USA > California > San Benito County > History of San Benito County, California : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, farms, residences, public buildings, factories, hotels, business houses, schools, churches, and mines : with biographical sketches of prominent citizens > Part 27
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131
SITUATION OF CAPES, BAYS AND HARBORS.
was trodden out on the ground by horses, after which it was washed and dried before grinding. The mill used and style of farming is described on page twenty-three. Now all the more morlern improved agricultural machinery is cinployed, as rep- resented in some of our illustrations of the bestfarmers such as James and Michael Lynn, D. MeKinnon and others whose farming operations are more fully described elsewhere.
OTHER PRODUCTIONS EXTENSIVE.
Potatoes are extensively cultivated, and make in many local- ities immense yields and are very profitable. The best Innd for late potatoes is the light sandy or sediment soil near the bay or coast; these lands produce from one hundred to two hun Ired sacks of potatoes, weighing from one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and thirty pounds per saek. Al- most any of the land in the valley will produce a fiue crop of early potatoes.
Beans are extensively cultivated in this county-largely in Pajaro valley. Alfalfa does well in almost every locality in this county and produces from three to four crops of hay, of from two to four tons per acre every year where it is used for making hay, and furnishes a perpetually green past - ure, good for all kin Is of stock, where used for the purposes of pasturage. The only enemy to alfalfa is the gophers. If these little animals are not killed out, they prove very destruc- tive to the plants, by cutting off the large roots near the top of the ground.
Flax and mustard are cultivated to a considerable extent. Black mustard is indigenous, but of late years white mustard has been introduced and dogs well. Vegetables of every description are easily raised. Beets yield on good soil and proper cultivation, from seventy-five tu one hundred and fifty tons per acre. The crop can be left growing all winter and the beets sometimes weigh from ninety to one hundred and sev- enty pounds.
FRUIT TREES AND BERRIES.
All kinds of fruits do well, although there are not many large orchards in the county. A few years ago nearly the entire county was a pasture for sheep and cattle, and as these herds were moved out to make room for farmers, orchards have been plauted in different parts of the county, although most of them are quite young.
Apples do well anywhere in this county and are of as fine quality as can be found anywhere.
Pears find a climate here just suited to the production of the most luscious fruit.
Plums bear well anywhere in this seetion and the fruit is of good quality.
Quinces raised in Monterey county cannot be excelled any- where both as to quality and quantity of the fruit produced.
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Peaches can be grown anywhere in the county and the fruit arrives at great perfection in the mountains, valley's and cañons.
Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, and currants do very well on almost any of the land.
STOCK RAISING.
Stock-rising is a prominent interest in this country, ope- cially in the mountainous and hilly portions, which are covered with sheep and cattle. Horses are raised for the innrkets by many of the farmers, and the better class of horses find a ready sale. Some persons have given attention to the raising of hogy, and the number shipped from the county every year is very large. The raising of hogsis very profitable in connection with farming, dairying, etc. No kind of stock requires feeding, except such as are kept up, as they find sufficient grazing the entire year. Monterey is one of the best sheep counties in the State. The lands of the grent valley mie however too val- uable, and pasturage is found in the hills.
Some years since, this county contained more sheep than any other in the State. They are not ns numerons at present, but more valuable, the breeds having been greatly improved.
There is, probably, uo county in the State as well adapted to this industry as Monterey. The hills in the Coast Range afford pasturage in seasons when the lowlands are suffering from drought.
Capes, Bays and Harbors.
Monterey bay, ninety-two miles south of San Francisco, is about thirty miles wide, and circular in form. Point Pinos forms its southern, and Point New Year its northern headland Near the latter headland is the harbor of Santa Cruz, while Carmel bay is iu close proximity.
Quite an extensive coasting trade is carried on froin the numerous points around the bay, notwithstanding the bay offers but imperfect shelter, it being somewhat exposed to winds during the winter months.
The Bay of Monterey was first called the Port of Pines. was discovered in 1602, by Geueral Sebastian Viscaino, who, under orders from Phillip III. of Spain, male an exploration of the coast of Upper California. On the 10th of November he discovered the harbors of San Diego. After remaining there a short time, he resumed his northward course, and on the 16th of December discovered the Bay of Monterey, which he named in honor of Gaspar de Zunniga, Count de Monte Rey. at that time Viceroy of Mexico. Viscaiño was much impressed with the beauty of the surroundings, and remained in the bay eighteen days. This was more fully explained on page fifteen.
132
MONTEREY AS A PORT AND SAFE HARBOR.
A pleasant excursion for a day in summer is a trip across the Bay of Monterey. The water is transparent as crystal; pebbles and mosses lying at the bottom, can be distinctly seen through twenty feet of this limpid element. In the vicinity of the old town of Monterey the coast is bold and rocky, the situ- ation and appearance of the town picturesque, while the sur- roundings harmonize, bleuding the whole into a grand pano- rama.
A MAGNIFICENT SHEET OF WATER.
The Bay of Monterey is a magnificent sheet of water, and is twenty eight iniles from point to point. It is large enough to shelter the navies of the world, while its anchorage is seenre except during very stormy weather. The harbor, proper, is in the shape of a horse shoe, the mouth opening to the north; it is amply protected from the south, east and west, and with a breakwater extending half a mile into the bay from the northwestern shore the harbor would afford perfect safety from winds from any and all points of the compass; as it is, the largest ships may generally ride with safety any gale.
The bay is delightfully adapted to yachting; and many kinds of fish (and especially rock-cod, baracouta, pompino, Spanish mackerel, and flounder,) may be taken at all seasons of the year. For bathing purposes the beach is all that could be desired-one long, bold sweep of wide, gently sloping, clean white sands-the very perfection of a bathing beach, and so safe that children may play and bathe upon it with entire security. There are also great varieties of sea-mosses, shells, pebbles and agates scattered here and there along the rim of tbe bay, fringed as it is at all times with the creamy ripple of the surf of its broad, blue, beautiful waters.
MONTEREY AS A PORT.
We copy the following from the Salinas City Index :-
" It requires no great stretch of the imagination to predict that the products of a very large area of California, both to the south and east of Monterey and Salinas, are ultimately to find their way to tide-water across our valley. In truth, between San Francisco and San Pedro, a distance of over four hundred miles, we hold the gateway to the only accessible harbor for general commerce with the world. It is only a question of time in regard to the centering of other railroads to this point. To the doubting ones we say, examine the profile maps of the country then scan any map of the Atlantic sea- board, and answer us, whether in the light of what has come to pass elsewhere, we are extravagant in our predictions.
" We would not give a fig for the judgment of that man wbo is despondent over our future prospects. There were just such in San Francisco twenty years ago, and with about as much reason and judgment as those who are fearful there is no further room for progress here."
A SAFE HARBOR.
Nature has not made the harbor so good that the hand of man cannot improve it; and we believe it to be the duty of those interested in the future welfare of the State, to properly represent to Congress the great good that would result from the expenditure of a small sum of money, compared to the ben- efits that would accrue to the shipping interests of this coast, in improving the port of Monterey.
The harbor, proper, is in the shape of a 'horse shoe, the mouth opening to the north, and it is amply protected from tho south, east, and west; and with a breakwater extending half a inile into the bay from the north-western shore, the harbor would afford perfect safety from winds from any and all points of the compass. Even now the largest ships in the navies of the world can ride with safety through any gale that blows in tho Bay of Monterey ; but no doubt improvements can be made.
There is also a large natural laguna, which could be without difficulty transformed into a dry or wet dock. In fact, the natural position of Monterey is such that she is bound to become next to San Francisco, the most flourishing port on the coast. Her growth may be retarded, but it cannot be pre- vented.
POINT PINOS.
Point Pinos is a bold and rocky promontory extending or jutting out into the ocean, and forms the extreme western shore of the Bay of Monterey, and distant about three miles from Monterey. Here the breakers dash high on the rocks and afford a grand spectacle in the morning air. Here is found good sea fishing, and near by is Moss Beach, one of the pretty spots of beach which are so common along the bay. At low tide a person may walk out on the white beach nearly a half a mile on sand as hard as a rock. Here the moss gatherers spend hours in selecting varieties of the most beautiful and delicate moss. A little further on are a cluster of rocks upon which hundreds of scals sport.
POINT PINOS LIGHTHOUSE.
The building is a dark gray stone structure, one and one- half stories higb, built in the strongest and most substantial manner. Rising from the center or ridge of the roof is a brick tower painted wbite, on which is firmly placed the iron lantern and illuminating apparatus, the exterior of which is painted red.
This light station was erected by order of Hon. Thomas Corwin, Secretary of the Treasury, in the year 1853. The light was first exbibited to mariners on January 20, 1855, and Charles Layton was first keeper appointed. The light is classed as a third order Fresnel, with catadioptrie lenses, of immense and powerful magnifying capacity. The light, in ordinary fair
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133
CARMELO BAY AND ITS MANY ATTRACTIONS.
and clear weather, should be discernible from a vowel , duck sixteen and one-half nautical miles. The height of center of focal plane above high water on sea level is ninety-one feet. The arc illuminated is four-fifths of the entire horizon, or two hundred and twenty-eight degress The description of the light, as given to mariners in their charts, is a thir l order' fixed white, Fresnel light. The drive to the light house is pleasant and pretty, and well shaded. The view from the tower well repays the visitor for his pains, and those in charge are always pleased to see visitors and to show them every attention.
The following persons have been principal keepers of the light: Charles Layton, Charlotte Layton, George C. llarris. Frank Porter, Andrew Wasson, and Captain Allen L. Luce.
BAY OF CARMELO.
This little bay is directly south of Cypress Point, the most prominent headland of the county coast line. It is about four miles south of the town and harbor of Monterey. It is font miles in length and two in width, and has deep water but is exposed to the south and south-east winds. The bay pos- sesses much natural beauty but is of little commercial impor- tance as yet. It is a beautiful sheet of water. Silvery sands line the bay, whiter almost than the sea-foam as it splashes against the dark background. The beautiful, elear Carmelo river glistens in the sunlight as it empties its pure waters in this bay to be lost in the vast ocean.
CYPRESS POINT.
This is a cape at the entrance of Carmelo bay and as some writer says is the one spot more perfectly adapted to picnics than any other point in the State. This cape is not as pointed as some others but is rough and rugged. The billows charge with great foree, but inland they break in a creamy ripple at the foot of green patebed sand dunes. The black cypress from which the point was named three hundred years ago almost skirt the water. At a short distance is Pebble Beach where very pretty moss agates are to be found.
The ill-starred Moro rock lifts its dome-shaped head with threatening aspeet, warning mariners of the dangers of a rock- bound coast. The craggy rocks jut out into the ocean, and the playful breakers as they dash upon them send aloft showers of spray white as driven snow, while the sunlight shines through the bright green billows as they eurl and dash along in their impetuous, never-ending race. At our feet the silvery crystal sands are sprinkled with glistening abalone shells, sea- polished, and the varied colors of the beautiful sea-mosses. Little pools teem with marine life and form a perfect aquaria, and the broad Pacifie sweeps on iu its uncontrollable course, bearing upon its bosom the wealth of empires.
This is named Lok a from " lana del mar," a species of seal which collect at this point and can be seen from the shore in great munter
TILL: MONTEREY CYPRESS
This remarkable tive is found nowhere che except at this point, and love are not over one hundred trees But great numbers have been propagat sl anl introduced all over the State, and want to the East It is a beautiful evergreen, grows rapidly, is thick, stoot aml graceful, attaining a height of forty to sixty feet. The largest trunk in the grove at Point Cypress was nineteen feet and two inches in cireminference at three fort above the ground; or about six feet aml four inches in diameter. The timber is very durable, and makes excellent posts and inils. The cones or globules are pro.Ineed every year, and are about the size of a large filbert. The seed is, in shape and size, like onion seed, and may be sown in the same way and in the same sort of soil. The cones do not fall from the trees, and the seed is retained in them At Cypress Point where the trees ure kept almost constantly damp by the fog that rolls in from the ocean, the cones and seeds often become mouldy and worthless.
Professor Sargent, United States Botanical Department, says that nowhere in the world does the real cypress grow except on Point Cypress. Also, that a species of pine is found in no other place on the globe except within a radius of one hundred miles of this point.
POINT SUR.
This point or cape is about midway of the length of the eounty on the coast line. As you pass this point in vessels, the eoast presents a rugged, inaccessible and forbidding look. The Sur river enters the ocean a little sonth of the point. Here are dairy ranches, andl some pretty but very narrow valleys, The mountains nre heavily timbered all along the coast. Further on and near the boundary of the county, is Point Gorda. Going south from here the coast trends to the cast.
HEIGHT OF PEAKS AND PLACES.
The following are the heights of the principal mountains and places in and near Monterey county, as given in 1851, by Pro- fessor Mooney :-
Height-feet.
Mountains and Places.
San Antonio Mission. 1190
Ojitas Rancho. 980
Pass north and above ranch 1610
Santa Margarita Pass. 1620
270
San Luis Obispo Mission
211
Mission San Juan
2025
Mission Peak
220
Rancho Tres. Pinos
Pass Santa Anna
615
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134
COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND POPULATION.
C'añada San Juan
Sierra Gabilan Summit .
Chupedero Summit 2365
C'holame Peak . 2010
Soledad Mission 312
Hollister
45
Salinas City.
1235
Top of Carmel grade
370
Spaulding's
Top of grade between Spaulding's and Chu- pines creek.
1013
Chupines creek 696
Top between Chupines creck and Tularcitos Ranch House
1030
Tularcitos Ranch House
Top between Tularcitos and Gordon's 1719
James'. . 1533
Wheeler Cabin 3690
Top of' ridge above James'
4713
China Camp, head of Miller Canon 4388
First crossing of ridge beyond Miller Canon. 4555
Second " 4813
Pines
4445
Head of canon leading to Springs
2872
Springs
1650
Paraiso Hot Springs 1400
.
. above valley 1040
Organization of the County.
THE county was organized in April, 1850. In November, 1830, the Court of Sessions or lered that " the tender of rooms in James McKinley's House, for eighteen monthis, for use of county, be acecpted." It was ordered on April 20, 1831, that a tax of "one-fourth of one per cent for county purposes, and one per cent for county Court House purposes, be levied." The county sent remained at Monterey until 1872. It occupied the Colton Hall for a long time. The building of the railroad changed the center of population, and so Monterey met with another misfortune, and lost the capitol of the county.
REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY SEAT.
Simultaneously with the growth of Salinas City, which was becoming the liveliest town in the county, arose the question of county seat removal. Monterey had held this honor ever since the organization of the county, and the attempt of her younger rival to wrest it from her was bitterly opposed. In spite of her efforts, however, a petition signed by the requisite number of voters was presented to the Board of Supervisors, who, as in duty bound, ordered an election, which was held on the 6th of November, 1872, the day of the presidential election. The
result was a victory for Salinas City, and in the following Feb- ruary the county sent was removed to its present location. The vote was 1,436 for Salinas and 488 for Monterey.
In 1872 a large part of the county was cut off and organized as San Benito county.
INCREASE OF POPULATION.
At the first United States census of California, taken in 1850, the population was stated at 1.872. The first State census, taken in 1852, gave it at 2,728, In 1860, it was 4,739. In 1870, it was 9,876, as follows :--
DISTRICTS.
Total.
Native.
Forvign.
White.
Colored.
Alisa
2723
2108
G15
2625
G
Salinas City.
599
145
581
San Antonio.
761
585
176
720
Castroville ....
1302
1004
298
1248
Castroville.
+36
371
65
425
N
Monterey . .
1923
1504
419
1737
I
Monterey
1112
895
217
105G
1
Pajaro .
761
500
171
760
. .
Total. .
9876
7511
210G
8152
14
And in 1880 it was 11,309, showing a gain in ten years of 1,433, notwithstanding San Benito had been cut off in 1872.
At the time the first State census was taken in 1852, the mining countics had large populations; for instance, El Dorado 41,000, now 10,647 ; Calaveras 20,192, now 8,980.
UNOCCUPIED LANDS.
'There is a section of country south of Monterey, lying directly on the coast, mostly government land, many valuable portions of which are still unoccupied, that for climate, soil, and general adaptability for grazing purposes, cannot be excelled in the United States, which is saying a great deal. There is a steep range of mountains, running on a line parallel with the ocean, and not far from it. On the slope of this range, facing the ocean, there is some of the finest land you ever gazed upon, comprising tables or ridges, and pretty little valleys.
In the deep gulehes intervening there is the greatest abund- ance of the finest redwood and tanbark oak ; and in alinost every one of these gulches there is a running stream of water the ycar round, while one or two approach almost the proportions of rivers. The grass continues fresh and green the entire year. When stock is once driven into this range, there is no danger of their straying out; indeed, you may stand in your doorway and scc them easily during the whole day. To add to the many other advantages that this beautiful section of country possesses over other parts of the State, is the fact that there is bnt one Spanish grant between the Carmelo and San Luis Obispo, a distance of from eighty to one hundred miles.
It is a paradise for hunters, or for those who desire to live cheap and do but little work. Deer, quail and rabbits abound, while in the larger streams trout are plenty.
300
2750
284
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MONTEREY AN AGRICULTURAL COUNTY.
An Agricultural County.
MONTEREY is in no sens a mining county but is clawed with the agricultural. Gold has however been found at various places in the Santa Lucia range, although nowhere in large quantities. Places are or were worked near San Antonio Mission. Small quantities of silver ore have been found at Arroyo Seco, causing at one time much excitement, and the expenditure of many thousands of dollars without getting any return.
There are no mines of any value in the Coast Range. Cin- nabar is the ore most likely to be found in sufficient deposits to become valuable. Small quantities of galena, found on the Alisa! Ranch a few miles north-east of Monterey, gave rise tu stories of silver mines of great richness, but none of value were ever worked. Deposits of asphaltum, on or near the coast, are well known. The bituminous slate, near San Antonio Mission, is generally of a cream color, and sometimes almost white. It is very fine grained, and not highly bituminons, In one place the flow has covered the road with hardened asphaltumn.
CHAL AND OTHER MINERALS.
Coal has been discovered in both the great mountain ranges, but those of the most supposed value were in the Santa Lucia range near Monterey. One mine was called the " Monterey," with B. V. Sargent as President at one time; another the " Mal Paso," J. W. Miller, President. Although considerable money has been spent in developing these coal veins, they do not, as yet, seem to have been profitable to the parties opent- ing them, and at present no work is being done.
Quarries of stone have been opened at various points. The Mission Carmelo was built of the bituminous slate near Mont- erey. The old quarries can be found from which the stone was taken. The rock is soft and easily cut with an ax, yet sufficiently durable, in this climate, to be used for building par- poses. Walls laid seventy-five years ago still show the marks of tools used in dressing the stone. The mission walls determine how well it stanils exposure. Both sandstone and limestone, impregnated with bitumin, occur in the State. The sandstoue is in a thick strata, and we believe was used, at an early day, for building purposes in San Francisco.
The granite is coarse grained, and contains crystals of feldspar, often two inches in length and sometimes four. This rock has been quarried at Point Pinos and Point Lobos. Where the granite is free from sulphate of iron, it is of excellent qual- ity, and dresses into a handsome surface. A sand of the most dazzling whiteness, apparently formed by the action of the surf on the granite, has accumulated in places along the beach, and is used for the manufacture of glass.
Limestone abounds in the mountains back of Natividad and in the vicinity of the Gabilan range It ought to Ina thriving industry Only a limit-I amount is praluced at
In the hills and mountains are deposited leges or tale of fossil or petrified shells, including many distinct species of oysters, clains, etc., that one inhabited the ocean In one of these beds, fifteen or twenty feet thick, was found an oyster shell which weighed fourteen and a half pounds, and way on exhibition at Monterey for a while
OLD MISING TOWN OF ROOTVILLE.
By far the largest mining developments were in progress several years ago, some six miles north-east of Sole lad, and thirty-six miles cast of Salinus, at a town called Rootville At one time the town was in quite a prosperous condition, but it would be hard work to limnl it now.
Mr. Samuel Brannan and a Mr. If. Higgins are said to have spent a large amount of money here, mining for gott. The precious metal was found, but not in paying quantities; s.tvor was the article most sought after, an l quite extensive mining operations were condneted at one time. The first discovery was abont 1870, ly a Mr. Root, unt bener the name of the locality. This mine was entted the " Robert Emmett," and it was sail "the ledge was well defined ant could be traced for miles." A shaft was sunk, au-t other operations carried on.
'T'he " Comet " was considered a still better ledge, an I the " Bainbridge" outrivaled them all in prospective richness. Some of the tunnels run into the hals for a distance of three hundred feet.
A REMARKABLE CANYON.
Five miles north of this oll mining ground is a singular valley, probably half a mile in length, and exceedingly narrow. Towering upon either hand, for a height of two thousand feet, are perpendicular walls of rock. At the extremity opposite the place of' entrance is an enormous egg-shapel boubler, just filling the interstice between the two walls, and fitting so snugly as to effectually bar all entrance or exit. Beneath the stone is a space just sufficient to admit the passage of a mount- ain stream. A short distance below this is a small valley completely rock-bound. if we exeept a passageway six feet in width at either extremity. It is a matter of absolute impossi- bility to effect either entrance or exit from this valley in any other way than by one of these pa-ses. "This is said to have been a favorite strong-hold of Joaquin Murieta. Vasquez is also said to have songht its retirement, when elosely pur- sued, and to have enjoyed many days of quiet in its secure retreat.
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