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 28
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 28
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 28
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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In that section of country lying southeast of the Santa Clara River in the neighborhood of Hueneme, artesian water is obtained at from 50 to 100 feet, which is a constant flow of good, pure water. Besides these there are a
great many small mountain streams in various portions of the county that never go dry. It is estimated that the water supply is suffi- cient to bring it on every part of farm land if it were necessary to do so, but from a comparison of the per cent. of farmers, whose experience is given elsewhere in this paper, it will be seen that irrigation is not necessary except in case of a dry season, and excepting also for citrus fruits, which some think ought to be irrigated.
It is a peculiarity of this section that no irrigation is needed to raise the most abun- dant crops, of whatever nature. This may be due to the humidity derived from the sea. At all events, the fact accounts for the rarity of attempts to divert the abundant water into ditches, as is done in most other parts of Southern California.
THE TIMBER SUPPLY.
Ventura County is well supplied with forest timber of live-oak, cottonwood and other deciduous and evergreen trees, much of it being easily accessible to the various rail- way stations in the county. But the greatest and most valuable timber consists of the great pineries in the remote and almost un- known mountain regions in the northern part of the county. These extensive pine forests contain an immense quantity of val- uable timber which some day will be reached by roadways and brought to market. When that day comes, as it surely will, a rich har- vest awaits the lumberman's ax. It is now a wild and inaccessible forest, inhabited only by the mountain goat and the fleet-footed deer, with a smart sprinkling of the more ferocious lion and grizzly bear. It is here that nature, in its wildest and most chaotic state, holds undisputed sway, but with an increased pop- nlation in this county will be made to yield
197
VENTURA COUNTY.
to the demands of civilization-the demand for lumber and other building material.
The following details are extracted from a paper by Dr. Stephen Bowers, in the State Mineralogical Report.
" The county includes the islands of San Nicolas and Anacapa. The former is about eighty miles south of Ventura, and the latter eighteen miles. The area of the entire county is 1,869 square miles, or 1,196,000 acres.
" The valley of the Santa Clara extends along the seashore from San Buenaventura to Point Magu, a distance of over twenty miles, and extends in an easterly direction across the connty, narrowing to two or three miles on the eastern border. A chain of mountains extends from Newhall in Los Angeles County westwardly to within about ten miles of the ocean, separating the upper portion of the Santa Clara from the Simí and Las Posas valleys. The chain is narrow and comes to a sharp ridge or comb at the top, averaging about 2,000 feet in altitude.
" Thirteen miles north of San Buenaven- tura is the Ojai Valley, abont ten by five miles in extent. It is divided into two val- leys, upper and lower. The latter is 800 feet above the sea level, and the former about 1,700 feet. These valleys are surrounded by mountains, opening along the Ventura River to the sonth. On the eastern portion of the county is the Cornejo Platean, which is several miles in extent and elevated 900 feet above the ocean. It is really a succession of hills and valleys. The rock exposures here are principally trappean and metamorphie. The remaining portions of the county are mainly mountainous, giving a diversity of soil and climate.
" It is by far the best watered of all the southern counties. The Santa Clara River runs through the county in a westerly di- rection, reaching the ocean a few miles west
of San Buenaventura. The Matilaja, San Antonio, and Coyote creeks unite and form he Ventura River, coming in from the north, and supplying the town of San Buenaventura with an abundance of water. The Santa Paula, Sespe, and Piru flow into the Santa Clara from the north and west, the Sespe having its rise in Santa Barbara County. The Lock- wood flows into the Pirn at the western base of the Almo monntain. The Cuyamo rises near Mount Almo, and runs westwardly to the county line, some fifteen miles distant. The Las Posas Creek waters the Las Posas and Simí valleys on the eastern side of the county. In addition to these rivers and streams, are numerous small creeks and springs scattered here and there throughout the connty."
SAN NICOLAS ISLAND.
BY DR. BOWERS.
" San Nicolas Island belongs to Ventura County. It is nearly eighty miles south of Ventura, the sonthesatern end being in lati- tude 33° 14' north, and longitude 119° 25' west from Greenwichi.
" The area is about nine miles long and four miles wide, containing 32.2 square miles, or 20,608 acres. Its longer axis is northwest by west. What is known as Begg Rock is sit- nated on the prolongation of the longer axis of the island, bearing northwest, and is seven miles distant. Soundings show that there is a submarine ridge connecting this rock with San Nicolas, and that it was probably once above the surface. Breakers extend for sev- eral miles to the westward, and also for nearly two miles on the eastern shore line of the island, indicating shallow water. Begg Rock is bold and precipitons, rising to the height of forty or more feet, and plainly visible from San Nicolas.
" There is an abundance of water on the
198
VENTURA COUNTY.
island, but it is slightly brackish; it is entire- ly destitute of timber, but evidently has not always been so. At the present time there is not even a bush growing on it except a stunted kind of thorn, scarcely two feet high, and a few species of the tree cactus.
" The surface is comparatively level, suffi- ciently so to till with little trouble. The cultivable land embraces about two-thirds of the island's area, and much of it is apparently rich and fertile. * * Coral Harbor, lo- * cated about three miles from the extreme western point, is reached by an opening in the rocks, some twenty feet wide. The water in this opening is sufficiently deep to admit a schooner of twenty tons' burden.
"The only animals found on San Nicolas are, a small fox, a kangaroo mouse, and a diminutive sand lizard. The fox is little more than half as large as the gray or silver fox of the mainland. As far as I have been able to learn, the species is confined to the Channel Islands. Several species of land birds are found. Amongst them may be mentioned the bald eagle, ground owl, raven, crow, and plover. Water fowl are abundant, and among them gulls, pelicans, cormorants, sea-pigeons, and others. Beetles, crickets, spiders, butterflies, honse and other flies are met with, but no poisonous or noxious ani- mals or insects. * * * San Nicolas Island must have once supported a large population. In whatever direction one turns, he comes in contact with human skeletons, broken mortars, pestles, ollas, bone implements, etc., and shell heaps. * * * I judge that the natives of this island were physically and intellectually superior to those inhabiting the other islands and the mainland, where, in previous ex- plorations, I have exhumed several thousands of skeletons. Many of the skulls on San Nicolas closely resemble those of the Canca- sian type."
GEOLOGY.
The following account of the geological formations of Ventura is by a writer whose name the present editor has been unable to learn :
Ventura County exhibits many interesting geological features. On the eastern side is a volcanic uplift extending westwardly under the ocean forming the island of Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Miguel. This uplift may be traced eastwardly through Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties, with an outcrop near Yuma, and probably extending far into Mexico. In Ven- tura County it is composed largely of rhyolite, trachyte and vesicular basalt. The moun- tains here have been lifted to a height of nearly or quite 4,000 feet, their serrated sum- mits presenting a rugged outline against the sky.
Another trappean uplift occurs in the northwestern corner of the county running parallel with the first described, leaving a space of over fifty miles between them. It is most likely the two are synchronous. One of the characteristic rocks of the latter is amygdaloid filled with zeolites of quartz, chalcedony, agate, opal, calcite, natrolite, etc., and inspissated bitumen.
The mountains on the northern portion of the county are composed principally of gran- ite rocks, while the characteristic rocks on the southern side, as we approach toward the ocean, are largely sandstone.
There are no large areas of horizontal rock strata in the county. Formerly tilted, folded and plicated rocks of this section bear evi- dence of sudden upheaval. But it is evident that the lateral pressure that has raised the mountains of Ventura County from 2,000 to over 9,000 feet above the sea level has prob- ably done its work so gradually as not to " disturb the flight of an insect," apart from
199
VENTURA COUNTY.
the volcanic disturbances above mentioned. The nplift is still going on, but so gradually and silently as to be imperceptible to the casual observer. Along the seashore, and indeed all over the county where the older rocks are exposed they are found tilted, shoved and heaved at every conceivable angle of inclination, with alternating anticlinal and synclinal folds.
The Santa Clara River enters the county on the eastern side and traverses it in a west- erly direction to the sea. Three or four streams flow into it from the north which will be described in due time. One of these, the Sespe, heads not far from the Santa Bar- bara line and runs in an eastwardly direction for some distance, gradually bending south- ward through the center of the county. This stream seems to mark the division between the Cretaceons and the Tertiary periods. At least some of the fossils which the writer found north of the stream he must refer to the Cretaceous, while all south of it belong to the Miocene and Pliocene epochs. It is probable that all the northern portion of the county was lifted from a Cretaceous sea, and what now forms the northern boundary of the Sespe was for ages the shore line against whose rocky ribs the waves of the Pacific Ocean expended their fury. The strata south of this are at an entirely different an- gle and to some extent different in composi- tion, and seem to have been raised independ- ently, leaving a fissure between the two formations and along which the stream has ent its gorge.
The Piru Creek, running in a parallel direction, but several miles north of the Sespe, has cut its way through mountains of granite, slate and diorite. In some places the walls are nearly or quite a half mile high and perpendicular, the tortuous bed of the stream appearing as a ribbon far below.
In the southern portion of the county are vast beds of Pliocene fossils. They are found in the foot-hills skirting the sea shore . from the extreme southern corner of the county to the county-seat, and on the north side of the Santa Clara to the Sespe, on the south side of the Santa Paula mountains, in the Las Posas and Simi valleys, and else- where. Joining the town of Ventura the remains of the fossil elephant, llama and other animals are found. Near Santa Paula the remains of an extinct horse (Equus occidentalis) have been found.
Miocene fossils are found in the Ojai Val- ley, Conejo plateau, along the south side of the Sespe from its source to its month, in the mountains east of Santa Paula and other places. Among these may be mentioned the remains of whales, seals, sharks, etc. Indeed the entire county, apart from the volcanic uplifts referred to and the granitic forma- tions on the northern portion, abounds in most interesting remains, including hundreds of species of invertebrate and vertebrate an- imals, many of which are extinct, while others are still found in the ocean. This county is a paradise for the geologist and paleontologist, much of which has never been subjected to a thorough scientific inves- tigation .
In this connection we may add that the botanist, zoologist, ichthyologist and entom- ologist will find an ample field for investiga- tion and study in their respective depart- ments in this county.
CLIMATE.
The climate of Ventura County is difficult to overestimate. Near the coast the mercury seldom falls below 43º or rises above 83°; but in some places back from the ocean, in the mountains and valleys, it is somewhat warmer in summer and cooler in winter.
200
VENTURA COUNTY.
Taking it altogether, the evenness of the climate is nnexcelled. Thermometrical ob- servations, extending over a series of years, indicate an average temperature of about 58°. By careful study of the various places in Southern California the reader will per- ceive that Ventura County is not excelled in point of climate. Near the coast frost is seldom or never seen; but several miles back from the ocean a little frost occurs in winter, yet not sufficiently severe to injure orange trees or the most tender vegetation, except in rare instances. Large banana trees may be seen growing a dozen or fifteen miles from the coast. The same kind of clothing is worn winter and summer. While nearly all kinds of northern and semi-tropical fruits flourish here, roses, fuchsias, geraniums and many other flowers bloom constantly, and strawberries may be procured nearly any day in the year. The days are warm but not sultry; hence sunstroke is unknown in this county. The nights are cool and induce re- freshing sleep. For invalids, and especially for persons disposed to pulmonary troubles, this county offers superior inducements. 1t is seldom that lightning is seen or thunder heard, and no tornadoes, cyclones or other disturbances of the forces of nature exist here. The islands south of Ventura County deflect the warm ocean currents from the equator, turning thein to the very shore line and giving a higher temperature than is realized some hundreds of miles south, and thus securing good bathing the entire year.
For Santa Paula the average temperature for winter is about 45° and for summer is about 85°. The highest given is 100° and the lowest 30°. For Saticoy the average for winter 55° and for summer 85° ; the lowest given is 40° and the highest 100°. The vari- ations at Camulos are from 25° to 100° and and at Nordlioff is 30° to 100°. The average
at Hueneme is, for winter, about 50° and for suinmer 75°; the highest given is 85° and the lowest 38° and for New Jerusalem it is about the same.
THE TEMPERATURE.
1882. .
1881. .
1880. .
Years.
1882. . 1881. .
1880. .
Years.
64
39 | Highest
Jan.
$ 8 8 |2 p. m.
Jan.
9 g & | Highest
& #17a.m.
9 9 9 | Lowest.
Feb.
$ 89 |2p. m. -
Feb.
& | Highest
Mar.
99 |7 a. m.
& # | Lowest.
$ 2 9 12p. m.
: |9p. m.
% | Highest
Apr.
$ = = 17a.m.
88 | Lowest.
g2 9 |2p. m.
8 9 9 19p. m.
& a 2 | Highest
May
9 99 |7 a.m.
g | Lowest.
8 8 2 |2p. m.
9 8 |9p. m.
S & | Highest
$ 2 9 |7 a. m.
= & | Lowest.
892 |2p. m.
$ 8 4 19p.m.
3 & | Highest
8 2 8 |7a. m.
% | Lowest.
99 $ |2p. m.
8 8 8 19p. m.
= 8 8 17a m.
8 8 % | Lowest.
$ 9 9 |2p.m.
8 8 8 |9p. m.
$=8 | 7 a. m.
g & | Lowest. --
9 8 8 |9p. m.
8 98 |7a. m.
2 8 8 | Highest
Oct.
8 28 |2p.m.
$ % & | Lowest.
9 8 8 |9p. m.
8 5% |7a.m.
2 & & | Highest
Nov
£ £ 3 12p. m.
Nov.
= = # | Lowest
$ 9 19p. m.
= = = 17 a. m.
8 2 2 | Highest
8 8 8 |2p. m.
* * * | Lowesl.
Dec.
= = = 19 p. m.
consecutive years 1880, 1881, 1882, as kept by I. T. Saxby, Voluntary Observer for United
Table showing average temperature per month at San Buenaventura for the three
RECORD OF TEMPERATURE AT SAN BUENAVENTURA.
June.
July
July.
3 3 & | Highest
Aug
August.
$ 3 a | Highest
Sept
28 12p. m.
Sept.
October
Dec.
States Army Signal Service.
== 8|7a.m.
* * | Lowest.
8 8 8 19p. m.
$= 19p m.
March
April.
May.
Jun.
Highest and Lowest Temperature each month for the years 1880, 1881 and 1882.
The following is a table showing the aver- age rainfall at San Buenaventura, Cali- fornia, for the past eighteen years. And it should be remembered that what is called the "rainy season " generally includes the fol- lowing months: October, November, Decem- ber, January, February, March and April. During the remainder of the year there is usually no rain at all.
201
VENTURA COUNTY.
SEASON
INCHES
SEABON
INCHES
1870-1871
9
1879-1880
22.06
1871-1872.
5.12
1880-188t
13.81
1872-1873
17.25
1881-1882
11,98
1873-1874.
15
1882-1883
11.68
1874-18 5.
15.25
1883-1884
.35,74
1875-18' 6
21
1884-1885
9.46
1876-1877
4.62
1885-1886
20.93
1877-1878
20.22
1836-1887
12.95
1878-1879
11,79
1837-1838
20.24
THE CHURCHES OF VENTURA.
The county is well supplied with churches. The Catholics have, besides the old Mission at San Buenaventura, which was fonnded more than a century ago, a good church house at New Jerusalem. Each of these churches have regnlar pastors.
The Baptists have organizations in Santa Paula, Hueneme and Springville. At the latter place there is a house of worship owned by an independent Baptist organization.
The Methodists have houses of worship at San Buenaventura, Hueneme, Santa Paula, Sespe and Piru. They also have organiza- tions at Cienega, Saticoy, Springville, Conejo, Fillinore and other places.
The Presbyterians have houses of worship at Ventura, Nordhoff, Saticoy, Santa Parla and Fillmore.
The Universalists have a parish at Santa Panla and services at Ventura.
The Congregationalists have a house of worship in San Buenaventura and Nordhoff ; an academy at Santa Panla.
The Episcopalians have a church organiza- tion and edifice at Ventura.
The Swedenborgians have a church organ- ization and edifice at Bardsdale.
In addition to the above there are two or three union or independent churches in the county. All of the churches named above are supplied with regular pastors.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The school system of Ventura County is much like that of other counties of the State,
but quite nnlike that of most of the other and old States east of the Rocky Mountains.
The public schools of Ventura County are of three kinds or grades: primary, grammar and high school; the first being found in the sparsely settled portions of the county; the second in the inore thickly settled, and the third or high school only in San Buena- ventura. In the primary school instruction is given in reading, orthography, practical and mental arithmetic, geography, United States history, physiology, penmanship, ele- ments of book-keeping, industrial drawing, vocal music, practical entomology and the rudiments of technical English grammar. Grammar schools are established in those parts of the county, in the country towns, where there are a number of children who de- sire to pursue, in addition to the studies of the primary grade, such branches as algebra, natural philosophy, natural history, and when, owing to the increased number of children attending school, there are funds enough to admit of paying a higher salary to the teacher in return for a greater and more advanced work. It is proper to remark here, however, that in every one of the primary schools of the county the teacher is competent to teach algebra and such other grammar-grade stud- ies, so that no pupil is debarred from pursu- ing each study if desirable.
The high school in California or the grammar school course-which is a course in advance of the grammar school as given above-is intended to prepare the pupils who graduate from the public schools, having finished the work of the grammar grade for entrance into the State University. This adds to the grammar school such branchies as rhet- oric, advanced English and American liter- ature, chemistry and mineralogy. But this course can be pursued only in such localities as have a representation of pupils sufficient to
18
202
VENTURA COUNTY.
supply a number of teachers, since no one person could do the work required in a school with all grades from primary to and includ- ing the grammar school course; and in gen- eral the grade of a school depends upon the number of children in it.
By a provision of the State law, all pupils who finish the course of study laid out for the grammar grade and pass a satisfactory examination therein upon questions prepared by the County Board of Education, are en- titled to a diploma of graduation from the grammar school. This admits them to the lowest class in the State Normal School, or to the high school or grammar course. Completion of the studies in the course, upon satisfactory examination, admits the graduate to the University of California at Berkeley.
As another prominent feature of the schools it may be observed that each district in Ven- tura County draws from the public funds an- nually from $30 to $50, to be expended only for school apparatus or library books.
Accordingly we have in this county schools which possess valuable. libraries, having in the course of the past few years accumulated a set of cyclopædia", all requisite books of reference, besides complete sets of the poets and standard novelists, and comprising many works on history, biography and travel.
As an index of the growth and develop- ment of the county, as represented by the growth of the schools, there follows a com- parative statement of the condition of the public schools in each alternative year since 1884.
In 1884 Ventura had twenty-four school districts, and school property worth $33,417, as follows: buildings, $30,113; libraries, $1,932; apparatus, $1,366. There were 1,667 census children, of whom 1,270 were enrolled, with an average attendance of 743.
The total receipts for school purposes were $34,429; total expenditures, $30,677.
In 1886 there were in Ventura County 1,889 census children; enrolled were 1,439; the average attendance was 911. The value of school buildings was $50,800; of school libraries, $1,610; of apparatus, $1,500; total value of school property, 853,910. The total expenditures for schools were $23,399, and the total of revenues for school purposes $28,328.
In 1888 there were 2,284 census children in Ventura County, which had gained ten school districts in two years; 1,889 were en- rolled in the public schools, and the average daily attendance was 1,069. There were now school buildings to the value of $64,900; libraries, $1,825, and apparatus, $1,410; total, $69,035.
There are now in Ventura County forty- three school districts, employing fifty-seven teachers. The number of census children is 2,703; number enrolled. 2,244; the average attendance is 1,339. The amount received from county school tax for 1889 was $11,- 366; from all sources for 1889-'90, $65,- 791.42. The total expenditures were $51,- 457.31. Of the teachers in the county, twenty are graduaies of the State Normal School, and three are from Eastern high schools. The average monthly salary of men teachers is $75; of women, $63. The total valne of school buildings in the county is $102,050; of school libraries, $2,850; of apparatus, $2,955; total, $105,855. During the eight years that C. T. Meredith has been county superintendent of schools, there have been built new school-houses in thirty-two districts. San Buenaventura has school- honses worth perhaps $35,000; the Avenne building another worth $6,000; those at Santa Paula cost $10,000; at Huenemne, $9,000; the Montalvo bullding cost $5,000, to
203
VENTURA COUNTY.
which must be added another $1,000 for grounds, improvements, etc., and the Saticoy school-house cost $1,500.
It is rather a remarkable feature that there is a small attendance of the Spanish element in the schools of this county.
THE EASTERN PORTION OF VEN- TURA.
THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY.
The lower Santa Clara Valley, bordering on the ocean, comprises the ranchos San Mignel, Santa Paula y Saticoy, Santa Clara del Norte, La Colonia, and part of Guada- lasca, besides Government lands. Through the hills skirting the eastern flank of the main expanse break two fine valleys, with wooded hills and cultivated dales. The more northerly of these contains the ranchos Las Posas and Simí; the southern, being El Conejo Valley, embraces the ranchos Calle- jos, El Conejo, and the upper end of the Gua- dalasca. Close down to the channel of the Santa Clara on the north come the Santa Barbara Mountains, jagged and distorted, while to the sonth, above Santa Paula, they are much lower and more rounded, although still mostly untillable. The northern slopes are set with groves of pine and live-oak; the southern are covered with grass, flowers and the honey-bearing sage. The principal trees along the water courses are sycamore, wal- nnt, cottonwood, and some inferior varieties of pine.
RANCHO LA COLONIA.
The Rancho La Colonia, or Rio de Santa Clara, as finally confirmed, comprises a tract of abont 48,883 acres, lying sonth of Rancho Santa Clara del Norte, and north and west of the Pacific Ocean, the Guadalasca Rancho, and a small piece of Government land. This tract was granted in 1837 to eight old
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