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 20
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 20
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 20
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93
138
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
alkali, but most of the plain is of fine agri- cultural possibilities.
This land was mostly bought up some years ago by capitalists of San Francisco, with a view to speculation, J. M. and R. H. McDonald, I. Glasier, Schultz & Von Bergen owning abont 50,000 acres, 47,000 acres, and 21,800 acres respectively, while large tracts were held also by Haggin & Carr and others.
The following description of the geographi- cal divisions of the county is from a report of the State mineralogist: " The Santa Lucia Mountains, which are the westerly-lying ridge of the coast range, strike northwest and southeast across the entire length of this county, the other branch of the coast range, though more broken, occupying its easterly portion. Between these mountain ranges, and flanking them on the east and west, occur many valleys and much low hill land, con- stitnting the principal agricultural districts of the county. Wild oats and the native grasses grow abundantly all over this county, making it one of the best grazing regions in the State. As a consequence, large numbers of cattle and sheep, the most of them im- proved breeds, are pastured here.
" The cereal crops and fruits of most kinds are also largely produced, both the soil and the climate being highly favorable to their growth.
"The county is watered by the upper tribu- taries of the Salinas River, flowing north; San Simí Creek, running southwest and emptying into San Luis Bay; and by the Cuyama River, flowing across its southern border, and forming in part the dividing line between this and Santa Barbara County. The timber here consists chiefly of oak, madroño and manzanita, with a little scrubby pine on the mountains.
"The trend of this range is north 46° west The general altitude is 2,500 to 3,000 feet,
but in the south there are peaks rising as high as 7,000 feet. The strip of land be- tween the western base of the foot-hills and the sea is five to fifteen miles wide.
"The aspect of this range, as seen from the west, is of precipitons and forbidding monn- tains; in reality, the mountain-wall is broken by many inlets, which follow little streams, such as the Arroyo Grande, Lopez Creek, Corral de Piedra, San Luis Chorro, Morro, Van Ness, Santa Rosa, Old Creek and others, opening into delightfully fertile valleys. Those valleys on the northeastern side of the range are much higher than that of San Luis Obispo, which is 190 feet above sea level, while Santa Margarita Valley is nearly 800 feet higher, and the Cuesta is 1,350 feet above the sea.
"These mountains viewed from the east appear more accessible, being made up of many detached buttes and lateral spurs, interspersed with deep, romantic cañons, broad valleys and verdant pastures. This region is well covered with noble white oaks of wide spread, together with a smaller variety scattered among nut pines on the ridges; laurel, balm of Gilead, cottonwood and sycamore in the canons, and live oak and chemisal on the mountain sides.
"On this slope the Salinas River and its branches take their rise, the principal tribn- taries being the Santa Margarita, Atascadero, Paso Robles and Nacimiento."
THE SOIL.
The county, owing to the direction and character of the Santa Lucia Range of moun- tains, is naturally divided into two sections, the western and eastern-the coast and inte- rior. Conforming to this division are the two distinctions of soil, elsewhere noted, which make the general character of the east- ern and western portions of the connty diver_
139
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
gent. Lying open to the sea, that portion between the Santa Lucia Range and the Pacific enjoys the refreshing coolness of the ocean, has a greater rainfall, and enjoys many advantages peculiar to itself as compared with the eastern portion of the county, while on the other hand the latter enjoys a climate and warmth that must give it some pre- eminent advantages over its western counter- part. Another more obvious and practical distinction is that of the rancho and public lands. San Luis Obispo County has a total area of 2,290,000 acres. Of this 561,073 acres are included in the Spanish grants, leaving 1,728,926 acres of public lands. The grants lie along the coast or on the Salinas River, with the greater number on the coast, thus leaving the interior portion of the county mostly public lands. The grants include inuch of the rich bottom along the streams, but by no means all of the good land of the county. The thousands of acres of Govern- ment land are among the most fertile of the State. There are in all thirty-five grants in the county, thirteen of the largest of which, aggregating 200,000 acres, have been sub- divided and sold off in smaller lots or are now on the market. So rapid have been the sales of these lands, that of the three or four great ranches placed upon the market in the year 1887, but a comparatively small portion remained unsold. As the market calls for it, as the increase of taxes and of value render it advantageons, the owners of others of the very best and largest grants will be forced to place them on the market, thus affording opportunity for others to secure homes under San Luis Obispo's genial skies. The Govern- ment land, as already stated, embraces by far the greater portion of the county. Of late, settlers have been flocking in, and the land is being rapidly settled up; still there are thou- sands of acres of the finest kind of rolling
land, adapted to mixed farming, stock raising, and more especially fruit-raising; the latter kind of land being the most valuable when lying along the hills or at the foot of the mountains. All of the public land that is open to settlement can be acquired under the pre-emption laws of the United States at $1.25 per acre, and San Luis Obispo County can heartily say to the intending settler, "Come, settle in our midst and enjoy the luxuries, pleasures and beauties of our Cali- fornia home." To the man of means who does not care to undergo the hardships inci- dent to taking up land fresh from the hand of nature, and by his own sturdy labor sur- round himself with all the comforts and luxuries of a home, there are thousands of opportunities to purchase improved farms at almost any price to snit his fancy or funds. If he desires to follow simple farming, as already noted, there are numberless oppor- tunities to secure the fertile ranch lands that are on the market, at from $10 to $50 per acre. For grazing purposes the hills offer ample room for all, at a cost but little in advance of Government prices. Along the coast some of the finest dairying land in the world may yet be had, at from $10 to $14 per acre. Elsewhere, along the hills or in the valleys, can be obtained for fruit-raising, the finest farms in the State, at prices which of course are high, but considering the return on the investment inade far exceed the profits of grain or stock raising. Along the creeks or on the alluvial bottoms, is to be found a great deal of improved gardening lands, vary- ing in price from $100 to $500, and the famous bean lands of the county, which, cleared and ready for cultivation, sell so readily for $300 per acre, but the returns from which make it one of the best invest- ments in the county. The lands now offered for sale are in every particular as good as
140
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
many of the famous orchards and vineyards of Los Angeles, San José and other famous por- tions of the State, where land sells at from $300 to $1,000 per acre. But this county, heretofore shut off from outside communica- tion, except by a tedious stage journey of 200 miles or an equally disagreeable sea trip, now offers opportunities at one-tenth of the cost of these sections. Here, as there, may be found every variation of quality and adaptability.
CLIMATE.
The climate varies slightly with the local- ity, as the sea breeze blows direct from the ocean or deflected by the hills. The meteoro- logical record that has given us the rainfall, shows the mean temperature of the four warmest months of summer to be 64 degrees, and of the four coldest months of winter 51 degrees, taken at 7 A. M., 12 M. and 9 p. M., constituting a climate as equable and salubri- ous as man can desire. The thermometer seldom measures over 90 degrees, and frosts are rarely seen, even in the low, damp valleys. The prevailing wind is from the west, often causing foggy or hazy mornings.
There are no extremes of wind, or heat, or cold. The desiccating northers experienced at intervals in almost every section of Cali- fornia are never known in this coast region. The heaviest winds are those that bring the winter rain; and the highest wind known, forty-four miles an hour, is regarded as a gale of extreme and rare occurrence. The heaviest summer wind rarely reaches twenty miles an hour, usually ranging from one to eight miles. These are from records kept through a series of years.
The physical features of this county re- seinble the State in miniature, with its sea- coast, the bordering mountains and valleys, the Sierra (Santa Lucia) and the interior large valleys and river and mountain ranges,
giving a variety of climatic conditions. The coast climate is modified by the neighbor- hood of the sea and the winds therefrom. The usual temperature of the water of the ocean is about 53 degrees, varying but one or two degrees summer or winter. There is little change during the year in the tempera- ture of the coast sections, the summers of which are cooler, and the winters warmer, than in the region east of the Santa Lucia range. While the summer winds are some- times unpleasantly strong, as they come from across the wide expanse of the Pacific waters, they blow pure, fresh and healthful, instead of bearing malaria from decaying vegetation, or germs of disease taken up from agglomera- tions of human abodes. Snow sometimes falls on the mountains, and on the high Carriso plain.
The meteorological record for 1874 and 1875 shows that there was a difference of only 2.08 degrees in the mean annual tem- perature during those two years. Taking the record of the four coldest months, it shows a difference of only 2.31 degrees in mean tem- perature between the two winters; and a similar comparison gives but .84 of a degree in difference between the mean heat of the two swimmers. The same records note the greatest difference for the two years to be but 13.78 degrees. As between the extreme hot- test and coldest months of this period, the difference was 19.37 degrees.
COMPARATIVE MEAN TEMPERATURE OF SIX COLD-
EST MONTHS.
Temperature of six coldest months at San Luis Obispo, as compared with the most noted places in the world, regarding climate:
PLACE.
STATE.
DEG. FAH.
San Luis Obispo.
California.
56.15
Santa Barbara.
California.
56 55
City of Mexico.
Mexico
56.03
City of Lisbon.
Portugal.
54,70
City of San Remo
Italy ..
53.89
City of Mentone
France.
53.21
City of Nice
Italy.
48 45
141
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
WEATHER REPORT.
The United States Signal Service estab- lished a station at San Luis Obispo, in July, 1885, and a fire occasioned its removal after March, 1886. The following table gives the observations for the eight months of its ex- istence. The remaining four months are always uniformly fair and pleasant:
Miles per hour.
Mean temperature,
Highest velocity of wind,
which
=
=
4
=
were
fog
clear,
fair,
cloudy,
frost app'd .
snow “
62.0° | 63.2° 63 0°
| 5 .... 28 .. .. 32.
.. 31 ..
9.
0.
0.
0
Aug.
| 30 -
.. 31 .... 31 ..
0
0
0
0
0
0
Sept.
1 31
0
0.
0
0
0.
0.
-
30
56.7º
.. 6.
.. 11.
0 ..
0.
0.
Dec.
| 31
.. 7.
5.
0 ..
3.
0.
5.
Nov.
-
.. 12.
.. 0
0.
0.
.. 13.
Jan.
Monterey
13.01
Salinas .
=
12.03
Stockton.
=
10.62
Chualar.
=
10.18
San Diego
44
9.44
Riverside
7.66
Bismarck .
Dakota.
21.27
Dodge City
Kansas
20.09
North Platte
Nebraska
19.97 .
St. Vincent ..
Minnesota.
18.62
Lewiston ..
Idaho
17.14
Salt Lake City
Utah
16.91
Helena
Montana.
15.13
Denver ..
Colorado
14.98
Prescott
Arizona
14.51
Boise City
Idaho
13.30
El Paso.
Texas
12.11
Cheyenne,
Wyoming
10.85
Phoenix.
Arizona ..
7.53
*Average as taken at San Luis Obispo City for the last seventeen years.
The reports of the temperature, wind, and rain, published in the Daily Republic, which kept the only complete record in the county, showed the rainfall for the wet season of 1886-'87 to be as follows: October, .25; November, 1.25; December, 1.06; January, 1.10; February, 9.62; March, .75; April,
1.69; May, .40; thus making for the season a total of 16.12 inches, and the average for the eighteen years past 20.79} inches, as against 21.07 at which, the preceding year, stood the average for seventeen years pre- vious. As compared with other agricultural counties of the State, this was a very favor- able showing. The reports for the same year showed the following record of rainfall from the respective localities: San Francisco, 18.97 inches; Templeton, 9.51; Paso Robles, 8.02; San Miguel, 7.05; San Ardo, 6.85; Kings City, 6.45; Soledad, 5.88; Salinas, 8.27; Monterey, 7.95; Hollister, 6.09; Gil- roy, 9.06; San Luis Obispo, 13.96; Creston, 12.74; San José, 9.98; Menlo Park, 8.26; Fresno, 4.95; San Diego, 5.60; Stockton, 5.61; Sacramento, 11.40; Woodland, 8.52: Pajaro, 11.12.
COMPARATIVE ANNUAL RAINFALL.
Rainfall at San Luis Obispo as compared with other points in California and the United States:
PLACE.
STATE.
IN.
San Francisco,.
California, ..
21.46
*San Luis Obispo.
=
21.07
Sacramento.
17.25
Santa Barbara
15.31
Los Angeles.
14.92
31 | 28
Feb.
31
50.4º
.. 0 ..
.. 0.
0.
9.
Mar.
/ 243
57.8°
.. 13 .. .. 19 .. .. 11 .... 17 .. .. 15 .. . 167 ...
.. 8 .. .. 10 .. .. 11 .. .. 43. .
.. 34. .
.. 9 ..
.. 3 ..
.. 0 ..
.. 47 ..
Total.
. .
. .
.. 17.
1885 AND 1886.
55.7º 52.7° | 58.4°
.. 44 .. .. 36 .... 34 .... 28 .. .. 42 ..
.. 1 .. .. 5 ..
.. 0 ..
0.
0 ..
3.
-
..
. .
Fog and light frosts appear only, late iu the evening and early in the morning.
+
+ "
*Days upon which rain fell,| ..
Rain usually falls during hours from sunset to sunrise.
Total number of days | 31
. .
.
.
Oct.
. .
. .
. .
11.37
San José.
Soledad.
7.75
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
in the thermal belt surrounding the Sacra- mento Valley, and these are the favorite fruit sections of the north. But in those localities frosts are quite heavy in winter, which is fa- vorable for deciduous fruits, but not quite sufficiently severe to be damaging to citrus fruits. In such comparison we might say that all the coast region of San Luis Obispo was in the thermal belt, but it is not so estimated. The thermal belt is that region where frosts are unknown, where the winds do not sweep too severely, where the air is unburdened by fogs, and the genial sun of summer fructifies and enriches the fruits of the earth. Along the coast, throughout this county, frost is rarely seen, in many places never; and still near the ocean grapes do not ripen, nor do citrus fruits grow successfully. There is here a distinctive thermal belt, such as we have mentioned, lying between the altitudes of 100] and 600 feet of elevation, where not a damp and level valley. Al the little ridges of this region lift themselves above the frosts of night, and everywhere all delicate plants grow withont danger. The distinctive belt is that lying east and north of San Luis Obispo city, skirting the base of the hills and extending along the mountain side. There, frosts are unknown, and toma- toes and other delicate plants furnish their flowers and fruits, regardless of the monthis or the seasons. There are the oldest orange trees of the country, growing from the seed planted as an experiment, and coming into bearing when eight years old, producing an excellent fruit. With this proof of success, others made the trial, and the most delicious oranges known now grow in the belt. Wher- ever it may be followed, north or south, to the elevation of 600 feet, this band of genial temperature will be found, the most certain in its products of any portion of our favored
RAINFALL AT SAN LUIS OBISPO DURING THE PAST SEVENTEEN YEARS.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.[
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May.
June.
Total
1869-70
.84
.66
.78
.71
4.85
.74
2.40
.85
11.83
1870-71
.
.68
.38
2.90
1.51
4.48
2.79
.28
12.97
1871-72
2.40
13.93
5.16
3.45
71
1.37
27.02
1872-73
6.00
5.00
1.79
12.79
1873-74
7.96
4.29
4.04
3.23
1.00
20.52
1874-75
4.28
2 05
.48
12.10
.28
.50
19.69
1875-76
5.30
1.2
30.12
1876-77
1.16
4.88
.42
1.74
8.15
1877-78
1.42
3.90
7.88
11.91
2.74
2.75
30.60
1878-79
1.50
2.58
1.78
2.15
1.60
1.80
.25
11.66
1879-80
.75
1.40
3.03
1.75
7.23
2.36
8.78
.52
25.82
1880-81
40
1.65
.25
2.00
.85
3.40
6.75
1.73
17.03
1882-83
.69
2,95
.44
1.50
1.60
4.88
1.10
3.85
17.01
1883-84
3.39
2.26
42.40
1884-85
2.17
.13
8.85
2.25
,94
3.15
.10
17.59
1885-86
.04
12.90
3.67|
5.78 . . 70
2 37
3.75
29.30
Average for seventeen years, 21.07 inches.
THE THERMAL BELT.
This is a pleasant term for that ill defined region which is supposed to border every valley, and to extend at a certain elevation along the coast of Southern California. Al- most every section of California has its
" thermal belt," each differing from the other according to locality and the latitude, for it is certain there are climatic changes with the latitude, though slight. Thus the foot-hills of the Sierra Nevada, and the slightly elevated regions of Vacaville, and Madison, and winters in the Coast Range are
. August ..
"July ..
.48
13.35
4.71
1.90
1.40
1.85
23.69
..
3.56
10.57
10,21
12.41
1881-82
6.20
2.20
9.87
5.29
142
region.
143
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
THE COAST REGION.
The coast slope of the range is usually re- garded as comprising one-third of the county, but this is reckoning from the summit to the ocean.
Between the foot of the range and the ocean are a succession of valleys of various areas, aggregating about 300,000 acres. This is the oldest settled portion of the county, was nearly all included in the old Mexican grants-now mostly subdivided and sold in farms-and until recently was regarded as comprising all that was valuable.
Of these fair valleys are the San Simeon, Santa Rosa, the coast borders of Cayucos and Morro, the larger mountain valleys of Las 'Tablas, Nacimiento, Old Creek and of other streams, the Chorro and Los Osos, Laguna and San Luis, Corral de Piedra, Verdi, Ar- royo Grande, Ranchita, Los Berros, Nipomo and Oso Flaco, winding in and winding out among the hills, of greater or less dimensions and all lovely and fertile. The scenery is varied and picturesque; a few level plains ex- tending one or two miles in width, exist, but the country is undulating and broken, with precipitous peaks and rocky projections. This unique formation adds attractiveness and character to the scenery, and appears to gov- ern the climate, so influencing the winds as to modify the effects of the cool sea breeze of summer, and to canse a greater precipita- tion in winter, the rainfall being greater than in other southern coast counties, or in the agricultural counties of the interior, the aver- age for the past nineteen years being 20.79} inches.
COAST TOWNS.
The most northern of the coast towns is San Simeon. The bay of San Simeon has, in past years, attracted much attention as a prob- able commercial port for the productions of the neighboring country. Mr. George Hearst,
proprietor of the Piedras Blancas Rancho, which surrounds the landing, in 1878 in- vested a considerable sum in the improve- ment of the port. This year also a new wharf was built, to replace the old, which for some time previous had been inadequate to the needs of commerce. The new wharf began on the northeastern side of the bay, termi- nating at a distance of 1,000 feet, where at low tide there is twenty feet of water-a depth sufficient for the largest merchant steamer. The wharf is excellently built, with commodious warehouses for the reception of goods. It cost $20,000. The building of this structure gave a new impetus to busi- ness at San Simeon. This name is applied also to the township, which embraces the northwestern part of the county, extending to the Monterey County line. The township embraces the whole of the Rancho Piedras Blancas, consisting of eleven Spanish leagues (48,000 acres), of which a very large propor- tion is cultivable land. While the climate is somewhat raw and damp, with fogs and winds, it is excellent for dairying purposes, the grass being always green, wherefore the milk production is of the the highest. Thus far, the chief products of this rancho are butter and cheese, although the lands are ex- cellently adapted for the cultivation of corn, oats, barley, peas, and beans.
To the north of this rancho lies the old property of Jnan Castro, a large tract of grazing lands, besides 900 acres of arable land of very high order. On this land stands the Piedras Blancas Light-house, which is 100 feet high, built of brick and iron, and cost $100,000. It contains a Fresnel light of great power, and is one of the marked features of the coast.
On this coast there are a number of whal- ing stations-at Monterey, San Simeon, Point San Luis, and Point Concepcion. The
144
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
whaling business was begun here as early as 1864, and it has proved quite profitable. The least catch during the season was three whale, the greatest twenty-three. The whale hunts, conducted in open boats off these rugged coasts, is exciting but dangerous sport.
CAMBRIA.
The town of Cambria had its beginning about 1866. Its site was claimed as a por- tion of one of the large grazing ranchos, part of whose territory later became known as Gov- ernment land. The greater part of the tract whereon Cambria is situated is composed of undulating ground, rising into low, smooth hills, or sinking into valleys fertile though small, through which flow numerous stream- lets. In 1867 the land now occupied by the town was covered by a virgin forest of pines; and the lumber from these woods has created an industry which has done much to support and build up the section. As long ago as 1869, two saw-mills worked here steadily, and the houses of the vicinity have been built from lumber of home production. Early in the '60's, a copper mining excite- ment broke out in this section, leading to the establishment, a year or two later, of the town of Cambria. In 1867, there was no means of communication between the village and the county-seat, save by private convey- ance. In 1868 a weekly mail service, by means of a spring-wagon, was instituted. Travel was slight, and passengers few. Within a year, a tri-weekly service, with a covered stage, replaced this, and now the patronage greatly increased, as the comforts of this line exceeded those of travel by mustang.
Although born of the mining interests, Cambria survived these, basing its growthi and prosperity upon agricultural industries. School-houses were built, mills were erected, stores were opened, and evidences of sub-
stantial prosperity multiplied. The first building in Cambria proper was a store built by George E. Long and S. A. Pollard.
The name of the new town was a subject of dispute for some time. Some of the settlers favored the name of Rosaville; others inclined to the Spanish term of Santa Rosa; and others insisted upon San Simeon, notwithstanding there was already a port of that name in the county. At last a compromise was effected upon the present name. A steady growth now ensued in this section, and the port of San Simeon became frequented by vessels which conveyed to market the products of the region. In 1871 was built near Cambria a cheese factory, which consumed' daily 9,000 pounds of milk, manufacturing therefrom 1,200 pounds of cheese. One feature of the early history of Cambria was the co-operative movements of the agriculturists for mutual benefits, social and commercial. One of the phases of this development was the establish- ment in 1872, of the "Farmers' and Stock- Raisers' Co-operative Store," for the purpose of lessening the retail price of articles for- merly purchased through middlemen. This enterprise had a stock of $40,000, divided into 2,000 shares at $20 each. In April, 1881, the weekly output of butter in the vicinity of Cambria was 21,900 pounds.
The present population of Cambria is about 300. The town contains three general mer- chandise stores, all carrying heavy stocks, " everything from a needle to an anchor," two drug stores, one variety store, one stove and tin shop, one blacksmith shop, five sa- loons, one shoe shop, two carpenter and undertaker shops, one butcher shop, one saw- mill, one hotel, and one boarding-house. There is a public school with two departments, a Presbyterian and a Catholic church, telegraph, express and postoffice with daily mail. The only brick building in the town is the Odd Fel-
145
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
lows' Hall, a handsome two-story structure. The town is picturesquely situated amidst pine-covered hills, and surrounded by a wide expanse of very fertile country. The principal industry continues to be dairying, and the section is exceedingly prosperous.
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