USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 19
USA > California > Santa Barbara County > A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 19
USA > California > Ventura County > A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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These crimnes were of unspeakable detri- ment to San Luis Obispo County. A deputy United States surveyor was at the time en- gaged in surveying the public lands, and dividing them from those comprised in the Spanish grants, many choice locations thus being found available for settlement. Fur- ther, many of the old ranchos were changing hands. The San Simeon rancho had been sold to a Spanish gentleman named Pujol, a part of the San Geronimo to one Señor Castro, the Blackburns of Santa Cruz had gathered about them on the Paso Robles quite a colony of Americans, and the Frenchmen Borel and Baratie were cultivating the San Juan Capis- trano rancho when they met their untimely end. Naturally enough, the evil fame of these atrocities spread far and wide, and deterred from immigration many worthy people whose advent would have contributed greatly to the development of the section.
Opposite the priests' honse, in Monterey street, the padres had erected a whipping- post, whereon to punish refractory Indians. After the coming of the Americans, they still used it as a means of punishment, up to 1854 or 1855. It was made of stone, with a base two and one-half feet square, and four feet high, from which arose a cylindrical column,
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some eighteen inches in diameter, and six feet high, all well cemented and smooth. On the top wasa stone sun-dial, which marked the time for the padres, who were very scan- tily supplied with clocks and watchies.
It is stated that one sheriff here whipped a Mexican, for a heinous crime, so severely that the creature died in consequence.
As late as 1862 there was in San Luis no watchmaker, and all time-pieces to be repaired had to be taken to San Francisco.
In 1864 the Steele Brothers made a cheese eighteen inches thick, and over twenty feet in circumference, with a weight of 3,580 ponnds. They presented it to. the Sanitary Commission, who placed it on exhibition at the Mechanics' Institute Fair in San Fran- cisco, and then sold it for the benefit of sick and wounded soldiers, it bringing over $3,000.
In September, 1883, a fire at Corral de Piedra destroyed 260 tons of hay, and build- ings, harness, etc., to the amount of about $5,000, uninsured.
In October, 1883, was organized a local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
A fire at San Luis during this month burned portions of several buildings, includ- ing part of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, causing losses to the amount of $8,000.
In December, 1883, the town had a popu lation of over 3,500.
The unusually rainy season of 1883-'84 caused great damage here as elsewhere in Sonthern California; landslides, destruction of roads and bridges, and some loss of life en- sued from the excess of waters, with delayed mails and traffic incidental.
In Jannary, 1884, the community was much exercised over the murder of Francisco Correa, shot in a lonely spot. It was gen- erally supposed, and all the circumstantial evidence tended to prove, that lie was killed
by his step-son, José Correa; but, although the young man was taken into custody several times, it was found impossible to convict him.
In March, 1884, the sheriff, with a posse, captured a gang of counterfeiters and their mint, on San Bernardo Creek, they having been on the books of the anthorities for some time.
In the closing days of March, 1884, a severe hail-storm caused such deposits of frozen drops that a regular siege of snow-balling followed-a thing unprecedented in the ex- perience of many native born here.
In the spring of 1884 work was begun on the " Andrews " Hotel, the contract being for $62,497. The site was valued at $20,000, and other costs brought the value of the com- pleted building up to $100,000. The An- drews was in its day the largest California hotel outside of San Francisco, excepting the Del Monte. This large, fine, elegantly fur- nished structure stood near the conrt-house. It was the property of an incorporated com- pany, being named for Mr. J. P. Andrews, one of the syndicate, who was at that time president of the San Luis Obispo Bank. It contained 112 rooms. It was open to guests in June, 1885.
In July, 1884, was organized the Gentle- men's Social Club of San Luis Obispo, with forty members. The officers were: C. II. Phillips, president; Wm. L. Beebe, vice-presi- dent; J. A. Goodrich, secretary; J. P. An- drews, treasurer; J. M. Fillmore and R. E. Jack, directors.
In August, 1884, died on board the steamer Los Angeles, Judge W. J. Graves, of conges- tion of the brain, superinduced by over ex- ertion in reaching the steamer. Judge Graves, the recognized head of the bar of San Luis Obispo, was a pioneer, having arrived in California in 1849, and in 1852 in San Luis, where he had, with an interval of a few
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years, resided ever since. He was an ex- Assemblyman and ex-State Senator. Appro- priate resolutions of respect and regret were adopted by the local bar.
On September 27, 1884, Jeff Drake, who kept a saloon about four miles from the town, shot and mortally wounded in his bar-room one man, and wounded another so as to cause loss of one arm.
The flouring-mill was converted into a roller mill in September, 1884.
During 1884 about $8,000 worth (or from 30,000 to 40,000) of fruit trees were planted in the Estrella region.
Early in November, 1884, the Mission Dis- trict school-house was burned, a loss of $6,000, with $3,000 insurance. This was the second attempt by incendiaries within a few weeks to destroy the building, in which burned many valuable books, records, etc.
Of the Southern California counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo, this county in 1884 stood first in the yield of wheat and oats, the average yield there being twenty-four and sixty bushels respectively to the acre; and in the yield of barley second, with an average product of thirty-six bushels to the acre.
In 1884 San Luis County contained twelve road districts, six judicial townships, and five supervisional districts.
In the spring of 1885 the fine new steamer Santa Rosa was put on the service of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company.
On the night of Tuesday, January 13, 1885, a fire destroyed the costly and elegantly fur- nished residence of Mr. Ed. Smith, in the Los Tablas Valley, the net loss being about $15,000.
In the early part of July, 1885, two men were killed and four wounded on the Estrella plains, in a shooting affray growing out of an old feud.
On August 16, 1885, Dr. J. P. Mooklar shot and killed Robert C. Lowrie at San Mignel, in a quarrel while under the influ- ence of liquor. This was one of the causes célébres of the county.
In November, 1885, occurred the phenom- enal storm wherein eleven inches of rain fell, of which nine inches came within twelve hours. Through the washing away of roads and bridges, the railroad, breaking of telegraph lines, and stoppage of travel, traffic and the mails, damages were done amounting, in the city alone, to some $20,- 000. About 200 feet of Pizmo wharf was washed away by the breakers.
In December, 1885, the population of San Luis County was estimated at 17,500; of the city, 3,000; and of the school district of San Lnis, 3,500. The rate of taxation for State and county was $1.50. and for city purposes $0 50.
During 1885 260 passengers came from Los Angeles to Port Harford by steamer.
San Luis County in 1885 stood twenty- second in school rank among the fifty-two counties of the State, and received from the State School Fund $4,807.84.
In 1885 there were collected and paid to the county treasurer of San Luis Obispo, $147,536.50.
In 1885 an ice factory was constructed at San Luis Obispo.
In 1885 the Methodist congregation made various additions and improvements to their church edifice, at a cost of about $1,000.
The Young Men's Home Association was organized in 1885.
The postmaster's annual report for 1885 showed a total of 2,959 registered pieces handled, the gross receipts of the office being $2,746.61.
In January, 1886, the new mission school- house was completed, to replace the structure burned in October, 1883.
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On March 19, 1886, died Charlotte L., wife of Myron Angel, the well-known jour- nalist and author of San Luis Obispo. Her funeral was most largely attended.
On March 31, 1886, Peter Hemnie, a resi- dent of the county since 1851, and his eighteen-year-old son, shot and killed, in their garden at Arroyo Grande, Eugene Walker and his wife. The cause was a sense of injury over the deprivation of a small piece of land which Hemnie had fenced in as part of his pre-emption claims, but which had been patented by Walker. The citizens of the outraged community that night formed a party, took the murderers from custody and hanged them from the timbers of the railroad bridge.
On Sunday, April 18, 1886, the Andrews Hotel caught fire from a defective joint in a terra cotta chimney, and in less than three hours it was but a mass of embers. The loss in the hotel alone was $75,000, and in its furniture $20,000; no insurance. The flames were communicated to neighboring buildings, with the result of losses as follows: San Luis Obispo Bank building, value $35,- 000, insured for $10,000; brick building ad- joining, belonging to the bank, $10,000, in- sured for $5,000; postoffice, belonging to the bank, $1,000; Payne & McLeod's livery stable, $1,200. Other losses to individuals, guests, employés, etr,, brought the aggre- gate up to at least $1,600,00, with $19,000 insurance. The court-house, over 100 yards distant, caught fire, and was saved only by prompt and great exertions, as was also the case with the flouring-mill of Steele & Wheelan. The buoyant citizens, within twenty-four hours of the burning, had raised $31,050 toward the building of a $200,000 successor.
On July 5, 1886, another large fire, cansed by the celebration pyrotechnics, consumed
$10,550 worth of property, which breakages, thefts, etc., increased to a grand total of $15,150; insurance, $3,700.
In August, 1886, a Kindergarten was opened in San Luis Obispo.
In 1886 there were collected and paid to San Luis Obispo's county treasurer $150,- 125.28 of taxes.
A board of trade, organized in February, 1887, expired after about two years' dura- tion.
In February, 1887, an insane man named Dougherty, who had been at large some time, being well known in the county, set out run- ning amuck with the avowed intention to kill his wife and other persons, and he was shot down by armed citizens as a protective measure.
In 1887 "the boom " struck San Luis Obispo, and in the week from March 11 to 17 the prices of real estate advanced fifty per cent., in many cases 100 per cent. Build- ing received an impetus.
In the spring of 1888 the steamer Queen of the Pacific sunk at Port Harford, owing to the entrance of water through an open deadlight in a side compartment of the hold. She was raised within a few days, and re- stored to service.
The year 1888 witnessed the construction of a handsome hall of records, built in an elegant, modern style of architecture, at a cost of $14,000.
It was also during this " boom" period that arrangements were made with the noted engineer, Colonel George Waring, to make plans for a system of sewage. To this pur- pose he visited the town and made the plans, at a cost of $800 to the municipality. The city was surveyed, but no further movement was taken in the matter. The fulfillment of the plans would have required an expendi- ture of $150,000, for which it was purposed
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to vote bonds of the city. The question has not yet been submitted to the people.
The report of the county school superin- tendent, rendered in June, 1888, showed the county to contain 4,149 census children; total number enrolled in publie schools, 3,249; average daily attendance, 1,797; aver- age number belonging, 1,958. There were eighty-six school districts, and 100 teachers, who received an average salary of $73 for the men, and $62.50 for the women. There were received from all sources for school purposes $94,476.74.
Owing to the lowered rates on imported ice, the iceworks was sold, and the plant re- moved, December, 1889.
The school census report of June 30, 1889, showed a total of 4,402 census children in the county; a total enrollinent of 3,510; an average of 2,284 belonging; and an average daily attendance of 2,097. There were now 105 teachers, supplying eighty-nine districts. The average salary for meu was $75, and for women $62.50. The total receipts for school purposes was $79,869.84.
The assessment roll for 1889 was made up as follows: Real estate, $9,068,636; im- provements on same, $725,564; city lots, $1,316,108; improvements on same, $677,- 566; improvements on land of others, $84,- 891; mining claims and improvements, $1,825; money and credits, $97,215; telegraph and phone lines, $9,922; personal property, $2,358,429; total, $14,340,256.
This increase of about $600,000 over the roll of the preceding year was not due to the increase of values, but to the addition to the roll of about 60,000 of pre-empted lands, etc.
The acreage of wheat this year was 96,385; oats, 4,246; barley, 48,360; corn, 765; hay, 25,780; acres table grapes, 432; wine grapes, 426; number vines, 514,835; number fruit trees, 38,325.
The tax levy for 1889-'90 for State and county purposes is $1.42 on the $100.
In Jannary, 1890, natural gas was discov . ered on the Tar Spring Rancho. As yet, it has not been developed.
The total rainfall from October 8, 1889, to May 11, 1890, was 38.71 inches, a very un- usual quantity.
The auditor's report, at the close of the last fiscal year, June 30, 1890, showed the county's money to stand as follows:
Gold $28,274.00
Silver 3,594.84
Currency 5,658.37
County Warrants paid during the month. 108.75
Certificates of Deposit 25,000.00
Total. $62,635.96
LAND GRANTS.
The land grants in San Luis Obispo County, according to geographical position, ranging from north to south, are as follows:
Piedra Blanca, eleven leagues; grantee and confirmec, José de Jesus Pico; surveyed and finally confirmed by natural boundaries; pat- ented October 9, 1876, for 48,805.59 acres. Subsequent owners, Juan Castro, heirs of Mariano Pacheco, Peter Gillis, George Hearst, and others.
San Simeon. One leagne. Grantee, José Ramon Estrada; confirmee, Jose Miguel Gomez. Patented April 1, 1865. Contains 4,468.81 acres.
Santa Rosa. Three leagues. Grantee and confirmee, Julian Estrada. Survey includes 13,183.62 acres. Patented March 18, 1865.
Sun Geronimo. Two leagues. Grantee and confirmee, Rafael Villavicencio. Patented July 10, 1876, and then surveyed; 8,893.35 acres.
Morro y Cayucos. Grantees, Martin Oli- vera and Vicente Feliz. Confirmee, James Mckinley. Patented January 19, 1878, and
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surveyed; 8,845.49 acres. Subdivided and sold in farms and dairy ranchos.
San Bernardo. One league. Grantee and confirmee, Vicente Canet. Surveyed and patented April 1, 1865; 4,379.42 acres.
San Luisito. One league. Grantee and confirmee, Guadalupe Cantna. Patented March 18, 1860, and surveyed; 4,389.13 aeres.
Canada del Chorro. One league. Grantees, James Seott and John Wilson. Confirmed to John Wilson. Surveyed and patented March 29, 1861; 3,166.99 aeres.
Huerta de Romualdo or El Chorro. Grantec, Romualdo, an Indian; confirmee, John Wilson. Confirmed by District Court of the United States, February 9, 1857; one- tentli of one square league, or 117.13 acres. Patented April 13, 1871.
Canada de los Osos, y Pecho, é Yslay. Grantees, Victor Linares, Francisco Badillo, James Scott, and John Wilson. Finally con- firmed, surveyed, and patented to John Wilson, September 23, 1869; 32,430.70 acres.
Potrero de San Luis Obispo. Grantee and confirmee, Maria Concepcion Boronda. Finally confirmed, surveyed and patented, July 1, 1870; 3,506.33 acres.
Santa Fé. Grantee, Victor Linares. Con- firmed and surveyed. Patented August 19, 1866; 1,000 varas square; 156.76 acres.
La Laguna. One league Mission land. Confirmed to Archbishop Joseph Sador Ale- many and patented; 4,157.02 acres.
San Miguelito. Three leagues. Grantee and confirmee, Miguel Avila. Patented An- gust 8, 1867, and surveyed; 22,135.89 acres.
Corral de Piedra. Seven leagues. Grantee and confirmnee, José Maria Villavicencio. Surveyed and patented October 29, 1867; 30,911.20 acres.
Pismo. Two leagues. Grantee and con-
firmee, Isaac J. Sparks. Surveyed and pat- ented, November 16, 1866; 8,838.89 aeres.
Arroyo Grande or San Ramon. One league. Grantee Zeferino Carlon; Confirmee, Franeis Z. Braneh. Patented and surveyed April 10, 1867; 4,437.58 acres.
Santa Manuela. Grantee and confirmee, Francis Z. Branch. Patented August 22, 1868, and surveyed; 16,954.83 acres.
Bolsa de Chemisal. Grantee, Francisco Quijada; confirmee, Lewis T. Burton. Sur- veyed and patented Angust 27, 1867; 14,- 335.22 aeres.
Nipomo .- Eleven leagues. Grantee and confirmee, William G. Dana. Patented De- cember 14, 1868, and surveyed. 37,887.91 acres.
Suey. Five leagnes. Grantee and con- firmee, Ramona Carrillo de Wilson. Pat- ented August 10, 1865, and surveyed; 24,- 497 acres of this rancho are in San Luis Obispo County, and it also contains 23,737.77 acres in Santa Barbara County.
Huasna. Five leagues. Grantee and con- firmee, Isaac T. Sparks. Patented January 23, 1879, and surveyed; 22,152,99 acres.
Santa Maria, or Tepusquet. Two leagues, partly in Santa Barbara County. Grantee, Tomas Olivera. Confirmed to Antonio Maria de Cota and others. Patented February 23, 1871, and surveyed. 8,900.75 acres, of which 2,950 are in San Luis Obispo.
The land grants lying on the east side of the Santa Lucia Range are as follows:
Santa Margarita. Four leagues. Grantee and confirmee, Joaquin Estrada. Surveyed and patented April 9, 1861; 17,734 aeres.
Atascadero. One league. Grantee, Triton Garcia; confirmee, Henry Haight. Surveyed and patented June 18, 1860; 4,348.23 acres. Lies west of Salinas River, between the ranchos Santa Margarita and Asuncion.
Asuncion. Ten leagues. Grantee and con-
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firmee, Pedro Estrada. Patented March 22, 1866, and surveyed; 39,224.81 acres.
Paso de Robles. Six leagues. Grantee, Pedro Narvaez; confirmee, Petronilo Rios. Patented July 12, 1866, and surveyed; 25,- 993.18 acres. North of the Asuncion, and west of the Salinas River. This rancho has the Paso de Robles Hot Springs in its north- eru part.
Santa Ysabel. Four leagues, 17,774.12 acres. Grantee and confirmee, Francisco Arce. Surveyed and patented May 21, 1866. Lies east of Paso de Robles and the Salinas River.
Cholamie. Six leagues, lying partly in San Luis Obispo, and partly in Monterey County. Grantee, Mauricio Gonzalez; con- firmee, Ellen E. White. Patented April 1, 1865, and surveyed; 26,627.10 acres.
Huer-Huero. Three leagues; 15,684.95 acres, to which Flint, Bixby & Co. added 31,150 acres of Government land. Grantee, José Mariano Bonilla; confirmee, Francis Z. Branch. Patented August 9, 1866, and sur- veyed. Lies between the Salinas and Estrella rivers.
Mission San Luis Obispo; 52.72 acres, comprising the present church buildings, and land covered by the city of San Luis Obispo. Property of the Roman Catholic Church, confirmed to Archbishop Joseph Sadoi Ale- many. Patented September 2, 1859.
Lot in Mission San Luis Obispo, contain- ing one acre, confirmed to John Wilson.
1 Cuyama. Grantee, José Maria Rojo; confirmee, Maria Antonio de la Guerra and Pesario Lataillade. Patented July 20, 1877, for 22,193.21 acres.
2 Cuyama. Grantee, José Maria Rojo; confirmed to the heirs of Cesario Lataillade. Patented January 10, 1879.
Guadalupe. Grantees and confirmees, Diego Olivera and Teodoro Orrellanes. Pat- ented June 30, 1866; 30,408.03 acres.
Punta de la Laguna, containing 26,- 648.42 acres. Grantees and confirmees, Luis Arrellanes and E. M. Ortega. Patented Oc- tober 2, 1873.
The Cuyamas, two-thirds of the Guadalupe, and the Punta de la Laguna, excepting about 700 acres of the last mentioned, lie within Santa Barbara County, but the United States maps place them in San Luis Obispo County, with which they are often reckoned.
Besides the large granted tracts, individual purchases have been made of Government land, whose extent in the aggregate exceeds the grants made under the Mexican system. Among these are the following:
Las Chimeneas, containing 20,000 acres, situated near the head of the San Juan River, in the southern part of the county.
La Panza, extending twenty-two miles along the San Juan River valley ; 31,000 acres.
El Saucito, in the western part of the Carriso Plains; contains 2,560 acres.
La Cometa, lying northwest of La Panza, containing 36,139 acres.
San Juan, comprising 39,780 acres, on the San Juan River, north of La Panza.
California, comprising 18,155 acres, lying west of the San Juan.
Estrella, containing 25,140 acres, on the Estrella River, near the junction with the San Juan.
Sacramento, of 15,900 acres.
Whim Rancho, in the southwestern part of Carriso Plain; 30,000 acres.
McDonald Tract, comprising 57,386 acres, lying in Carriso Plain and Carriso Valley.
Schultz and Von Bergen Tract, 21,000 acres, in the Carriso Plain.
Morrow Tract, 33,000 acres, in the upper portion of the San Juan Valley.
St. Remy, consisting of the Arroyo Grande Rancho of 4,437.29 acres, and 1,500 acres lying at the head of the Arroyo Grande.
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Among the great land-owners before the beginning of American rule, were William G. Dana, John Wilson, John M. Price, Fran- cis Z. Branch and Isaac J. Sparks, of the foreign element, besides many native Cali- fornians.
TOPOGRAPHY.
San Luis Obispo, classed as one of the southern coast connties of California, has as its western boundary the Pacific Ocean, and for its eastern the Monte Diablo Range, which separates the county from the Tulare Valley, this boundary following the summit of the mountains in a trend northwest and southeast; the northern boundary is a direct east and west line; the southern follows the Santa Maria or Cuyama River. Thus the general shape of the county is a parallelo- gram, averaging sixty-five miles long by fifty wide, with a total area of 3,250 square miles. The county lies between the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth degrees of latitude, and the longitude runs from about 119° 20' to 121° 20' west from Greenwich. The territory is rolling, and traversed by several ranges. The chief physical feature is the Santa Lucia Range, running almost parallel with the coast, and dividing the connty into unequal parts, of distinctive characteristics. West of the Santa Lucia lies about one-fourth of the county, the mountains toward the south trending eastward, continuing to a junction with the Monte Diablo Range, and dividing the Cuyama from the headwaters of the Sali. nas and San Juan rivers. From Estero Bay the Monnt Buchon Range extends about twenty miles southeastward, 1,200 to 2,000 feet high; it is cut through by the San Luis and Arroyo Verde creeks. Between these ranges is a succession of detached buttes, as the Mission and Bishop's Peaks, having an elevation of 1,500 and 1,800 feet. This 8
butte range on the southeast gradually runs into low, scattered hills, while on the north- east it terminates in Morro Rock, in Estero Bay. Westward to the ocean from the Santa Lucia flow very many small streams, such as the Sau Corcopero, Santa Rosa, Toro, Old Creek, San Luis, Arroyo Verde, Arroyo Grande, and others, beside the numerous branches. These streams are marked by many cañons, with valleys of considerable extent, which, as well as much of the hill lands, are very fertile. The Salinas River flows from south to north through nearly the whole extent of that portion of the county east of the Santa Lucia. Its tributaries are: from the west, the Santa Margarita, Atasca- dero, Paso Robles and San Marcos creeks; from the east, the Estrella and its branches, the Huer-Huero, San Juan, and others; the San Juan in its turn receiving the Carriso, La Panza, Montezumna, French, and other sinall streams. These smaller streams gen- erally are so nearly dry as to fail to reach the main water courses. This region gener- ally has very fertile soil; it is mostly hilly, and in the southern portion mountainous, and is well wooded in oaks and pines. The extremes of heat and cold here are greater than in the district west of the Santa Lucia. East of the San Juan Creek is a high, tree- less basin, called the Carriso Plain. It is forty-five miles long by eight to ten wide. It ranges from 1,000 feet elevation in the center to 1,300 at the extremes. The drain- age goes to the central depression, which during the dry season is a great bed of salt, one to two miles wide and five miles long. This becomes a lake in "wet" years. The stock-raisers for miles around have long re- sorted hither to salt their flocks and herds. Very densely salt water is obtained by sink- ing some four feet. For a few miles north of this lake the soil contains some little
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