An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 62

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 62
USA > California > San Diego County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 62
USA > California > Orange County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 62
USA > California > San Bernardino County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 62

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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HISTORY OF LOWER CALIFORNIA

abandoned the field, and male their way as best they could to California, while others struggled across the country to La Paz. The government annulled the grant, and the over-zealous officials of La Paz made a too hiasty descent npon the company's agent, dispossessing him and the re- maining handful of the colonists. The disap- pointed company was only too ready to enter npon this pretext a $10,000,000 elaim against Mex- ico, whose government compromised by con- ceding the privilege of gathering orchilla free for six years.

In the twenty years since then there have been organized several colonization enterprises, of which the principal were as follows: The Peninsula Plantation and Homestead Associa- tion, which obtained a large, fertile tract along the Mulejé Bay, offering to actual settlers 30,- 000 shares at $16, in 1870; the Gulf of Cali- fornia Commercial Company, a second Mulejé colony association, formed at San Francisco in 1871; the Colorado Hemp Company, which in 1874 sent down a party to cultivate hemp with the aid of the Indians; the Guaymas and Mu- leje Trust Company, formed at San Francisco in 1880, to plant sugar-cane, for which 36,000 hectares were granted to Keely & Co. These and a number of minor projects bring the record down to the period since Mexico's coloni- zation act of December 15, 1883, which invites citizens of friendly nations to settle in Mexico and share in the advantages of its rich re- sources. The Government has also offered to colonizing companies certain subsidies, mostly taking the form of large land grants, accom- panied with exemptions, to induce the imini- gration of a desirable class of foreigners. The law in question also provides liberally for the partition and distribution of the public lands.

In view of these favorable conditions, the In- ternational Company of Mexico has acquired a complete and perfect title to 18,000,000 acres of land in Lower California, all of which has been duly surveyed by the company, for which service it obtained without further cost one- third of the tract, the remaining two-thirds

having been acquired by purchase. The Inter- national Company's territory begins at the na- tional boundary, fifteen miles south of San Diego, and extends southiward for 300 miles, covering the entire region between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California. The average breadth of the district is 100 miles.

These lands were acquired as follows: Three contracts with the Mexican government, in the form of concessions, were, with the consent and approval of said government, transferred to the International Company by the respective conces- sionaires, T. Garcia, A. Bulle, Louis Huller, et ul. By these transfers the immense domains of these parties in Lower California were acquired by the corporation, duly incorporated under the laws of Connectient, April 3, 1883, with the name of "The International Company of Mex- ico," and with a capital of $500,000 actually paid in. To this company the Mexican govern- ment, on July 21, 1884, made a concession be- stowing ample powers, under which the company is now acting. Under the terms of the contract the company is bound to settle a given number of colonies within a determined period, and seventy per cent. of the settlers may be foreign- ers. The Mexican government is under no ob- ligation to forward the enterprise by subsidies or privileges other than those already cited. Money expenditures must be met by the com- pany or by the settlers. The company has been offering its lands to the public, either for cash or on time. The town of Ensenada is to be the base of operations, and the headquarters of the peninsular railways and of the steamship lines. One railway is projected from San Diego to Ensenada and San Quintin, and another to San José de Guatemala. A telegraph line has been built between San Diego and Ensenada, in which city extensive irrigation works have been begun, a fine hotel built, and other preparations made for the expected large immigration.

Owing to some errors of administration, the company was for a time placed in a false posi- tion, involving temporary diffienlties. There has been made recently a change of manage-

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ment, by which the affairs of the company rest in the hands of experienced parties, backed by ample capital, who are rapidly adjusting their coneerns upon a safe and satisfactory plan. The company's resident manager or agent is Captain B. Scott (of the Royal Engineers), Ensenada, Lower California.

There are in La Baja various Americans out- side of those introduced by the companies, who have acquired individual possessions of land, which they find worthy of enthusiastic praise, and of whose future profits they have great ex- pectations.

There is, moreover, another colonization pro. ject in contemplation, the colony to be estab- lished on land controlled by General Eli H. Murray, ex-Governor of Utah. This land, which is known as Palm valley, lies ncar the northern frontier line, inland, but a few miles from San Diego County.

TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATE, AND RESOURCES OF LA BAJA. THE MINES.

The southern extremity of La Baja, Cape San Lucas, is in a little below 23º north lati- tude. The ocean coast thence has a general northwest direction for some 700 miles to a parallel one marine league from the southern- most point of San Diego Bay, where, near Tia Juana, a marble monument was erected in 1850 by the boundary commissioners, to identify the line defined by the treaty of 1848 with Mexico. This monument is situated in a fraction over 32° 31' north latitude, and 117º 06' west of Greenwich. The gulf shore of the peninsula ends at least 100 miles farther south. The section of the peninsula on the seacoast for some fifty nautical leagues below the boundary, is one of the finest districts in the world for healthfulness, fertility, and delightful uniform- ity of climate.

From the earliest settlement of the first mis- sion near the Pacific coast in Lower California, that portion of the coast has been noted for its healthfulness and its equability of climate. No other climate of the world, it is said, is more

beneficial than that of the region lying from ten to thirty miles from the Pacific coast of this peninsula, in bronchial and throat affections, or catarrhal or pulmonary disease. Nearer the ocean there is dampness, and occasional fogs, hurtful to such cases. The climate of La Baja is modified by its distance from, or its nearness to the Pacific ocean or the Gulf of California, by its altitude above the sea-level, and by its range of hills or mountains. In the ocean strip, reaching some twenty miles back from the sbore, and ranging from San Diego sonthward, the mercury seldom falls below 40°, or rises above 80°, and the same weiglit of garments may be worn with comfort the year round. A second strip, embracing the same range, extending from twenty to forty miles back from the coast, varies from 30° in winter to 90° in summer, although it feels but little frost or excess of heat, except where modified by the altitude. A third strip, joining this upon the east, and a little wider than the other two, has thunder-storms in summer, and ice and snow in winter. This third strip is a mountain belt where grow many kinds of trees, and which has an abundance of water, supplied by nature, suitable for storage and distribution to the lower-coast zones. A fourth strip, between the last mentioned and the gulf coast, is warm in winter and hot in summer, being not unlike sonthern Arizona This section is as yet but little known. At present the two most western strips are most sought; but hereafter the interior regions will be sought for wood and timber, and for subter- ranean mineral riches.

American surveyors estimate-as no accurate survey has been made-that the peninsula con- tains 200,000 square miles, or 128,000,000 acres of land. The State of California contains some- thing approximate to a territorial extent of 158,687 square miles, or 101,559,680 acres. Oregon covers above 95,248 square miles; Ari- zona, 126,147 square miles; from comparison with these may be judged the area of Lower California.

The peninsula of Lower Cailfornia may be

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HISTORY OF LOWER CALIFORNIA.

divided geologically into three fairly well marked distriets. The first includes the high mountainous portions between La Paz and Cape San Lucas; the second extends to between San Ignacio and Santa Gertrudes; the third ineludes all that part lying north of Santa Gertrudes. The lower portion is almost totally mountain- ous, the spurs and chains varying much in height, and being interspersed with countless beautiful and fertile valleys, well watered. Even those high up in the mountains are well grassed, and surrounded by fine oak and pine timber. The geology here is simple. The high ridges are granitie, the rocks varying in struet- ure from true granite to true syenite through all intermediate gradations. Gold, silver, and copper have long been known to exist in this distriet.

The peninsula is said to excel even the State of California in the extent of its fossil remains, including shells, fish, and mammals. Above Mulejé, argentiferous galenas are common, and near the voleanic vieinities, close to the same old mission, pure sulphur oceurs in heavy deposits. Copper ores abound in various districts, and various copper mines have been worked for many years.

It is said that quicksilver ores exist near Santa Catalina Mission. The ocean coast salinas from San Quintin to Magdalena are numerous and plentiful, and the salt is easily gathered. The salt-mines of Carmen island are said to be extensive enough to supply the whole world. Much has been exported, and it is found to be dry, pure, and of prime quality. Before 1750 the King of Spain had deelined the offer of the Jesuits to take upon themselves the entire sup- port of the California missions, in exchange for the grant of this salt mine. It has in turn afforded considerable revenue to the Mexican government.

An excellent grade of marble lias been found near La Paz and Loreto, also gypsum, or sul- phate of line, in large slabs, transparent enough to serve as window-lights. Deposits of tequis- quite (impure carbonate of soda) exist in vari-

ous parts. Fine varieties of building-stone are abundant and accessible.

The existence of gold in the northeastern part of La Baja has long been known. Old maps show the general location of gold-bearing distriets in that territory lying in a direet line between San Diego and the mouth of the Col- orado river, and due east of the Ensenada.

In 1870 gold placers were discovered in the San Rafael valley, resulting in an exeitement which attracted many immigrants to La Baja, and caused a regular stage-line to be run thither from San Diego. It brought corresponding disadvantages in the way of incentives to dep- redations by Indians and bandits.

In " Peninsular California," Mr. Charles Nordhoff wrote as follows: "There are at sev- eral points on the peninsula considerable placer and quartz deposits promising well, and there have been lately discoveries of copper deposits in the northern part, believed to be as rich as those on the gulf coast. The color of gold ean be got in almost every guleh and ravine on the peninsula; and when the mineral resources are better known, it will probably be found that the peninsula is but an extension of the great Northern California gold-field."

Thus the history of the past, and the foreeast of the future, made by experienced intelligence, had paved the way for an enthusiastic, not to say freindly, eager reception of the announce- ment made in the San Diego Sun of February 28, 1890, of the discovery of marvelously rich gold fields in the Santa Clara distriet, some sixty iniles from La Ensenada de Todos Santos. The first gold exhibited as found there was a ten-ounce nugget, which was pieked up by a Mexican boy named Malendrez, searching for strayed eattle. No sooner was the news given to the outside world than it spread, or fairly leaped, like an electric thrill, all over the coun- try. From every quarter, and from great dis- tances, came throngs stricken with mining-fever. Those San Diego houses which dealt in artieles suitable for mining and camp life, and provisions, soon found depleted their stoeks of those wares.

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The custom-house at Tia Juana assumed an importance never enjoyed before in all its ex- istence, and that at Ensenada also felt strongly the impulse of the enormous immigration. Men in all walks in life left their various avo- cations to rush to the mines, and the district was shortly crowded with merchants, miners, ranchers, professional men and loafers, all eager to wrest a sudden fortune from the placers. The natural and inevitable results speedily enened. The journey and sojourn were full of great dis- comforts; the territory was limited; supplies were very dear, and scarce at any price; very many people had started for the mines with very little money, to arrive penniless, trusting to the resources of the spot to rehabilitate their purses. Then to crown all, the placers became exhausted. All these difficulties and drawbacks did not fail to produce a tremendous ontcry of wrath and disappointment and the malcontents inveighed bitterly against the discoveries as fraudulent or mythical-which they were not. Mean- while, rich ledges of gold-quartz had been dis covered, and men of means who had gone thither to investigate the placers found other sources of mining richness less immediate of result, but more stable. Thus money was in- vested, mills and other improvements of ad- vanced mining methods constructed, and there has sprung np in the mining district a flourish- ing little town,-Alamo,-while work is steadily advancing and the mining industry seems to be here firmly established upon a solid basis. These mines are situated in the Santa Clara range of mountains, seventy miles northeast of Ensenada, and 150 miles southeast of San Diego. The mineral belt, as far as developed, extends from two miles south of Camp Alamo, near the base of Tomasa mountain, ten miles northwest- erly. by some two miles wide, several hundred quartz locations having been made therein. The general character of the country is mesa land, over which wagons can be driven almost at discretion, the surface covered with sage brush, cedar, and juniper, with some manzanita and scrub-oak.

The country rock is generally granite and porphyry. Large porphyry dikes stand ont boldly, being traceable for miles from north to south. The quartz veins, also traceable for long distances, run parallel to the dikes, their strikes being northwest and southeast, and the dip being an average of seventy-five degrees to the south. The average width is three to five feet, with a maximum of seven feet. The veins are sometimes encased wholly, in granite on one side and porphyry on the other, being weil defined. The quartz is that known as " sugar quartz," from its resemblance to loaf sugar, and easily crushable " ribbon rock," mostly free from base metals. The gold is generally distributed in fine particles, much of the richest ore showing no gold visible to the naked eye. Several locations frequentiy are made on the same vein, and on all such pay rock has been discovered. This is important, as showing the veins are continuous for a long distance, with pay rock their entire length, which conditions are unusual in other mineral- bearing regions. The greatest depth as yet reached is forty-five feet with short drifts toward either side to de- termine the direction and the dip. At that depth, most of the veins show increased strength, in some cases widening to eight and nine feet, and becoming more vertical, with perfect walls; the enclosing rock indicates increased width of veins at lower depth. In the majority of cases more or less water is found at from fifteen to forty feet deep, which usually indicates deep fissures, or continnous veins to great depths. For most of the mines pumping machinery will be required before any great depth can be reached:

The country surrounding the mines is better watered than most other portions of the penin- sula, the water being pure and cool. Among the most important mines are the Elsinore, Asbestos, El Paso, Ulises, Centipede, Telemaco, Grandota, Grande, Encantada, Rattlesnake, St. David, Montezuma, Princesa, Cocinero, Aurora, Scorpion, Arabella, Lavina, Sunrise, and Rain- bow. Some of the most important mining

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companies are the International, the El Paso, the Independencia, and the Alamo.

On the eastern side of the peninsula are cop- per mines so promising that the Rothschilds have purchased them at high figures; and there is recently reported the discovery of a new and valuable mine of this metal at San Fernando, on the west side of the mountain range. The silver mines near San Antonio were worked in 1784, and by simple processes of working metal was obtained that amounted to almost $1,000,- 000. Between 1861 and 1864 some twenty companies were incorporated in San Francisco to work the silver and copper mines, espe cially those at Triunfo and San Antonio Real, near La Paz. Much money was spent and in three or four instances with successful pro- gress.

There are said to be guano deposits of a quan- tity and quality profitable to work on various of the rocky headlands and islets of the upper gulf sections, and companies have at different times been formed for their working.

It is said that here exist two distinct species of pearl oysters, with a possible third. They are found between the Magdalena, southward to and around the cape, and northward to above the Guardian Angel island, covering over 1,000 iniles of shore line. Ordinary pearls abound every year, but very rare are those extraordi- nary in size and color. A first class pearl from these fisheries brings $5,000 to $6,000, or even a higher figure. The most splendid pearls iu the Spanish regalia were taken from the gulf of California before Napoleon's invasion, and they had been in great demand in Spain. Since the days of Cortez California pearls of good quality have been in demand in Mexico and Peru at profitable prices for the last 300 years. Between 1700 and 1710 the king's share of all the pearls taken in California amounted to $12,000 annually. In 1857 there was obtained $22,000 in pearls and $30,000 in pearl shells The largest pearl taken from the district was one discovered at La Paz in 1882, which weighed seventy-five carats. A pear-shaped pearl found

several years since in the crust of a pearl-shell oyster brought $150.

There is said to be an abundance of coral in Magdalena Bay and the gulf waters.

In 1860-'62 Professor John Xantus, collect- ing for the Smithsonian Institute, in the lower portion alone of the peninsula, leaving unworked two-thirds of its territory, gathered over 100,- 000 specimens of animals, plants and minerals, of which 30,000 were fish, shells, sponges, etc., and over one-half of his species were new to science.

The true tortoise shell turtle abounds on both coasts, as well as all the known species of edible turtles.

The indigenous quadrupeds, insects, birds and reptiles of lower California are almost iden- tical with those of Arizona, and that portion of California lying south of Point Concepcion. Nearly every species and variety of edible fish found on the coasts of Europe, the West Indies, Chili or Atlantic North America, are found in lower California in abundance.

La Baja is by no means deficient in the ele- ments needful for agricultural greatness. The average yearly rainfall over the northern section for the past ten years has been 22.69 inches.

Valleys of frequent occurrence in the northern half of lower California are deep, and also by the configuration of the mountains they are as- sured a large amount of moisture. Springs are by no means rare. The soil in the valleys is re- ported as extremely fertile, and as admirably adapted to fruits of all kinds, notably the grape. In the valleys near Ensenada, grapes of all kinds are raised without irrigation. On the mesas more or less irrigation is requisite, except for citrus fruits. Among the possible products are corn, wheat, barley and all the other cereals, sng- ar-cane, tobacco, cotton, apples, pears, grapes, apricots, peaches, oranges, lemons, figs, pome- granates, limes, bananas and pineapples, besides other varieties of fruits, citrus and decidu- ons, tropical and semi-tropical. The aim of the concessionaires and of the colonists alike, seeins to be to repeat here the history of Alta

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California, in making agricultural, rather than mining pursuits, the chief industry of La Baja California. Careful surveys have been mnade to determine the feasibility of bringing water from the cañons, and for the sinking of artesian wells, to secure for agricultural purposes an ample supply of water. As an illustration of the resources of this section in the respect of farming, it may be well to cite at least one in- stance. A certain New Hampshire man who had come to California pearly thirty years since, going to Ensenada in 1887, lias become possessed of a ranch or farm, whose orange trees planted from the seed nine years since are in good bearing. So, also, bearing good fruit, are his bananas, eight years old. Some of the stalks of these trees have reached a diameter of ten inches. One olive tree, nine years old, yielded sixteen gallons of oil, which sold for an average price of seventy-five cents per gallon. A single grape vine, nine years old, produced last season 900 pounds of grapes. During no season within the past twelve years has there failed to be an abundant grape crop. The lemons, peaches and apricots on this possession yield well, and the fig trees produce a great weight of fruit.

All the republic of Mexico offers a great market for the products of all manufacturing industries established by American or European enterprise, as the native industrial manufactures are very crude and limited as well, and very heavy duties are imposed on imports from the United States and other countries. The penin- sula might readily become a great manufactur- ing district and source of supply for the whole of Mexico, being, as it is, very accessible both by sea and by rail, and becoming populated by an influx of people more inclined to industrial ventures than are those entering the more southern States of the Republic. Late reports announce the discovery of coal in paying quan. tities, and the development of this most im- portant mineral element would be a potent factor in promoting the establishment of man- ufacturing institutions. Coal in small veins

has long been known in lower California, both on the coast and in the desert district. A good coal mine would prove of more actual practical- worth than a rich gold mine.

Mineral springs, botlı warın and cold, of prop- erties highly medicinal, are found in nearly every district. On the gulf shore above San Felipe de Jesus harbor are several boiling-hot springs

As far back as 1857 La Baja exported, ac- cording to Mexican official statistics, wine, salt, cheese, sugar, dried meats, figs, raisins, dates, oranges, salt fish, Brazil-wood, hides, gold, silver and copper ores, gold and silver in mark and ounces, pearls, mother-of-pearl, etc., amount- ing in all to $155,000. The item of animal oils to be derived from seal, sea-lion, sea-elephant, whale, etc., is one of importance, as also that of peltries.

The parasite plant, orchilla, used for dyeing purposes, was first discovered on this peninsula, by a Nantucket sailor. For seventy-five years this industry has been increasing and it is now conducted on a very extensive scale. The most important field of gathering this valuable plant is around Magdalena Bay, on the west coast. It is marketed chiefly in Europe.

There are, in various portions of the penin- sula, good timber regions, producing limited quantities of red cedar, choice white oak, and black, sugar and yellow (also known as " bull ") pine. It is estimated that in the Tableta sec- tion alone there is at least 400,000,000 feet of Inmber and timber, and active preparations are in hand for the exploiting of this interest.

La Paz has one of the finest and safest har- bors in the two Californias. This bay has been known for 350 years to navigation and history, and has been all the while celebrated for its rich pearl fisheries, from which have come somne of the rarest gems in royal regalia. La Paz has been since 1830 the capital of Lower California, and the center of all local government opera- tions. The Ensenada, or Bay, of Todos Santos, is a fine harbor for vessels under 400 tons.

Directly ahead, as the vessel enters the Bay

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of All Saints, lies the town of Ensenada, where the rocky shore meets the beach curving in crescent shape around a reach of seventy-eight miles, the land sloping upward to the moun- tains, ten miles distant.

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1038

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038