads to cross 
 the Strait of Carquinez, and connect Vallejo with Stockton, Ama- 
 dor Valley and Oakland, are also projected, and with the northern 
 roads previously mentioned will form the trunks on which the rail- 
 road system of the State can centre at Napa Bay. For general com- 
 merce, both foreign and domestic, Vallejo has every requirement 
 save a large accumulation of capital. As a grain port it already 
 ranks next to San Francisco, on the Pacific coast. The only grain 
 elevator on the basin of the Pacific ocean is at Vallejo, and it has 
 a capacity of 300,000 bushels. As the mud flat in front of the 
 town is very narrow, and wooden piles are not injured by the ship 
 worm, wharves are maintained at little expense. At present 
 wharfage and dockage are free, an important item for those who 
 desire to load or unload vessels there. For ship building Napa 
 Bay has a peculiar advantage in its freedom from the ship worm, 
 so that timber can be stored and seasoned in the water without 
 danger of injury, while the depth of the water and the wide extent 
 of the water front afford many opportunities for launching vessels. 
 Benicia, on the Strait of Carquinez, with a population of 2,000, is 
 six miles southeast oi Vallejo, and will in time probably become 
 part of it, for it would seem that the two are destined to growinto 
 one city. The harbor of Benicia is good, and the water front, 
 though it will require a considerai)Ie expenditure to prepare it for 
 occupation, will come into use. It is expected that the two towns 
 will soon be connected by a horse railroad. 
 
 The Vallejo Sulphur Springs, four miles northeast from Vallejo, 
 is a pleasant summer resort, provided with a number of buildings 
 for the accommodation of visitors. The water is strongly im- 
 pregnated with sulphur, and the quantity which flows out every 
 day is estimated at 50,000 gallons. The grounds are tastefully 
 arranged, and a grove of trees furnishes grateful shade in the warm 
 days of summer. Projects for a horse railroad and for a macad- 
 amized road from South Vallejo to the Springs are under consid- 
 eration, and it is almost certain that one road or the other will 
 soon be made 
 
44 
 
 A street railroad to connect North and South Vallejo, which are 
 about a mile apart has been commenced, and is to be finished 
 before the commencement of the rainy season of 1870. A flour 
 mill, to be the largest in the State, has been commenced at South 
 Vallejo. 
 
 Napa County. 
 
 In this county as well as in Solano, there is much good agricul- 
 tural land for sale ; and when we consider the excellence of the 
 climate and the facilities here enjoyed for getting produce to 
 market, it must be conceded that Napa offers as great inducements 
 for immigration as any other county in the State. This county is 
 well supplied with timber affording ample material for fuel and 
 lumber, the northern portion also containing valuable mines of 
 copper, quicksilver and other metals. The vine does well in all 
 parts of Napa, both grai)e growing and wine making having 
 proved very profitable pursuits for several years jDast. There is 
 also a great deal of brandy made there from grapes ; Brannan's 
 distillery near Calistoga, having turned out about 100,000 gallons 
 during 1869. The brandy made here is of superior quality, 
 selling readily in San Francisco at prices rivaling the imported 
 article. Samuel Brannan has at this place a large and valuable 
 tract of land alike well adapted to grain, fruit or stock raising, 
 portions of it consisting of rich interval and others of hill lands, 
 the soil everywhere being warm and fertile. It is also well 
 wooded and watered, being in every respect one of the most 
 eligible spots in the State for individual settlers or for the plant- 
 ing of a colony. 
 
 Upon this tract are situated the celebrated Calistoga Springs, 
 one of the most accessible and delightful watering places in Cali- 
 fornia. In speaking recently of this charming spot and its sur- 
 roundings, a writer in one of the leading San Francisco journals 
 remarks as follows : 
 
 This place, distant from San Francisco seventy miles, in a nearly 
 due north direction, is reached inside of four hours at an expense 
 of $3.50. The route from Vallejo, forty-three miles, lies through 
 Napa valley, forming, with its broad expanse of interval, land and 
 mountain scenery — the former covered with groves of oak, vine- 
 yards, orchards, gardens and fields of grain — one of the richest 
 and most delightful regions in the State. Calistoga itself is a per- 
 fect paradise. Nothing can exceed the fertility of the soil, the 
 equable and genial softness of the climate, or the grand and varied 
 

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45 
 
 scenery with -which it is surrounded. Here the hardy fruits and 
 grains of the north and the luscious products of the tropics grow 
 and flourish with the least possible care. The grape and the apple 
 thrive beside the orange and the banana, and the elm, maple, oak 
 and palm find each a congenial climate. Almost every variety of 
 rare and useful trees, as well as of plants, flowers and shrubs, have 
 been gathered here ; the proprietor, Samuel Brannan, a man of 
 liberal ideas and cultivated taste, having spared no expense or 
 pains in improving and beautifying the place. The climate is a 
 perpetual spring, nothing like oppressive heat or severe cold ever 
 being felt here. The waters, impregnated with sulphur and other 
 beneficial agents, possess every degree of temperature, and are 
 highly esteemed for their medicinal properties, rendering these 
 springs one of the most popular hygienic resorts in the country. 
 Calistoga is exceedingly convenient of access, being the only wa- 
 tering place in California having direct railroad communication 
 with San Fi:ancisco and the interior of the State. The accommo- 
 dations also are everything that the most exacting could require 
 — the buildings being spacious and convenient, and the grounds 
 tastefully laid out and adorned, while every manner of , recreation 
 - and amusement has been provided for the use and entertainment 
 of th« guests. The hotel, with the buildings appendant, is a large 
 structure, the dining-room, parlors and sleeping apartments being 
 airy, well lighted, and planned on a generous scale. In a large 
 room devoted to visitors is a museum, containing many strange ar- 
 ticles and curiosities collected from all parts of the world ; the 
 walls of this appartment as well as several others in the hotel 
 being adorned with elegant pictures and rare paintings, some of 
 the latter highly esteemed as works of art. Adjacent to the cen- 
 tral edifice are rows of handsome cottages, for the use of guests, 
 the swimming bath and bathing houses being also near by, with 
 ample barns, sheds and stables in the background. Into this 
 swimming bath, which is forty feet square and, some four feet deep, 
 the tepid water is constantly passing, keeping it fresh and at an 
 agreeable temperature for bathing. The entire establishment, 
 forming a capacious villa, is supplied with water from a large 
 reservoir constructed on the mountain side a little way in the rear, 
 pipes leading it over the entire grounds and into all the main 
 buildings. 
 
 The scenery in the vicinity of Calistoga is the most picturesque 
 and grand of any in Napa valley. Here the mountains on either 
 
46 
 
 hand, timbered with groves of oak and pine, or green with chap- 
 arral, become more bold and broken ; those on the north being 
 faced with long rocky terraces and crowned with cliff and crags. 
 Making up their sides are many wild glens, dark with the um- 
 brage of vines and shrubbery, while at numerous points they send 
 out spin's that, running almost across the valley, separate it into 
 deep and beautifully-wooded recesses, fringed with secluded dells, 
 rounded knolls and park-like lawns, surpassing in rural loveliness 
 anything ev«r produced by art. Whatever we have dreamed of 
 ideal beauty, believed of a primitive Eden, or been told of the 
 classic Vale of Tempe, is more than realized in these beautiful 
 surroundings of Calistoga. The most gifted painter of landscape 
 could delineate nothing more perfect, nor could the most volup- 
 tuous imagination conceive of anything more charming. Ten 
 miles off, beyond a low range of hills, Mount St. Helena lifts 
 itself to a height of more than four thousand feet, being the most 
 elevated peak in this portion of the coast range. It is a grand 
 and lovely object, attracting the ambitious tourist to its summit, 
 whence a v^ast expanse of land and ocean can be seen ; or draw- 
 ing the adventurous sportsman to its well-wooded slopes, which 
 abound with grizzlies, deer, hare and various other kinds of game. 
 In fact, the mountains all about this place afford good hunting 
 ground — squirrels, coons, rabbits and quail being at all seasons of 
 the year plentiful. 
 
 Upon substantial improvements and the embellishments of this 
 place, and the estate connected therewith, Mr. Brannan, one of 
 the oldest American residents and public spirited citizens of Cali- 
 fornia, has expended over $250,000 ; the property being in every 
 respect one of the most valuable and attractive in the State. 
 
 Fresh Watek Tide Lands. 
 
 Owing to the dryness of the summers in Californi^a, causing an 
 occasional partial failure of cereal crops and a rapid exhaustion of 
 the soil, from the impossilnlity of fertilizing it with crops of green 
 grass, the tide and overflowed lands about our bays, and more 
 especially our Fresh-water Tide Lands, become by far the most 
 valuable of any in the State. Foreseeing their great prospective 
 importance, the Legislature adopted measures at an early day 
 looking to a pi-oper system for disposing of and reclaiming these 
 lands, and under which a considerable portion of them having 
 already been sold, have since been brought into a productive con- 
 
47 
 
 dition. The first effort of this kind undertaken on a large scale, 
 the reclamation of Sherman Island, having resulted iu a complete 
 success, has tended to encourage further enterprises of the kind, 
 the most extensive being that of the Tide Land Reclamation 
 Company, organized in 1868, with a nominal capital of $12, 000,- 
 000, and which has since purchased a tract of 120,000 acres of 
 land similar to that on Sherman Island, the reclamation of which is 
 now about completed. 
 
 Although there are several million acres of swamp and over- 
 flowed land, generally designated " tule," in California, there is not 
 to exceed 200,000 acres of what can properly be termed fresh water 
 tide landa, as favorably located, and as valuable when reclaimed, 
 as Sherman or Twitchell Island. By drawing a line on the map 
 across the San Joaquin at Stockton, and five or six miles above the 
 head of Steamboat Slough, on the Sacramento River, and just 
 below Sheiman Island, where both rivers meet, and the within 
 area will embrace all the lands of that character in the State. 
 
 By the action of the tides, which rise and fall from four to six 
 feet every twelve hours, the water is kept pure, and self-acting 
 tide-gates can be used for drainage or irrigation, at pleasure. The 
 trade winds during the summer months are pleasantly modified, 
 but always invigorating; and these beautiful islands, with the 
 charm of perpetual verdure, are exempt from fevers and malari- 
 ous diseases generally, and are destined in a few years to be the 
 most densely populated and valuable agricultural lands on the 
 Pacific Coast. Being free from roots or stones, and generally on 
 a uniform plain, they are admirably adapted for steam cultivation. 
 The Tide Land Reclamation Company propose at an early day, to 
 use the steam plow, with stationary engines. 
 
 The character of the soil is peculiarly adapted for levees, and 
 should they be covered with water during an extraordinary flood, 
 (as in '61 and '62) little or no damage would be sustained. "Within 
 a few years, our markets will be supplied from these fresh water 
 tide lands, with fine clover and timothy hay, which can be placed 
 in San Francisco, owing to the advantage of cheap water trans- 
 portation, and three or four crops yearly, at greatly I'educed rates 
 from what is generally paid for the poor article of straw hay that 
 we are now compelled to use. 
 
 The question is, what products from these lands, when reclaimed, 
 will be the most profitable? Will it be wheat, which matures in 
 one hundred days, and yields from sixty to eighty bushels per 
 
48 
 
 acre? Barley, that in less time reaches one hundred bushels per 
 acre? or timothy or clover, that will crop eight to ten tons of hay 
 annually? Vegetables and fruits grow in such abundance, that 
 the market might be overstocked. It is believed by those familiar 
 with the subject, that rice would find it a congenial soil. Eamie, 
 madder, sugar-cane and cotton will probably soon be tested in a 
 small way. As pasturage either for stock or dairy purposes, these 
 lands have unequaled advantages. 
 
 Immunity against drouth, healthful and pleasant climate, inex- 
 haustible productive powers of soil, and cheap transportation, are 
 sufficient inducements to secure their reclamation, and in few years 
 they will be pointed to with pride, as constituting a great por- 
 tion of the agricultural wealth of the State. 
 
 The following extracts from a report recently made by General 
 B. S. Alexander, to this Company, will serve to more fully illus- 
 trate the character and value of this class of lands: 
 
 1st. The Company may rest assured that all their lands are in 
 fresh water. The line of brackish water is at the lower end of 
 Sherman Island, at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joa- 
 quin rivers, and the head of Suisun Bay. This point is about six 
 miles below Twitchell Island, which is lower down the river tiian 
 any other land of your Company. The water in the rivers and 
 sloughs above this point rises and falls with the tide and is always 
 fresh. 
 
 The natural productions of these lands are a convincing proof 
 of this fact. We find tules, flags, grasses and wild clover. The 
 margins of the sloughs being covered, in many places, by willow, 
 sycamore, ash, alder, grapevines, and blackberry bushes. 
 
 2nd. The sloughs which intersect these lands, instead of being 
 objectionable, as they are popularly regarded, are a positive bene- 
 fit, because they afibrd natural drainage. By damming them near 
 their mouths, and putting in drainage gates, we are enabled to 
 convert the channels by which the land was formerly overflowed, 
 into channels by which it can be drained; thereby making the 
 drainage, so far as they are concerned, natural instead of artificial; 
 and thus greatly reducing its cost. 
 
 3d. The lands of your Company being between high and low 
 water of the tides, the facilities for irrigation, when the land is 
 reclaimed, will be as neai-ly perfect as it is possible to make them, 
 because irrigation can theu be eff'ected without cost, by merely 
 opening the drainage gates, which, for this purpose, may be called 
 
49 
 
 flood-gates, and letting the flood tide into the drainage ditches, ex- 
 actly to the height that may be wanted, and then closing them. 
 Fresh water, in any quantity, can thus be brought over these 
 lands, or to within an inch, or a foot or two feet of the surface, as 
 may be wanted, every day of the year, by merely attending to the 
 opening and shutting of the tide-gates. 
 
 Irrigation will not probably be much wanted on these lands for 
 the cultivation of grain, but for vegetable gardens, for grasses and 
 for rice it will become of the first importance, particularly during 
 dry seasons. The importance of this irrigation, and the certainty 
 of a crop from these lands every year, deserve to be duly con- 
 sidered. If properly reclaimed, the tide lauds of the lower Sac- 
 ramento and San Joaquin rivers would feed this whole State, even 
 when its population amounts to millions, and the production would 
 be certain without regard to the rain-fall on the plains and valleys. 
 The snows of the Sierra Nevada mountains are an independent and 
 unfailing source of supply to the waters of the rivers, which have 
 only to be .appropriated in the manner proposed to make the pro- 
 duction of the land certain, and secure unfailing crops even in the 
 di-yest seasons. For this reason, if for no other, your Company, 
 as well as others engaged in similar enterprises, ma}^ safely ask the 
 patronage of the public, if not the fostering care of a State where 
 the average rain-fall is only about half the average of Eastern or 
 European States. 
 
 4th. It will be seen from my more elaborate engineering report 
 that the expense of securing these lands against extraordinary in- 
 undation is not great, when compared with the increased value of 
 the lands ; and when we consider that the most productive and 
 valuable lands in Europe are the reclaimed lands which were once 
 overflowed, it does not require much imagination to foresee the 
 day when these lauds will call for absolute protection against all 
 floods. In the meantime such protection is not necessary to the 
 productiveness of the land. Partial protection, however, will be 
 desirable for farm houses and barns, and for the security of stock. 
 This protection will not be very costly, for it will be a simple 
 matter to throw up artificial mounds upon which to erect houses 
 and barns, and where stock may bc kept in entire security during 
 the few weeks of floods. 
 
 5th. — When such mounds are made, and the land even partially 
 reclaimed, it will present great advantages lor homes. 
 4 
 
50 
 
 The whole lower country of the Sacramento and San Joaquin 
 is fanned by a gentle breeze during the day, and the nights are 
 cool. 
 
 There will be no local cause of disease, at least after a few 
 years of cultivation ; it will be free from mosquitos ; the air will 
 be pure, and the country clothed in eternal verdure. 
 
 6th. — One other matter which the farmer will examine with 
 great satisfaction, will be the advantages of freighting. 
 
 The lower San Joaquin river and most of its sloughs are fine 
 navigable waters, leading directly along side of, and in many 
 cases into, the future farms. 
 
 If we assume the product of an acre to be ten tons, such pro- 
 duct could be delivered on the wharf in San Francisco for about 
 ten dollars ; whereas, if the same product had to be hauled, say 
 ten miles on a wagon, an addition of four dollars per ton would 
 become necessary, or on such a product of ten tons, an addition 
 oi forty dollars. 
 
 This difference in the profits of the product of an acre of these 
 lands situated alongside of fine navigable waters, and lands situa- 
 ted ten miles distant from such waters, becomes therefoi'e of the 
 first importance to the producer as well as to the consumer. 
 
 Mr. Sherman Day, U. S. Surveyor-General of the State of Cali. 
 fornia, another able and experienced civil engineer, in a report 
 to the Company on these lands, observes that there are no salt 
 marshes within the limits of their claim. The ordinary tides wet 
 the lands when not leveed, but do not overflow them except at 
 the spring tides, and then oiily a foot or so on the lower portions, 
 in hollows, and along the bayous. The width of the delta and 
 the expanse of Suisun bay permit the waters of the up-country 
 floods here to spread out, and limit themselves to an extreme 
 height of about five feet above ordinary high tide, or ten feet 
 above low tide. At Sacramento the ofiicial gauge is marked at 
 twenty-three feet above low water, showing a marked contrast to 
 the moderate heights of the tide lajids. 
 
 It has been ascertained by the experience of the inhabitants of 
 the lower islands, such as Sherman's, Twitchell's, Bokling's and 
 Andrew's islands, that a levee "of three feet above the natural sur- 
 face will keep out the tides and ordinary floods. For the over- 
 whelming floods, like those of the winters of 1861-62, and of 
 1867-68, when the mountain floods combined with unusual tides 
 and heavy winds to shut up the waters above the Sti-aits of Car- 
 
51 
 
 quinez, an embankment two or three feet higher is required, and 
 not only higher, but wider on the top and at the base. 
 
 There is an advantage to be derived from the daily influx and 
 eflux of the tide, combined with the freshness of the water on 
 these lower islands, which is not shared by the lands further up 
 the rivers. Eice and other plants needing irrigation can be cult- 
 ivated here and be irrigated by the tidal flow. 
 , I have noticed four diflferenl varieties of soil among these lands: 
 1st. The coarse peat formed by the large roots of the tule, 
 decomposing into a rich, black vegetable mould of unsurpassed 
 fertility. 2d. A stiff blue clay, with more or less alkali in its 
 composition, derived mainly from the wash of the hills of the 
 cretaceous formation, and usually found in the marshes nearest the 
 uplands it forms a strong, durable soil for permanent grasses. 
 3d. A yellowish brown clay, the product of the rivers when 
 muddy. This is a strong and very productive soil, as may be seen 
 by the growth of tules and rank grasses, willows and alders. 4th. 
 A light, loose sandy soil, deposited here and there by the eddies 
 of all rivers, and especially adapted to the growth of garden 
 vegetables, Indian corn, broom corn, and fruit trees. 
 
 There is no room for doubt as to the superabundant fertility of 
 the tule soil wheu reclaimed and subjected to one or two years' 
 cultivation. Its rank growth without cultivation testifies to that. 
 I scarcely know of any vegetable production belonging to temper- 
 ate climates, which will not grow there. 
 
 Wheat, barley, oats, timothy, clover and alfalfa are all success- 
 ful crops. The native grasses are coarse, but easily give place to 
 more choice varieties. And to enumerate the garden vegetables 
 which I have seen growing there, would be merely to copy a 
 seedman's catalogue. In visiting a friend's family, I was surprised 
 to see how many of all the luxuries that graced the table were the 
 products of the farm. Drought is unknown. Fruits, large and 
 small, of many kinds, I saw growing luxuriantly. The sycamore, 
 oak, alder, willow and hazlenut are natives along the banks of the 
 sloughs; and the elm, the locust and other trees suitable for 
 fencing, can be easily introduced. As for flowers and ornamental 
 vines, the main difiiculty is to prevent their superabundant growth. 
 
 Of pasturage, there is no end. Neat cattle, horses, hogs, and 
 fowls of all kinds, do well upon these lands, if properly cared for 
 in wet weather and floods. Sheep also are easily fattened, but 
 they require more special care here than on dryer lands. 
 
52 
 
 Notwithstanding some of the inconveniences of so moist a soil, 
 and the necessary isolation from a large circle of neighbors, I have 
 generally found the people living on these islands contented with 
 their residence, so far as enjoyment of health and cheerfulness was 
 concerned, and their confidence in the productiveness of their 
 lands, and the superabundance of the supplies of life. A refresh- 
 ing breeze, which promotes health, sweeps every day over these 
 Open plains; and after close inquiry I could not find that the peo- 
 ple were more subject to bilious diseases than those dwelling in 
 any newly opened upland district. 
 
 The main source of discouragement among them is the want of 
 sufficient capital to contend, single handed, with the floods, in 
 addition to the usual cost of stocking and improving any new 
 farm; and the difficulty of acting harmoniously in carrying out 
 any extensive system of engineering, either under the State law, 
 which is utterly inadequate, or under any plan of private associa- 
 tion. Various causes of disagreement will arise. Some will insist 
 always on their own way or none. Some will let others pay the 
 money and hang back themselves, but still expect to enjoy the 
 benefit of the work of others; and some will eternally shove in 
 legal quibbles to block the way. Some will be poor but willing, 
 and have their lands mortgaged to creditors who are rich but 
 unwilling, until they can foreclose. 
 
 The only efficient way of dealing with these lauds seems to be 
 by the ownership of a whole island or levee district by one man, 
 or by an association. This man, or association, must have capital 
 fully sufficient to master the engineering problems of the enterprise; 
 and common sense and confidence enough in the ultimate result 
 not to be discouraged by occasional failures in details. Some well 
 devised, carefully studied, plan of engineering must be adopted ; 
 cheap labor must be had, probably Chinese, and energy and 
 economy must pervade the management. The work may be greatly 
 aided by machinery for excavating and ploughing. Whether 
 steam power or horse power shall be used, is for your engineer to 
 determine. To supply fuel for steam you have the coal mines of 
 Black Diamond and Pittsburgh within sight of your lands, and 
 cheap transportation by water. 
 
 In short, I know of no soil more productive ; none more easily 
 watered or less subject to drought. The cost per acre of reclaim- 
 ing the land is slight compared with its intrinsic value. The title 
 is derived from the State. The lands li6 in the very heart of tho 
 
DOUGLASS SPRUCE. 
 
53 
 
 State ; at no place more than 30 miles from a railroad, and gener- 
 ally within 15 or 18 ; by steam navigation, averaging about 60 
 miles from San Francisco. The sloughs which penetrate the lands 
 give facilities for navigation, for drainage, and for flooding — if 
 provided with gates. 
 
 Lands in the Great San Joaquin and Tulaee Valleys. 
 
 An immense plain extending nearly 300 miles south from Stock- 
 ton forms the above valleys, consisting mainly of superior grain 
 lands. Considering its geographical position and vast extent ; its 
 interior resources and magnificent surroundings, together with its 
 economical adaptation to the wants of man and the comfortable 
 subsistance of a large population, these valleys represent one of 
 the grandest sweeps of country on the shores of the Pacific ocean. 
 
 In discoui'sing upon this region, the Stockton Independent, one of 
 the most able and reliable of our interior Journals, remarks as 
 follows: 
 
 The basin of the San Joaquin river and its tributary streams 
 contains the largest area of arable and pastoral lands, in a con- 
 nected body in California. Its watershed reaches from the divid- 
 ing summit of the Sierra Nevada chain of mountains on the east, 
 the Coast range on the west and south, and the dividing streams 
 of the Sacramento river on the north, embracing the counties of 
 Kern, Tulare, Fresno, Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Mariposa, 
 Calaveras and Tuolumne. Its shape is that of a parallelogram 
 whose greatest length is 250 miles, running northwardly; greatest 
 width 140 miles, with an area estimated at 24,000 square miles, 
 or 15,360,000 acres, diversified into tillable, pastoral and mineral 
 land. A more minute division shows, approximatively, 1,000,000 
 acres of salt marsh and tule lands, 5,000,000 acres of mineral and 
 mountain lands, leaving over 9,000,000 acres that are adapted to cul- 
 tivation or pastoral purposes, a small quantity only being supposed 
 too sterile for economical uses. The San Joaquin Valley proper, 
 embraces about one-half of this territory', the wide foothills and 
 higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada range occupying the re- 
 mainder — the low altitude and abrupt rise of the Coast range 
 forming only a narrow plateau. The foothills and lower eleva- 
 tions of both ranges possess many table lands and small valleys 
 adapted to the cultivation of the vine and to horticulture, or to 
 sheep husbandry. On their sunny slopes the grape and table fruits 
 
54 
 
 attain rare perfection. The land in the northern portion is nearly- 
 all adapted to tillage, with or without irrigation, and is moderately- 
 well watered by numerous perennial streams, and by the San Joa- 
 quin river. It is level or slightly undulatory, only a few feet 
 above tide-water, with an occasional low, gravelly knoll and sink 
 or depression, to diversify the general monotony of the landscape. 
 Little timber occurs even along water courses, and that of a 
 poor character except for fuel. This northern portion embraces 
 the finest lands for the cereals and plants of temperate climes, 
 within the valley, which will approximate half its arable extent. 
 The southern portion of the \alley presents a more arid surface 
 and sterile soil, broken up by fresh- water lakes, extensive swamps, 
 alkaline deserts and detached groups of hills and mountains. The 
 river bottoms are extremely fertile, but contiguous to the San 
 Joaquin river and Tulare lake, extensive swamps exist, that require 
 reclamation before they become adapted to tilth, when their fer- 
 tility is exuberant. The San Joaquin river meanders its tortuous 
 course nearly centrally through over one-half the length of the 
 valley, and from the eastern slope receives all of its tributaries 
 of any moment, the low elevation of the Coast range giving origin 
 to only a few small winter streams. The general topography and 
 geological features indicate that this valley has been the bed of a 
 vast inland sea, Avhose tranquil waters for ages have received the 
 wash and wear of the surrounding mountains, until at the northern 
 and lowest depression deposits of diluvium thousands of feet deep 
 have been made, which have been superimposed by the present 
 soil during the subsidence of the waters. The foothills also bear 
 traces of having been water-worn by some mighty stream, and are 
 covered by gravel, decomposed lava, and the humus of ages. From 
 their bases the land gently descends, and does not lose its volcanic 
 soil until reaching the general level of the plain. No great con- 
 vulsion of nature has ever upheaved the valley from the peaceful 
 condition the gradual subsidence of waters left it in, but it lies 
 placid and serene as a sleeping child awaiting some event to waken 
 it into life and action. The soil of the whole valley is very 
 unequal. In the upper portion, rich sandy loam, adobe, red ferru- 
 ginous and sterile gravelly soil, may all prevail on the same mile 
 square. But the prevailing constituents of the soil render it the 
 finest land for the cereals and fruits of temperate and semi-tropical 
 regions on the continent. In the southern section, and along the 
 ffot hills, certain specialties of production are highly favored. 
 
55 
 
 The San Joaquin Valley may be said to possess no picturesque 
 scenery. Like the prairies of the West, it is a vast undulating 
 plain or dead level, with an occasioual tree, or park, of oaks to 
 diversify the general monotony. 
 
 The Coast range does not exceed an average altitude of 3,000 
 feet, and in fertile portions is covered to the summit with wild 
 indigenous oats that give to them in the spring season a peculiarly 
 lovely grandeur. The plains at this season are clothed in green 
 verdure, into which intermingles the golden lily and myriads of 
 native wild flowers. In Tulare county, along the Kahweah 
 and King's rivers, the virgin soil gives growth to beautiful groves 
 of Cottonwood and sycamore, and their margins are fringed with 
 perennial verdure. 
 
 The climate throughout this region, as before mentioned, is ex- 
 tremely healthful, and though the weather is warm during the 
 summer it is for the rest of the year delightful, no snow ever 
 falling, or ice forming in any part of this valley. 
 
 Agricultuee and Pjroductions. 
 
 The large extent, undoubted fertility, and known capabilities of 
 the lands of the San Joaquin Valley, give assurance that Agricul- 
 ture will become the predominant interest of its people. 
 
 The principal staples which the soil and climate of this valley 
 favor are the cereal grains. Wild oats are indigenous to the 
 country, and on lands allowed to run wild, will run out other small 
 grains, but are cultivated only as a forage plant, which, cut while 
 green, makes excellent hay. Barley also thrives well, and in a 
 green state, is often cut for haj'. But the great staple, from being 
 the "staff of life," and the ease of cultivation over other products 
 in this climate, is wheat. In a moderately rainy season it is ca- 
 pable of perfecting its growth before the heats of summer have 
 evaporated the moisture from the roots, and a crop is nearly sure 
 of being made. No disease, rust, or insect harms the grain, al- 
 though smut was in early days very prevalent, but by proper 
 treatment has nearly disappeared. There has always been a good 
 iiemand for the surplus crop of this cereal, in the mines and for 
 export, and its cultivation has been profitable. 
 
 Cotton cultivation has been experimented upon in Fresno 
 county, and in the Tulare Basin, where the yield has averaged 500 
 pounds to the acre of a fine textile fibre. Undoubtedly, there is 
 
56 
 
 much land in the southern section of this valley that can, and will 
 be, employed profitably in this culture, when cheap transport to 
 markets is obtained. Several thousand acres have been raised, 
 and no room for doubt is left that California can produce all the 
 cotton required for home fabrication. 
 
 The rich river bottoms and tule lands of the San Joaquin river 
 and Tulare lake are known to be finely adapted to the tobacco 
 plant, being fertile in nitrogenized elements ; but for lack of re- 
 clamation have not been cultivated to any extent in this plant as 
 yet. Enough has been done to show that soil and climate highly 
 favor the tobacco culture, and that at no distant day it will be- 
 come a popular staple of agriculture. The leaf makes a superior 
 article for smoking — probably not inferior in flavor and nicotine 
 princij)les to the best Virginia — and undoubtedly will make an 
 equal article for chewing, in the hands of experienced manipula- 
 tors. 
 
 The overflowed lands in San Joaquin county produce an indi- 
 genous millet or rice, and the swamjjs of the Tulare Basin have a 
 similar wild species, which annually attracts millions of geese, 
 ducks and water fowl as winter feeding grounds. No efforts have 
 been made to cultivate the domesticated plant, although there is 
 every natural guaranty for success. Cheap and experienced Chi- 
 nese labor should secure its extensive cultivation. 
 
 Hemp and flax are indigenous to southern California, and on the 
 moist, loamy bottom lands thrive luxuriantly. The textile fibre of 
 these plants appears lacking in strength, and flax is only, but quite 
 extensively, cultivated for the oleaginous properties of the seed. 
 The castor bean is also raised in considerable quantities for its oil. 
 
 The following letter from Dr. R. P. Ashe, a man of education 
 and superior judgment, and long a resident of the San Joaquin 
 Valley, contains so much reliable information in a small compass, 
 that we can hardly do better than present it to our readers entire. 
 Says that gentleman in answer to a letter from a friend in the At- 
 lantic States making inquiry as to the character of that section : 
 
 I have been engaged in actual farming operations in this State 
 for the past sixteen years — the facts and figures I shall give yoii 
 are such as have been drawn from my own experience, and where- 
 ever there may be a doubt upon any question, I shall so calculate 
 as to throw that doubt against the farmer. 
 
 Eemember that, where not otherwise stated, all figures represent 
 
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57 
 
 so much gold and silv^er coin — the precious metals being the only- 
 currency we have in California. 
 
 The arable lands immediately around the city of San Francisco, 
 and within a few hours travel of that metropolis, are cut up into 
 small farms — are highly improved as orchards, vineyards, market 
 gardens, etc., and command a high price per acre — $20 to $100. 
 These lands are out of the question for immigrants. 
 
 In the valley of the San Joaquin, where I reside, there are now 
 from 300,000 to 400,000 acres of rich prairie lands uncultivated. 
 These lands are situated on or in the immediate vicinity of the San 
 Joaquiu River. The river is navigable to Stockton, and for some 
 distance above, at all seasons of the year, and these lands can be 
 reached from San Francisco by steamboat and wagon, in from 
 twelve to fourteen hours. 
 
 Part of these lands are still the propertj' of the Government, 
 and a portion have been reduced to private ownership. 
 
 According to locality and quality of soil, these lands can be 
 bought from individual owners at prices varying from $1 to $5 
 per acre. Such as is still public land can be pre-empted at $1.25 
 per acre in greenbacks, or settled upon as a homestead, and title 
 gratuitously obtained after iive years actual residence. 
 
 The climate of this valley is unsurpassed for comfort and 
 healthfulness ; we have no cold weather, and but little of what 
 is known in the South as warm weather. The only change in our 
 seasons is from wet to dry — the former commencing generally in 
 October or November, and continuing until April. During this 
 period we have no more rain than falls in North Carolina in the 
 same month. In the summer — that is, from May to November — 
 we have no rain. Our friends in the East will bear this last fact 
 in mind, as it has a material influence upon farming operations. 
 In harvest time we have no fear of damage to our crop from a 
 shower, or its destruction by a storm ; we lose no labor on account 
 of rainy days ; we can dispense with barns and cribs ; our crop 
 can remain in the field in sacks mitil sold, and there are many 
 other advantages which will readily suggest themselves to any 
 
 practical farmer. 
 
 There is no country in the world where a man can live more 
 exempt from disease than in this ; there is none where he can 
 more rationally enjoy life, and I think that I can demonstrate that 
 industry and energy can be and are as amply rewarded for theif 
 efforts here as in any known part of the habitable globe. 
 
58 
 
 The large tract of uncultivated land to which I have referred 
 is fertile ; it produces wheat, barley, oats, rye, grapes, almonds, 
 and all kinds of fruits and garden vegetables in perfection and 
 profusion ; upon the low lands bordering upon the rivers and 
 creeks Indian corn is raised, but wheat is the crop. 
 
 To get at the practical farming operations, we will suppose an 
 immigrant who has the means to purchase and settle six hundred 
 acres of these lands ; we will examine into his necessary outlay, 
 the work he will have to do, and his probable receipts : 
 
 Six hundred acres of land will cost him $1,500 
 
 His necessary building for a small family 1,000 
 
 Six horses, a gang-plow and harness 600 
 
 Wagon 250 
 
 Total $3,350 
 
 With this he is ready to commence operations in October. One 
 man with the six horses and gang-plow can break up, sow and 
 harrow in 300 acres of wheat. If this labor be hired it will cost 
 him from $30 to $40 per month, or a total of $120. It will cost 
 $100 to feed the horses while putting in the crop, and $20 for new 
 plow points or repairs to old ones, and $150 for the seed wheat 
 for 300 acres. His wheat is now seeded at an expense of $390 ; 
 his horses are turned into a pasture at a trifling cost, and they 
 take care of themselves until they are needed at harvest, and the 
 farmer has no further expense to incur as to his farm until the 
 wheat is ripe in June. He can then, by furnishing the contractor 
 with the use of his (the farmer's) horses and wagon, contract to 
 have his wheat harvested and stacked for $1 per acre, and thi-eshed 
 at 10 cents per bushel. 
 
 The grain has never been worth less than 65 cents per bushel, 
 as it comes from the thresher, and if the farmer will sack it and 
 can hold it during the summer and fall he can safely calculate 
 upon 90 cents per bushel, besides enough over that amount to pay 
 for the sacks. 
 
 In my sixteen years experience, we have had one year of total 
 failure of crops. Leaving out this and calculating for all partial 
 failures, the land which I have described will average for the past 
 sixteen years from 9 to 20 bushels of wheat to the acre, and in 
 many favored spots the average is more than double these figures. 
 We will take the average production of 12 bushels to the acre, 
 and the lowest price of 65 cents per bushel, and see how stand 
 the farmer's account for his year's operations; 
 
59 
 
 Expenses of planting $390 00 
 
 The harvesting of 300 acres 300 00 
 
 Threshing of 3,600 bushels 300 00 
 
 Total disbursement on his crop account $1,050 00 
 
 Market value of the crop 2,340 00 
 
 Net profit $1,290 00 
 
 Now, SO far for the first year, and the farmer has only cultivated 
 the one-half of his 600 acres of laud. The second year he will 
 sow the other 300 acres and harvest it at the same expense as for 
 the first year; but in addition to that, and without plowing, 
 seeding, or any other expense, except the one dollar per acre for 
 harvesting and ten cents per bushel for threshing, he will obtain 
 a full average crop (by way of volunteer) from the 300 acres cul- 
 tivated the first year; or in other words, it is not necessary to sow 
 the seed upon the land but once in two years — (sometimes once 
 in three years). The second year it seeds itself. This shows that 
 for the second year the farmer's net receipts are $2,970, against 
 $1,290 the first year. The third year he will ploAv and sow the 
 land cultivated the first year, and so on indefinitely. 
 
 Our Eastern friends will at once argue that such a system of 
 farming will soon exhaust the soil. They are mistaken in this. 
 I have pursued the plan for sixteen years, and thus far it has had 
 no apparent or appreciable damaging efiect upon the land — it pro- 
 ducing now about as well as when first cultivated. I have made 
 the foregoing statement by way of illustration of what a man of 
 moderate means can accomplish in farming. The poor man who 
 settles upon 160 acres of Government land, and who is willing to 
 work, can accomplish results in the same proportion: while a man 
 of more means than the moderately well-ofi" farmer, to whose situ- 
 ation the foregoing calculations were made to suit, can do still 
 better than the foregoing figures were made to exhibit, and for 
 the following reasons: 
 
 The man of larger means will, instead of having his crop harv- 
 ested and threshed by contract, purchase his own machinery, 
 headers and threshers, and do the work himself, and thereby save, 
 say 20 per cent of those expenses; and the rich man can always 
 hold his crop and obtain the 90 cents per bushel instead of selling 
 it for 65 cents per bushel. 
 
 I have made no estimate for family expenses; these vary so 
 greatly, and can be made to suit every man's condition and means 
 so exactly, that I will only say upon this subject that a well-regul- 
 
60 
 
 ated, economical family can live here on a farm for about the same 
 expense as in Virginia or North Carolina. 
 
 I have purposely omitted in the foregoing estimate to say any- 
 thing about the cost of fencing. Several neighboring farmers join 
 and build an outside fence, thus rendering the immediate enclosing 
 of the land unnecessary. The Legislature now has under consid- 
 eration a proposition — which meets with great favor, and will in 
 all probability become a law — rendering it unnecessary for farmers 
 to build fences; in other words, making the owners of cattle 
 responsible for any damage committed by them upon the unen- 
 closed land of another. 
 
 Our friends ought to be reminded that we have a thorough and 
 perfect system of public schools in California, and that the chil- 
 dren of all can be educated at the public expense. A neighbor- 
 hood is no sooner formed than it is constituted a School District, 
 with ample provision for the sustaining of as good a school as the 
 neighborhood wants for^ten months in the year. 
 
 I have written only of the lands in the Valley of the San 
 Joaquin, where I live, and with which I am most familiar; but 
 there are thousands of acres of as good land, as finely located and 
 as cheap, in other parts of the State as in the Valley of the San 
 Joaquin. 
 
 Finally, to men of means, and men of muscle, industry and per- 
 severance, there can be no more inviting country than California; 
 but to those men who have no means, and who want to make a 
 living by the so-called respectable employment of clerking, etc., 
 and by easy work generally, this is no country for them. The 
 one I would advise to come and join us in this land of brilliant 
 promise, the other I would most urgently advise to remain where 
 he is. 
 
 Choice Tracts of Land foe Sale. 
 
 For the information of parties desirous of purchasing lands in 
 the San Joaquin and Tulare country, we will mention a few of the 
 principal proprietors of large tracts who are selling at low prices 
 and on terms that will suit purchasers. John T. Little, of San 
 Francisco, has a parcel of 18,000 acres in Merced county, and 
 another of 160,000 in Fresno county, all held under an United 
 States patent, the best possible title. This land is nearly all level 
 and the most of it a rich alluvial soil well adapted for cereal crops 
 as well as all kinds of fruits and vegetables. The Merced tract 
 
■>• 
 
 
 ,^fri^'"*"vk^ - 
 
 
 THE SENTINELS, CALAVERAS CO. 
 
61 
 
 is situated near Dover, a shipping point on the San Joaquin river. 
 Mariposa creek, Burns creek and Bear river, considerable streams 
 in the wet season, all flow through Ihis land affording abundance 
 of water most of the season. Through the other tract flows the 
 Fresno river and Cottonwood creek, and their numerous branches. 
 These lands are not only level, but entirely free from stones, or 
 other obstructions, being ready without any previous preparation, 
 for the plow. Portions of them are already settled upon, and 
 have for the past year or two produced immense crops of wheat 
 and other grain. They were all selected by competent judges for 
 their special fitness for grain raising, both the soil and climate 
 being especially adapted to the culture of the cereals. Wheat 
 here is never liable to rust, as it often is, on the best lands, near 
 the coast where exposed to fogs and high winds. The soil where 
 not a deep strong alluvium consists of a warm sandy loam of great 
 depth and fertility, susceptible of culture at almost any time. 
 None of it is swampy or subject to overflow; malaria and its con- 
 sequent evils being here entirely unknown. The whole country 
 is covered with wild clover, alfilarilla, and other native grasses 
 affording excellent pasturage. 
 
 This land is offered by Mr. Little at less than one-sixth of the 
 price asked for that of no better quality in the Coast counties. 
 Mr. Little, besides selling at low prices, gives actual settlers a 
 credit of one and two years for two-thirds of the purchase money. 
 
 Besides the streams mentioned, there are numerous springs on 
 these ti'acts, and water can be obtained almost everywhere by 
 digging from ten to twenty feet. Recent experiments made in 
 this vicinity also demonstrate that water in any quantity can be 
 obtained here by artesian boring. John A. Montgomery, a large 
 cattle owner, occupying an extensive range adjacent to Mr. Little's 
 Merced tract, commenced boring for water in the month of 
 August, 1869, and at a depth of 190 feet struck a large stream of 
 pure soft water, which still continues to run. This water is four 
 degrees colder than the surrounding surface water, and the flow- 
 ing stream is two inches in depth by fully ten inches in width. 
 Those who have seen and tasted it declare that no clearer or 
 purer water can be found anywhere, and that none cooler need be 
 desired. Although the stream has been flowing for months, 
 and that, too, in the hottest and dryest season, there has been no 
 diminution in the supply, from which Mr. Montgomery finds 
 plenty and to spare for watering his splendid herd of 75,000 
 
62 
 
 American cattle. At another point, several miles distant, nearly 
 similar results have been obtained. Water has been struck at 
 less depth, and no doubt is entertained but that in the latter case, 
 as in the first, sources will be reached from which a flow to the 
 surface will be obtained. These results establish a fact which 
 will be of incalculable advantage to the great San Joaquin valley. 
 
 The railroad, extending from Stockton to Visalia, runs directly 
 through these lands, aflfording cheap and constant communication 
 with Stockton and the San Francisco markets. The San Joaquin 
 River flowing adjacent, is navigable for some distance above these 
 lands, a good portion of the year also aftbrding the farmer and 
 wool grower a cheap and convenient means for shiijping their 
 products to the sea-board. All that has been said of the soil, 
 climate, and other natural advantages of the best portions of the 
 great San Joaquin Valley, applies in all its force to the particular 
 section of it under consideration, and for this reason we would 
 recommend persons in search of lands in this section of country, 
 to apply to Mr. Little, who can be found at all times at his office 
 in the Stevenson Building, S. W. corner California and Mont- 
 gomery streets, San Francisco. 
 
 Mr. J. W. Pearson has also a large tract of very superior land 
 located in Kern County, which he is disposing of on terms highly 
 advantageous to settlers. This gentleman has for many years 
 dealt extensively in lauds and enjoys a good reputation in this 
 line of business. He has properties of this kind in other parts 
 of the State, and could hardly fail to accommodate parties calling 
 upon him with almost any kind of land they might desire. Mr. 
 Pearson has an office on the south side of California street, two 
 doors above Kearny, in the city of San Francisco, where maps 
 of his various tracts can be seen and full information in regard to 
 them as well as other sections of the State can be at all times 
 obtained. 
 
 San Luis Obispo County. 
 The amount of good agricultural land in this county is com- 
 paratively small. The county is, however, well adajjted for graz- 
 ing, to which use the most of it is devoted. There is a consider- 
 able quantity of fine farming land in the valley of San Luis 
 Obispo, adjacent to the Old Mission and also upon the Santa 
 Marguerita, the Ascunsion and Astacadero Ranches, all famous for 
 their fine pasturage and the large droves of cattle fed upon them. 
 
DUMP AND SLUICE. 
 
 Hydraulic Mining„JTimbuctoo Diggings, Yuba Co. 
 
63 
 
 The Santa Marguerita Eancho, owned by Martin Murphy, embra- 
 ces an area of 20,000 acres, one-half of which is first class grain 
 land, the whole tract being well timbered and abounding with 
 water and grass. For some time past a portion of it has been let 
 for a dairy, a few hundred acres, also, having been planted to 
 grain. To the north of this a short distance are the other two 
 tracts mentioned, a portion of which, amounting to 10,000 acres, 
 has been purchased by Messrs. William and Eobert Watt ; to 
 which, having added 13,500 acres of government land, the whole 
 is now used as a sheep range, bearing the name of the Eureka 
 Ranch. The whole of this tract, like the Santa Marguerita Eanch, 
 contains a rich deep soil, much of it being suitable for the plow, 
 and the whole affording good pasturage. It is watered by numerous 
 springs, the Salinas river running near the western and the Huer 
 Huero creek near its northern boundary. The proprietors use it 
 for a sheep pasture, having over 10,000 head of these animals 
 upon it. Being well watered and wooded, and growing great 
 quantities of clover, alfilarilla, bunch and other native grasses, it 
 would afford an excellent dairy ranch ; the more especially as the 
 grass, besides growing very luxurianly, keeps green most of the 
 summer. Parties in search of a place for the management of such 
 a business would do well to visit this section of country as one 
 affording great facilities for its successful prosecution. 
 
 Groat inducements for the dairy business are also presented on 
 Piedra Blanca Eancho, situated near San Simeon bay, Santa Bar- 
 bara county. This tract of land, consisting of 48,000 acres, owned 
 mostly by George Hearst of San Francisco, is held under a Mexi- 
 can grant, confirmed by the United States. About 10,000 acres 
 of it is good farming land, the balance affording fine pasturage. 
 Being located immediately on the sea, the climate is extremely 
 healthful and the atmosphere moist throughout the summer, keep- 
 ing the grass constantly green and growing. Five living streams 
 flow through this ranch, which, with a number of perennial springs, 
 supply all the water required for stock or other purposes. There 
 is regular steam communication between this point and San Fran- 
 cisco every few days, and also good roads reaching to jilaces in the 
 interior. The Piedra Blanca Eancho is well wooded, some ot the 
 timber being of large size and suitable for making lumber ; this 
 being the only locality in the vicinity where forests of that kind 
 are met with. 
 
64 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Los Angeles County ; Commissioner Wilson's Letter. Choice Lands on the Mar- 
 ket. San Diego County. Railroads. Map. The California Pacific Railroad. 
 Mineral Wealth. San Francisco. Occidental Hotel. Harpending's Buildings. 
 Bank of California. London and San Francisco Bank. Pacific Insurance Com- 
 pany. Pacific Life Insurance Company of California. 
 
 Los Angeles County. 
 
 For several years past this county has been. settling up rapidly 
 ■with an industrious and thrifty population attracted to it by the 
 superior excellence of the soil and climate, and the great variety 
 of products that can be grown there with success. For a long 
 time small farmers were deterred from seeking this section of 
 country for settlement, owing to the land being held in large 
 tracts the titles to which were, in many cases, unadjusted, while, 
 the owners evinced but little disposition to subdivide their vast 
 possessions, or otherwise encourage the settlement of small farm- 
 ers or others desirous of securing homesteads. Latterly, these 
 titles having been confirmed and patents issued to the claimants 
 by the United States government, the most of these large grants 
 having, meanwhile, passed into the hands of a more liberal and 
 enterprising class of owners, the latter have had them surveyed 
 into small parcels which they are now selling to actual occupants 
 on very favorable conditions. The following letter from Commis- 
 sioner Wilson of the General Land Office, in reply to inquiries 
 made by a company of Hollanders seeking information in regard 
 to the southern counties of California, is entitled to the careful 
 consideration of every one interested in the subject, both because 
 of the instructive summary of facts it contains, and the high 
 authority whence it emanates : 
 
 Commissioner Wilson's Letter. 
 
 United States op Ambhtca, Department op the Interior, 
 
 General Land Ofeicb, May 13, 1869. 
 
 Albert Rhodes, United States Consulate, Rotterdam, Holland, — Dear Sir. — In 
 reply to your letter of the 7th ult., requesting information in regard to public lands 
 in Southern California, especially in the neighborhood of Los Angeles, I have to 
 state that the valuable lands in the southern portion of that region, in the counties 
 of San Diego, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Santa Barbara and San Luis 
 
65 
 
 Obispo, are, to a considerable extent, held under Mexican grants, many of which 
 have been confirmed by the United States since we have succeeded to the sover- 
 eignty of the country. The counties of San Luis Obispo and Kern may form an 
 exception to this statement, as Government land of excellent quality exists in 
 each ; but so much has been recently entered under the pre-emption and homestead 
 lands, and located with College scrip, and still continues to be taken, in conse- 
 quence of a numerous emigration to Southern California within the past two years, 
 that it would be hazardous to undertake to specify the quantity of public land at 
 present subject to entry, as the next returns from the local officers may show the 
 amount considerably diminished. There is, however, an abundance of unoccupied 
 land of the best quality in each of the counties named, which, whether belonging 
 to the Government or in the hands of private owners, may be readily obtained at 
 very moderate prices, generally varying from $1 to $5 and upward per acre, ac- 
 cording to value. 
 
 Mexican GBA^fTS, Title, etc. 
 
 Lands in the hands of persons claiming under Mexican grants confirmed by the 
 United States, are perfect as to title. Lands claimed under grants not so confirm- 
 ed, seldom rate at a high figure ; and should the title subsequently fail, and the 
 lands be declared a part of the pubhc domain, the laws of the United States ex- 
 tend to parties in possession under conveyances from former grantees, a pre- 
 emption right to enter the land so occupied at the minimum price of $1.25 per acre, 
 so that in either event the settler will obtain the land at a very low price. Indeed, 
 at the present day no apprehension need be felt about the title of lands in Califor- 
 nia, as most of the old Mexican grants, valid and invalid, have passed through the 
 ordeal of judicial investigation, and have either been confirmed, or the lands claim- 
 ed declared part of the public domain ; and even if an occasional claim should be 
 met with not yet acted upon, the Acts of Congress make such liberal provision in 
 favor of bona fide settlers that no great injury can result in the event of such claim 
 proving invalid. 
 
 An emigrant from Europe, entirely unacquainted with the land system of the 
 United States, or the nature of titles in this country, and the mode of recording 
 them, might be liable to make a bad bargain, unless he fully informed himself. 
 But there are abundant opportunities of ascertaining the condition of the title of 
 every tract of land, and a person of ordinary prudence need not go amiss. 
 
 GOVEENMBNT LaNDS, ETC. 
 
 Government lands in California may be taken under the pre-emption or home- 
 stead laws, the entries being effected in the manner pointed out in the accompany- 
 ing circular from this office, dated March 10th, 1869. In the southern part of 
 the State these lands are mostly located to the eastward from the Coast Moun- 
 tains ; but there are, nevertheless, in the western portion of each of the above 
 named counties, small quantities of public land not yet occupied, which may be 
 entered at the District Land Office at San Francisco, excepting lands in Kern county, 
 which must be entered at Visalia, in Tulare county. 
 
 Good Lands. 
 It will be observed that the good lands of Southern California are found on the 
 Pacific, in the valleys and on the foot-hills of the Coast Mountains, extending in- 
 land from twenty-five to seventy five miles, embracing an area susceptible of cul- 
 5 
 
66 
 
 tivation and admirably adapted to horticulture, equal in extent to the State of 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 Climate, Pboductions, etc. 
 
 The climate of these valleys, some little distance from the coast, is not surpassed 
 in any portion of the world; the intense heat experienced in the arid plains 
 further to the east being modified here by an altitude of several thousand feet above 
 the level of the coast. Numerous streams of water floif through these valleys — 
 many of them permanent — furnishing the means of irrigating large bodies of land. 
 The grape vine flourishes here luxuriantly ; more than 6,000,000 being cultivated 
 in Los Angeles county alone, yielding one and a half million gallons of wine, and 
 more than one hundred thousand gallons of brandy, besides large quantities of 
 choice grapes for the San Francisco market. 
 
 The grape attains vigorous growth in almost every variety of soil, is remarka- 
 bly free from disease, and requires no irrigation. It flourishes as well in the foot- 
 hills and on the sides of the mountains as in the valleys, and produces a stock 
 strong enough to dispense with the necessity of stakes, thus greatly reducing the 
 amount of labor required in a vineyard. A vine is now growing in Santa Barbara 
 county twelve inches in diameter four feet from the ground. At six feet from the 
 ground the stem is divided, the branches extending in every direction, covering an 
 area of 10,000 square feet, and producing annually 12,000 pounds of grapes, in 
 bunches from fifteen to eighteen inches in length, averaging from six to seven 
 pounds each. This vine is of the old Mission grape, and was planted forty-three 
 years ago. 
 
 But the soil and climate of these valleys are equally well adapted to the growth 
 of the orange, lemon, lime, citron, fig, walnut, olive, banana, almond, filbert and 
 currant ; and wheat, barley, corn, potatoes, cotton, tobacco and sugar-cane thrive 
 well. In an orange grove of 2,000 trees, near Los Angeles, the annual crop aver- 
 ages 1,500 oranges to each tree, some of the trees producing as many as 4,000 
 each. The sides and summits of the mountains contain an abundance of pine, ce- 
 dar, hemlock, maple and oak ; and deposits of gold, silver, copper, tin, marble, 
 alabaster, asphaltum, petroleum, sulphur, salt and coal are numerous. 
 
 The Mulberbt and Silk. 
 
 Of late years large quantities of mulberry trees have been planted, and prepara- 
 tions are making to commence the rearing of silk-worms on an extensive scale, 
 experience having fully demonstrated the adaptability of the soil and climate of Cali- 
 fornia to the successful prosecution of this industry ; the number of trees set out 
 in different parts of the State being already about 4,000,000, and increasing every 
 year. Every variety of mulberry succeeds well, the tree attaining a growth in 
 three years equal to five years in Europe, and yielding leaves in much greater abun- 
 dance. The cocoons are remarkably exempt from disease, and are nearly one-third 
 larger than those of other countries. This fact has become so well known abroad 
 that a large foreign demand has grown up for the eggs of the California worm, and 
 orders from France, Belgium, Italy and Mexico are constantly being filled to so 
 large an extent as to threaten to retard the manufacture of silk for several years to 
 come. 
 
 Two crops of cocoons are raised in the year, in May and July, a season during 
 which the atmosphere of California is almost free from clouds, there being neither 
 thunder storms, wet noro'sld spells to check the progress of the cocoons, or to injure 
 
67 
 
 the mulberry leaf, such vicissitude being not only destructive of the health of the 
 worm, but fatal to the quality of the silk it produces. 
 
 The extraordinary advantages of the climate and soil of California for the success- 
 ful prosecution of the two important industries of wine and silk manufacture, are 
 already attracting a large immigration from the localities in Europe, where these 
 branches form leading industries ; and with such advantages in favor of these pur- 
 suits as exists here, they cannot fail to be carried on upon an extensive scale within 
 the lifetime of many already advanced in years. The counties in the southern part 
 of the State, in which the cultivation of the mulberry has been entered upon are 
 Los Angeles, Santa Clara, and Santa Barbara ; but many of the valleys and 
 side hills of the remaining four counties are equally well adapted, and need only an 
 enterprising population to develope their wonderful capacities. 
 
 The State of California, with the view of establishing the business of silk mak- 
 ing as one of its fixed pursuits, offers a premium of $250 for every 5,000 mulberry 
 trees, to be paid when they are two years old, and a premium of $300 for every 
 100,000 cocoons. 
 
 Extent, Cultivation, etc. 
 
 Of the 4,000,000 or 5,000,000 acres in Southern California adapted to the vine 
 and the mulberry tree, and a great variety of serai-tropical fruits, not much over 
 100,000 acres are thus cultivated — probably not that quantity ; and although that 
 region is capable of accommodating and comfortably supporting a population of 
 1,500,000, its present population falls short of 40,000. 
 
 Wine and Beandt — Unoccupied Lands — A Successful Colony. 
 
 Hundreds of thousands of acres of the finest lands, blest with a climate equal to 
 that of the fairest portions of Italy, are held in extensive tracts under Jlexican 
 grants, and are either entirely unoccupied or devoted to grazing ; the proprietors, 
 however, manifesting a, willingness to subdivide and sell their claims as rapidly as the 
 increase of settlers creates a demand for the same. As an illustration of what may 
 be accomplished by an enterprising colony of settlers, the village of Anaheim, in 
 Los Angeles county, may be referred to. In the summer of 1857, a company of 
 Germans acquainted with grape culture bought 1,265 acres of land in the valley of 
 the Santa Ana river, at $2 per acre, dividing it into fifty rectangular lots of twenty 
 acres each, with streets between them, and subdividing the residue into sixty town 
 lots — one for each of the proprietors, and ten for public purposes. The lots were 
 all fenced with willows, sycamore and poplars, and about ten acres of each planted 
 with vines. At present there are over 1,000,000 vines growing in this village- 
 most of which are in bearing— already producing annually over 400,000 gallons of 
 wine and some 10,000 gallons of brandy. Of the various kinds of fruit trees, 
 there are more than 10,000. Every one of the fifty lots contains u, comfortable 
 homestead, and the village has a population of about 400, with a good public school, 
 several stores, and a post-ofiice in the town. Each of these lots is worth at the 
 present time fully $10,000, and is continually increasing in value. The history of 
 Anaheim demonstrates the advantage of settlements by colonies. Had each of the 
 original fifty settlers of the village located by himself, cut off from the encouraging 
 sympathy and mutual counsel of congenial neighbors, it is doubtful whether success 
 would have crowned the efforts of one-fourth of their number ; but, adopting the 
 colony plan, they have in twelve years advanced to a condition not only of comfort, 
 but of comparative wealth. 
 
68 
 
 There are many opportunities, not only in the county of Los Angeles, but in each 
 of the others named above, and, in fact, in nearly every county in California, to 
 repeat the experiment of the Anaheim settlement, under circumstances even more 
 favorable than existed in that case. 
 
 Since 1857, the character of California as one of the best wine-producing coun- 
 tries in the world has been fully established; many foreign varieties of grape have 
 been tested ; and much that twelve years ago rested upon uncertainties has been 
 established by repeated experiments ; in addition to which the great continental 
 railway from the Atlantic to the Pacific has been completed, opening a market for 
 the products of the California vineyards. 
 
 All these advantages, that did not exist when Anaheim was founded, will render 
 the trials of similar colonies much less severe. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 JOS. S. WILSON, Commissioner. 
 
 Choice Lands on the Market. 
 
 In following up the information and advice of Commissioner 
 Wilson, we can hardly do the public abetter service than to indi- 
 cate a few of the large landed estates in Los Angeles and San 
 Diego counties, uow being offered by the proprietors on very easy 
 terms. 
 
 First we have the magnificent body of land formerly consti- 
 tuting the several ranches owned by Abel Stearns, now the 
 property of Northam, Polhemus and Martin, who have had the 
 same surveyed into townships, sections and the various sub- 
 divisions of a section, with a view to accommodate all classes of 
 purchasers. This tract of land lies but six miles east from the 
 San Pedro and Los Angeles Eailroad ; ten miles east from the 
 port of Wilmington ; twelve southeast from Los Angeles City, 
 and one mile in a northerly direction from Anaheim Landino-, 
 where steamers regularly deliver and receive cargo. The river 
 San Gabriel runs along the west and the Santa Ana along the 
 east side of this tract, the Pacific Oceau forming its southern front. 
 
 The Santa Gertrudes Land Association, McLean and Hardy of 
 San Francisco, Agents, are also offering a body of fine lands for 
 sale in quantity and upon terms to suit purchasers. This tract, 
 originally the Eanclio Gertrudes, embracing an area of 25,000 
 acres, of which nearly one-half is now improved and under culti- 
 vation, lies about ten miles southeast of the City of Los Ano-eles, 
 in the direction of the flourishing German settlement of Anaheim. 
 It is divided into "mesa" or table lands, and alluvial or bottom 
 lands. An option is thus given purchasers to select a farm from 
 either class of laud, or, if they desire, secure a portion of each iu 
 
69 
 
 one tract. The uncultivated table lands are covered with wild 
 crops of burr clover and mustard, indicating depth and fertility 
 of St 11 ; Avhile the improved lands of this class produce large 
 crops of wheat, barley and rye, and fair crops of corn. The wild 
 bottom lands teem with an almost tropical luxuriance; avhile 
 thousands of acres have lately been covered with cornfields, 
 yielding one hundred bushels to the acre. One may ride for 
 miles through fields where the corn-stalks on either hand will 
 average twelve feet in height. 
 
 The peculiar advantages claimed for this tract of land, over 
 others, are the following: 
 
 The Bailroad from Wilmington to Los Angeles passes within 
 two miles of the western line of the Eaucho, with a Depot at the 
 nearest point. 
 
 The Stage and County Road from Los Angeles to Anaheim 
 passes across the Rancho, and the Ocean landing is only twelve 
 miles distant. 
 
 A portion of the Rancho has already been sold and cut up into 
 farms, now occupied by enterprising and prosperous families. The 
 large crops this year raised, demonstrate the fertility of the soil ; 
 while a purchaser here has the advantages connected with neigh- 
 borhood and society. An acre of land has been donated, and a 
 public School House erected. 
 
 The bottom lands are moist and never suffer from drought, 
 while the mesa or table lands afiVjrd good water ever^nvhere, at 
 depths varying from fifteen to thirty feet. Every part of this 
 tract can be irrigated by water brought in ditches from the San 
 Gabriel river running across it. All that has been said in Com- 
 missioner Wilson's letter concerning diversity of products, fertility 
 of soil and a genial and healthful climate, applies with special 
 force to the two tracts of land just mentioned ; the productive 
 capacity of the soil being as great and their situation in every 
 respect as favorable as any other portion of Los Angeles Count3^ 
 
 San Diego County, 
 
 As well as Los Angeles, has for the past year or two been a strong 
 point of attraction ; the commencement of a railroad on the ex- 
 treme southern route having recently'- given a strong, impulse to 
 emigration that way. It has also been discovered the past few 
 years that the soil and climate in this portion of the State are well 
 adapted to every branch of agriculture, the raising of both fruits 
 
70 
 
 and grain having been engaged in latterly with great success. 
 Large sections of country, formerly supposed to be fit only for 
 grazing purposes, have been found on trial to be good wheat lands, 
 and there is little doubt but that this cereal will soon become one of 
 the staples of this county. Under this new order of things the 
 town of San Diego has advanced rapidly, communication with San 
 Francisco and other points on the coast having kept pace with this 
 growth of trade and population ; and rapid as this increase has 
 been of late, it seems probable that San Diego, with the prospect 
 of a railroad across the continent, making this its western terminus, 
 has just entered upon a long career of prosperity and progress. 
 With a vast extent of back country, rich in every variety of minei'al, 
 and a fine agricultural region more immediately around it; with a 
 climate unsurpassed for its equableness and salubrity, and a harbor 
 scarcely inferior to any other on the coast, it can hardly fail to 
 grow in commercial importance and advance with rapid strides in 
 the future. 
 
 What has tended strongly to attract settlers to that quarter has 
 been the liberal spirit manifested towards this class both by the 
 town and large landed proprietors, who have generously made 
 great sacrifices in the interests of emigrants seeking to settle per- 
 manently amongst them. In no part of the State has a more liberal 
 policy been pursued towards those desirous of locating in their 
 midst than by the leading citizens of San Diego. 
 
 Our Eaileoads. 
 
 In railroad construction otir State is making rapid progress; 
 there being, besides some 600 miles completed and in operation, 
 about 500 miles now in course of building, with a much greater 
 extent projected, a large portion of which will no doubt be com- 
 pleted in the early future. The most extensive and important 
 lines of road now finished, and in operation in the State, are the 
 Central Pacific, the Western Pacific and the California Pacific. 
 The first named reaches from Sacramento City to the eastern 
 boundary of the State, a distance of 640 miles; the second from 
 Sacramento to San Francisco, by way of Stockton, its entire length 
 being 138 miles. This road, but recently completed, is now doing 
 a fair amount of business, Avith the prospect of a steady and per- 
 manent increase. 
 
Distances from San Francisco. .. 
 
 Vh//r/o .':. ...'.., ..,^ ..*:.. . 23 
 
 .'ifr^:rn/n/vtta ......._...«..,...,. . . . ^2S 
 
 'ctJ-ysvilie .., .. - i&o 
 
 FroTTi. Vft//r/n fn Sarrfrmt;nfJ> » .„ .^a.^ .- . f»0 
 
 , , .VfJt//c/ofa Ma^ysviei^^. ..... . SS 
 
 . > ■ . t^rj/Zr/o to Of/fs/yj^cr- </2 
 
 ^ ' " Sarraj?,/'M/a ma C.f/?.M. to N.K , . . 30OO 
 
 -' ■• JWarysvillc' to OrovUlc' '' 30 
 
 ^or/vSfzn.jP}'ezri£iLsco to Sr7n^/fjx& .:.,...... m » . -•- ^^^ 
 
 SfncAtoiv , , ... . /i*.^' 
 
 Sac-rtj^/f^nto .......... .- /7S 
 
 P'f'a Off/(/c/i7r/ tn SfX.crfrj7iyn/o . /3S 
 
 Frorn. SAN FRANCISCO Vt-a VALLEJO f^J Sa-Crar/fryi.fo S3 
 
 Showing Its mlauve position' 
 to other RailRoads. 
 
 thisJhinjiiHiMt&r f^F IffsUrri T'-Z-fntni/S 
 ortJ'e./'ttci/ic /{uii/ioaxl,o!fu/ tJ'*: S'ouffi 
 ■crtt.Term.uiMsoflfii^Orrgon,2iailItoad~ 
 
 UOi Brftran & Her. 3.7. 
 
 =!^ 
 
72 
 The California Pacific Eaileoad. 
 The initial point of this road is at the deep waters of Vallejo 
 Bay, one-half mile above its confluence with the Straits of Car- 
 quinez, opposite the Mare Island Navy Yard. From this point 
 the road extends through Solano, Napa, and Yolo Counties to the 
 City of Sacramento ; the entire length of this branch being a little 
 less than sixty miles. The terminus of the road on Vallejo Bay 
 is but twenty-six miles from the Pacific Ocean, and twenty-two 
 miles from San Francisco, with every facility for capacious and 
 abundant wharves, with waters navigable at all stages of tide and 
 wind for the largest ocean steamers and sailing vessels. From 
 Vallejo Bay the road passes through the Suscol Valley, near the 
 base of the mountains separating it from Suisun Bay and Green 
 Valley. At a point nearly seven miles from the terminus, a junc- 
 tion has been effected with the Napa Valley Eailroad, which ex- 
 tends for upwards of forty miles through one of the finest wheat- 
 growing sections of the State. From this point the road follows 
 the Suscol'Canon, or Valley, now under cultivation, from its bottom 
 lands nearly to the crest of the mountains on either side. It as- 
 cends the canon with an average grade of about sixty-six feet to 
 the mile, with curves of large radius, reaching the summit at a 
 low pass through the mountains, the elevation of which is but 
 305 feet above tide water. Thence it follows the southerly slope 
 of Jamison Canon to Green Valley with light curves and an easy 
 grade, to the town of Bridgeport, on Cordelia Creek, and thence 
 through Cordelia ridge to Fairfield, and into Suisun Valley. 
 Traversing this most fertile and highly cultivated region, the road 
 turns the point of Vaca Hills, passing through a low gap at an 
 elevation of only 92 feet above high tide, into the Sacramento 
 Valley, prpceeding by an air line of nineteen miles in length 
 through Sacramento Valley to Davis' Junction on Putah Creek, 
 thirteen and a half miles from Sacramento, crossing a farming 
 country of great agricidtural wealth, largely under cultivation 
 and well watered by Uhttes, Sweeny, and Putah creeks. From 
 this point the road passes over four miles of tule lands of firm 
 bottom, and nine and one-half miles across a fertile and well cul- 
 tivated farming country to the Sacramento River ; where, by a 
 bridge eight hundred feet in length, jt crosses the river into the 
 city of Sacramento to the junction with the Central Pacific rail- 
 road. Leaving Davis' Junction the road branches off, crossing the 
 Sacramento river at Knight's Landing and terminating at Marys- 
 ville. Besides large sections of country further south and east, 
 
C' 
 
 X -.u-***' 'i .'4' ' 
 
 
 t'-^5% 
 
 ^ JTJ 
 
 LS. 
 
 Hydraulic Mining, Dutch Flat, Placer Co. 
 
7.3 
 
 the region more iratnediately tributary to this road, is comprised of 
 Solano, Sutter, Napa, Lake, Yuba, Sacramento, Colusa, Butte, and 
 Placer counties, which have now a joint population of 100,000, 
 their aggregate product annually being 6,000,000 bushels of 
 wheat ; 7,000,000 bushels of barley ; 300,000 bushels of corn ; 
 400,000 bushels of oats ; 500,000 bushels of potatoes ; 200,000 
 tous of hay ; 400,000 pounds of butter, and half as much cheese, 
 together with more than 1,000,000 pounds of wool. Besides the 
 foregoing articles, large quantities of wood, fruit and other com- 
 modities are shipped over this road, the local traffic upon which 
 has also been large since the opening of the road, early in 1869. 
 
 The Napa Valley railroad is a valuable feeder of the California 
 Pacific road, bringing down and passing over it vast quantities of 
 agricultural products and a very heavy travel. 
 
 From the Napa Junction also, a railroad is projected to the 
 Russian River Valley, passing through Sonoma county, now cele- 
 brated for its grape culture and wine manufacture, Santa Rosa 
 Valley, producing enormous quantities of wheat, to the fertile 
 and heavily timbe]'ed Russian River Valley, thereby diverting to 
 this road a local business which has alone built up the thriving 
 city of Petaluma. 
 
 The Central Pacific Railroad, and the Sacramento Valley Railroad 
 from Sacramento, and the Oregon railroad by way of Oroville and 
 Shasta, from Marysville, must also serve as feeders to this route. 
 Each of the former roads are now in operation, the latter being in 
 process of rapid construction. 
 
 The California Pacific Railroad Company have a swift and com- 
 modius steamer plying between Vallejo and San Francisco in con- 
 nection with trains upon their road. The branch of their road 
 extending to Marysville is now being built and will be in operation 
 in the course of a few months. The construction of the California 
 and Oregon road, which will be practically a contiuuation of the 
 California Pacific road, is being pushed ahead with all the energy 
 that has distinguished the Central Pacific Railroad Company, who 
 now have that work in hand. 
 
 Our Mineral Wealth. 
 But not only as regards the superiority of its climate and the 
 wide range of its vegetable productions, but also in the matter of 
 its mineral wealth does California offer strong inducements to 
 immigration. It is true the yield of its placers has been greatly 
 curtailed, yet quartz mining affords excellent opportunities for 
 
74 
 
 the employment of labor and the investment of capital, California 
 is also pre-eminently prolific in the useful metals, between which 
 and the mining for gold and silver it is believed that this branch 
 of industry is on the eve of a more prosperous era than it has 
 ever yet experienced on this coast. Between cheapened labor, 
 improved processes and machinery, greater experience in the 
 business and the extent of the mineral discovery constantly going 
 on, there is everything to warrant this conclusion. The ores are 
 now being raised and reduced with far greater economy than at 
 first, a much larger percentage of the metal being at the same 
 time saved; while explorations are continually being pushed into 
 new reo-ions and almost invariably with success. Among the 
 more recent fields opened up to mining enterprise, is the region 
 embracing south-eastern California and western Arizona, a belt 
 of country abounding in both the useful acid precious metals. A 
 most notable discovery of copper and silver ores has lately been 
 made in that quarter, the finder being the indefatigable explorer 
 and prospector, Captain John Moss. The locality of this mine 
 is in the northern part of San Bernardino County, California. 
 The discovery was made in the latter part of July, 1869, since 
 which time some samples of the ore, brought to San Francisco, 
 have by their puritj'and wonderful richness excited much inquiry 
 as to the character of the deposit and other particulars connected 
 with the locality where they were obtained. The ore belongs to 
 the red oxyd variety, containing a large proportion of native metal 
 and about $60 to the ton in silver and gold and assaying 80 percent 
 copper. The lode is one of great dimensions, being clearly tracea- 
 ble by its outcrop for several thousand feet, and carrying at its 
 point of greatest developement a mass of ore thought to be more 
 than 200 feet wide for a linear distance of 800 feet. Along this 
 portion of the vein a concentrated stratum of rich ore, having 
 an average width of 30 feet, is said to exist. If subsequent ex- 
 plorations and a more thorough development of this lode should 
 verify these statements, it will prove one of the most valuable 
 deposits of the kind ever made in this, or perhaps any other 
 country. Numerous veins carrj'ing similar ores exist in this sec- 
 tion of country, but none of such magnitude or apparent value as 
 that mentioned. Owing to the highly metalliferous character of 
 the surrounding region, two mining districts have been organized 
 there, the one named the Clark and the other the Yellow Pine 
 District. They are well supplied with wood and water ; the 
 country abounding with springs and small streams and being cov- 
 
15 
 
 ered with a scattered growth of balsam, pinon, and the yellow 
 and sugar pine; the trees of the two last mentioned species of 
 pine growing to a large size, some of them being six feet in diam- 
 eter and cutting up from six to eight saw logs. As a consequence, 
 fuel and lumber of a superior quality must always be cheap and 
 abundant m this region. The soil in man}' places is excellent, 
 growing the native grasses in the greatest luxuriance and being 
 capable of producing good crops of the cereals and all kinds of 
 fruits, plants and vegetables. The climate is delightful and one 
 of the most salubrious anywhere to be found. During the sum- 
 mer, rain falls about three times a week, tempering the atmosphere 
 and keeping the vegelation from drying up, as happens in most 
 other parts of California. The winters are mild, with but little 
 snow except on the higher mountains. Stock thrives well, requir- 
 ing neither fodder nor shelter throughout the year. 
 
 The country about these mines is inhabited by a small tribe of 
 Indians belonging to the Southern Piute Famil}'. They number 
 only about 200, and are a peaceable and inotfensive race; and 
 being disposed to habits of industry, could easily be made highly 
 serviceable to the whites. They make their camps about the 
 watering places and subsist mainly upon pine nuts, roots, seeds, 
 and such small game as the country affords. The wiiite 
 population, amounting to about 100, are all residents of the Yel- 
 low Pine District, there being as yet no permanent settlers in the 
 Clark District. 
 
 The principal mine just described, named the "Copper World," 
 from the vast amount of that metal it contains, is situated about 
 60 miles N. N. W. of Fort Mohave and 40 west from the Coloi-ado 
 Eiver, which stream is navigable for some distance above the 
 mines. The latter are about twenty miles from the main wagon 
 road leading from Los Angeles to Salt Lake, and but a short dis- 
 tance from the line of the railroad now in course of construction 
 from Stockton to the Colorado Eiver by the wealthy and energetic 
 company that built the Central Pacific Railroad. A large force of 
 hands is now employed on that portion of this route extending 
 from Stockton to Visalia, it being the intention of the company, as 
 soon as this division is completed, to push the work forward with 
 a greatly augmented force and all the means at their command. 
 Immense quantities of material for this section of the road have 
 already been accumulated, and it is confidently expected that San 
 Francisco will be put in communication with the navigable waters 
 of the Colorado within the next eighteen months at the farthest, 
 
76 
 
 affording a cheap and expeditious transit of ores from these mines 
 to the sea-board, as well as for getting supplies into that country. 
 That this road will be pushed forward not only to the Colorado 
 River, but south to the head of the Gulf of California, we ai^e 
 assured by the best authority. The increased facilities for trans- 
 portation by the completion of that enterprise may be counted 
 upon in estimating the future pi'ospects and value of these mines 
 and the country adjacent. There is now a good natural wagon 
 road from the mines to the Colorado River, supplying, in connec- 
 tion with that stream, means for shipping ores abroad at small 
 expense. 
 
 San Feanctsco. 
 
 Having thus briefly noticed some of the salient features and 
 more prominent industries of California, it is necessary to say a 
 word of the leading business institutions and improvements of San 
 Francisco, the metropolis of the State and great commercial em- 
 porium of the Pacific. But a little more than 20 years old, this 
 city now contains a population of 170,000 souls, while in foreign 
 trade and shipping it ranks third among the seaports of the Union. 
 For the past five or six years this city has grown rapidly, not only 
 extending its area but greatly improving in the stjde and character 
 of its buildings ; many of those recently erected vieing "with the 
 finest structures in Eastern cities. Our new Merchant's Exchange, 
 Mercantile Library, the Hayward Building, several of our 
 churches and hotels and various other public edifices compare 
 favorably with similar institutions in other large towns on the 
 Atlantic side of the continent, and are not inferior to those in the 
 leading cities of Europe. 
 
 Among our hotels 
 
 The Occidental, 
 
 as regards capacity, accommodations and management, stands 
 pre-eminent ; being not only the most extensive but the most 
 healthful, cheerful and well conducted establishment on the coast. 
 Five stories high, and facing upon three streets, the Occidental is 
 extremely well ventilated and lighted ; its broad and easy stair- 
 ways to the chambers and its spacious halls and corridors impart- 
 ■ ing to the entire place a grand and palatial appearance. The first 
 section of this house was completed in 1861, since which it has 
 been twice extended according to the original plan; it now having 
 a frontage of 275 feet on Montgomery, 137^ on Bush and 170 on 
 Sutter street. Facing on three great thoroughfares, and located 
 in the very heart of the city, the value of the land it occupied is 
 
17 
 
 very great — not less, perhaps, than $600,000. The cost of the 
 building, incliiciing the enlargement now in progress, -will be not 
 less than $400,000 ; cost of outfitting and furnishing being about 
 $250,000, making a total investment of $1,250,000. This house 
 contains over 400 separate rooms and apartments, having capacity 
 to accommodate nearly 600 guests. The building is one of the best 
 constructed in the city, every precaution having been taken to 
 render it proof against earthquakes and fires, from neither of 
 which has it ever sustained any injury. This property is owned 
 by Joseph A. Donohoe, and the estate of the late James Donahue; 
 the hotel being conducted in the interests of the proprietors. 
 
 Among the costly and noteworthy edifices lately completed in 
 San Francisco, the 
 
 Harpending Buildings, 
 a magnificent block upon Market street, opposite Sansome, are 
 the most conspicuous. They comprise a row of eight large ware- 
 hous.es, three stories high and 155 feet in length, extending through 
 from Market to Stevenson street, whereby they have each a double 
 frontage. Three stores of similar style adjoin these on the west, 
 making a row of eleven in all, with an aggregate frontage of 350 
 feet. They all rest on massive foundations, having been built 
 throughout in the most substantial manner. Each store has been 
 furnished with an elevator and all other modern improvements ; 
 and being in the vicinity of the new Montgomery street extension, 
 now nearly completed, this block will be likely to form the 
 nucleus of other important improvements, many large and elegant 
 buildings having lately been put up in this portion of the city. 
 
 Prominent among the 
 
 Fiscal Institutions 
 Of the city and State are the following : The Bank of Cali- 
 fornia, with a paid up capital of $5,000,000, gold, on which it has 
 paid, for several years past, regular monthly dividends of one per 
 cent, havino;, at the present time, a reserve fund of nearly one and 
 a half million dollars. Its list of ofiicers and stockholders embrace 
 some of our most wealthy and energetic citizens; the bank, as an 
 institution, having done much towards developing the resources 
 and building up the various industries of the State. 
 
 The London and San Feancisco Bank 
 Has a paid up capital in gold of $2,500,000 with authority to in- 
 crease to $5,000,000 and is deservedly esteemed one of the best 
 managed banking institutions of California, enjoying, in a high de- 
 gree, the confidence of the community. 
 
78 
 
 There are seven savings and loan societies in San Francisco, the 
 aggregate deposits in which amount to $25,000,000 ; the most of 
 which consists of the earnings of mechanics and other classes of 
 working people. 
 
 There are ten local insurance companies doing business in the 
 city, besides a large number of foreign agencies. Among these 
 the following are entitled to special mention because of the large 
 amount of business they transact or the reputation they have earned. 
 
 The Pacific Insurance Company, of San Francisco, through 
 their report for the year ending December 31st, 1869, make the fol- 
 lowing very favorable exhibit of their condition and transactions 
 up to that time; the estimates, as in all cases mentioned in this 
 work, being on a gold basis. 
 
 CAPITAL STOCK $1,000,000 00 
 
 Am't on hand in excess of Capita,!, available to pay Losses and Dividends.. 696,854 80 
 
 ASSETS. 
 
 Loans on first mortgages $562,486,61 
 
 Estimated value premises mortgaged $1,620,250 
 
 Estimated value of buildings on same 325, 600 
 
 Value of mortgaged premises 1,945,850 
 
 Buildings on premises insured for 326,300 
 
 Lonns on collateral 494,509 6& 
 
 The aggregate present market value of collaterals is 808,977 00 
 
 U. S. bonds, 6 per cent. 5.20'8, owned by the company, $160,000 150,000 00 
 
 Nevada State bonds — gold 60,000 00 
 
 Stock of the Capital Savings Bank 10,000 00 
 
 Cash on hand and in bank — fire and marine premiums uncollected — pre- 
 miums and balances in bands of foreign agents reported, but not paid — 
 
 interest accrued but not due, and same duo and unpaid 279,161 40 
 
 State and Federal stamps on hand 4,297 19 
 
 Real estate, company's property cor. California and Leidersdorf streets. . . 146,000 00 
 
 Total (Gold) $1,696,854 80 
 
 LIABILITIES. 
 Losses in process of adjustment $63,254 00 
 
 INCOME. 
 
 Premiums received for fire risks, less re-insurances and cancellations $652,217 40 
 
 Premiums received for marine risks, less re-insurances and cancellations.. 3S1,01.S 62 
 
 Interest received from all sources 140,025 52 
 
 Amount received from rents 10,967 00 
 
 $1,1S4,22.S 54 
 
 DISBURSEMENTS. ' 
 
 Amount paid for fire losses $353,237 26 
 
 Amount paid for marine losses 241,374 87 
 
 Salaries of officers, attorneys and employees 56,619 96 
 
 Paid for commissions to agents 108,765 57 
 
 State and Federal laxea 42,045 63 
 
 Advertising, Stationery, office, agency expenses, and all other payments.. 117,560 79 
 
 Dividends paid stockholders ■ 120,000 00 
 
 $1,039,594 08 
 
 Not amount fire risks written during the year, ending June 30th, 1869 $57,542,288 00 
 
 Net amount marine risks written during the year do do do 30,234,689 00 
 
 Amount fire risks in force .Inne 30, 1869 $37,370,319 00 
 
 Amount marine risks in force June 30, 1869 3,111,361,00 
 
79 
 
 Among the stockholders of this company, are some of our 
 heaviest capitalists, and most conservative business men, the insti- 
 tution being considered eminently safe and reliable. 
 
 The Pacific Mutual Life Insueance Co. of California 
 Is another of our sound and weW conducted institutions, having 
 at its head some of the best financial men in the State. With 
 prudent and economical management it has succeeded in gaining 
 the confidence and favor of the public and is now rivaling older 
 companies. 
 
 By the laws of California, to guard the policy holder from any 
 possibility of loss, the company could not go into operation Avith- 
 out a paid up capital of $100,000 in gold; and to further protect 
 the interests of both the policy holder and the company, the Legis- 
 lature provided that all policies issued by this company', should 
 be exempt from execution where the annual premium did not 
 exceed $500. It said to the poor man, "if by your industry and 
 frugality you will save enough each year to provide for jour 
 family by a policy of life insurance, the State will garantee to you 
 that no one shall deprive your family of its benefits at your death." 
 
 The Pacific Mutual Life is not purely a local company, how- 
 ever, and the managers, as fast as possible, are extending its busi- 
 ness to the Atlantic and Western States and to Europe; the 
 advantages offered and the high rate of interest received in Cali- 
 fornia for investments, having attracted considerable attention 
 abroad. i 
 
 As the rates of interest are greater in California than in other 
 States, or Europe, the profits and dividends accruing to the 
 insured will be proportiouably increased. The assets of this com- 
 pany at the close of 1869 amounted to nearly $700,000. 
 
 AcaoENT Assurance. • 
 
 The business of assurance against accident, though a compara- 
 tively new one in this country, has been practiced for years in 
 Europe. The first company having in view the specific object of 
 insuring against bodily injury or accidental death, was established 
 in England, by act of Parliament, in the year 1848. A second 
 one, with similar powers, was established in the following year. 
 From small beginnings, the oldest of these companies has grown 
 iu business and extent, till now its capital is £l,000,00u. 
 
80 
 
 Although in previous years several charters were obtained, 
 contemplating a similar business, the first company of this descrip- 
 tion organized and doing a successful business in the United States 
 is the Travelers' Insurance Co. of Hartford, incorporated under 
 a charter granted by the Connecticut Legislature of 1863. It 
 commenced active operations in 1864, having waited to secure 
 some important amendments to its charter by the Legislature of 
 that State. During five years of successful business, it has written 
 200,000 accident policies, and disbursed more than $1,000,000 in 
 losses. Its cash assets, July 1st, 1869, amounted to $1,250,000. 
 Towards the close of 1864, the Travelers established a branch 
 office in San Francisco under the management of Mr. K. H. Magil, 
 and during the past five years, a large and profitable business has 
 been transacted, the completion of the overland railroad, by 
 inducing greater travel, having given it a fresh impetus. The 
 present office of the company in this city is at 424 California st. 
 Mr. Arthur E. Magil, manager. 
 
 Among the foreign insurance companies making an early advent 
 to California, the Phenix, of Hartford, Conn., deserves especial 
 mention. This company, under the management of Mr. E. H. 
 Magil, has, for the past twelve years, done a large business on this 
 coast, promptly complying, from time to time, with the laws en- 
 acted by the State. Associated with the Phenix is the well known 
 Home Insurance Company, of New York. The ability of these 
 companies to carry the heaviest lines is indicated by their assets 
 July 1st, 1869, which then amounted to $5,817,142. Their ag- 
 gregate losses paid to insurers on the Pacific Coast have exceeded 
 $500,000. 
 
 The Nofth American Life Insurance Co., incorporated in 1862, 
 with a capital of $100,000, is now purely mutual; the subscription 
 of this capital being at first compulsory in order to comply with 
 the State law, requiring a deposit of that amount with the Insur- 
 ance Department, has since been retired. The present general 
 agent for the Pacific Coast, Mr. J. A. Eaton, commenced business 
 in San Francisco early in 1865 ; seven foreigu life insurance com- 
 panies were then doing business in this citj-, and now there are 
 fifty. Since the establishment of the Pacific branch, claims against 
 the company by the death of persons insured here have amounted 
 to $113,000, while the premiums paid by the deceased did not 
 exceed $13,000. All policies issued by this company are guaran- 
 teed by the State of New York. 
 
OF SAN FRANCISCO. 
 
 Cash Assets in Grold, December 30, 1869, - $1,698,854.80. 
 
 JONATHAN HUNT, President. WILLIAM ALVOED, Vice President. 
 
 ( A. J. RALSTON, Secretary. 
 
 The Directors and Stockholders of this Company are among the leading business men of the 
 Faclflo coast and some of the Atlantic cities. 
 
 By the laws of the State of California, the Stockholders are made Individually liable for the 
 debts of the Company, This feature has always secured the greatest possible care on the part of 
 its officers In conducting the business. Consequently, the actual responsibility of the Company is 
 nearly _ _ 
 
 THIUTT MIZ.LIOJVS OF S)OZZsl'RS ZJV GOZi) ! 
 
 The Company has on deposit, in the State of New York, 
 
 $200,000, for extra security of Policy Holders. 
 
 Executive and Advisory Committee in New York. 
 
 LOUIS McLANE, late Pres't Wells Fargo & Co. 
 FREDERICK BIIjLINGS, New York. 
 A. A. LOW, A. A. Low & Brother. 
 SETH B. HUNT, Hunt, Tillinshast & Co. 
 HOWARD POTTER, Brown Brothers & Co. 
 
 .1. LEES, L9es & Waller. 
 
 GEORGE OPDYKE, George Opdyke & Co. 
 
 JESSE SELTGM AN, J. & W. Sellgman . 
 
 J. G KELLOGG. New York. 
 
 MOSES ELLIS, Boston . 
 
 FRime, HARE & LOCKWOOD, Gen'i Agents, iVo. 202 Broadway, New York. 
 
 OHAELES A. LATON, Gen'l Agent, - -No. 130 La Salle Street, Chicago. 
 
 John T. Little, 
 
 AaRICULTUSAL LANS AND CIT7 
 
 ill M^tat© ®©®1@^, 
 
 No. 1 STEVENSON'S BUILDING, 
 
 S. W. Comer of CAZIFO^JVIA and MOJVTGOM£!'&r Sis., 
 
 Offers for Sale 308,000 Acres of FARHINC} liAND^, being the 
 choicest selection from the rich grain and fruit lands of the beautiful San Joaquin- 
 Valley, and within four hours of San Francisco by the railroad now being. built.; 
 
 These Lands will be sold to immigrants in quantity from half a section' upward, 
 and on liberal credit. 
 
 Maps and Plans can be obtained at his Office. 
 
SJLIsr inj^^isTOISOO, 0-A.Ij. 
 
 The Occidental Hotel, haviDg been recently re-furnished and improved, is now 
 in complete order in all its appointments. 
 
 TKAVELEPiS will innd the accommodations of the Occidental equal to those of 
 the best hotels of the Eastern States and Europe. 
 
 THE HOTEL contains four hundred rooms. The bedrooms and private parlors 
 are furnished in the most comfortable manner ; they are large, commodious and well 
 ventilated. 
 
 THE DINING-ROOM will scat about four hundred persons comfortably, and 
 for elegance, comfort and convenience, will compare favorably with any hotel dining- 
 room in the United States. 
 
 THE BILLIARD-EOOM is two hundred feet long by fifty feet wide, contains 
 thirteen Billiard-tables of the newest and most approved patterns. 
 
 THE BAR is always plentifully supplied with the choicest Wines and Liquors. 
 There arc connected with this establishment Bath-rooms, Steam Laundry, Bar- 
 ber's Shop, and all the other appointments usually found in a first-class hotel. 
 
 'ii 
 
 101 & 103 MONTGOMERY STREET, 
 
 Importers, Silversmiths and Manufacturers of every description of 
 
 Import all kinds of Precious Stones, Watches and Watch Materials ; cut and mount 
 Moss Agate and Gold-bearing Quartz, and sell them for less than they can be ob- 
 tained elsewhere. 
 
 Ship Goods per order to all parts of the United States. 
 
 Are sole agents on the Pacific Coast for the World's Fair Gold Medal First 
 Premium Watch, manufactured by Patek, Phillippe & Co., Geneva, Switzerland. 
 These Watches are the best time-keepers known to the trade. 
 
 Are also agents for the American Watch Co. of Waltham, Mass., and will fill all 
 orders as well as if sent direct to the factory. 
 
 Special attention given to the Repairing of Fine Watches.