ELECTRIC POWER-HOUSE AT COLGATE, ON THE YUBA RIVER. THE POWER GENERATED HERE RUNS THE STREET RAILWAYS OF OAKLAND, 219 MILES AWAY, THE LONGEST DISTANCE POWER TRANSMISSION IN THE WORLD

Fertile Owens Valley.

Farming Nearly a Mile

near Bishop for local uses. Buhr stone, pronounced of fine quality, exists near Independence station. Northeast of Big Pine the foothills are whitened by a wide expanse of low grade phosphate deposits.

Owens valley, extending nearly all the length of the county's western edge, contains all its farming land and the great bulk of the county's population, and to this valley alone is reference made in speaking of Inyo's agricultural resources. Owens valley is approximately one hundred miles long; about fifteen miles wide at Bishop; is almost cut into by a spur of the Sierra near Fish Springs, south of which it expands to a width of six to ten miles. It contains about five hundred thousand acres of arable land of which one hundred and

ninety thousand acres are now held under patent. Scarcely one-fifth of this is as yet materially improved. The Independence land officers estimate that about 25,000 acres which may be irrigated from existing streams or ditches, remain unclaimed. A much greater area yet vacant is reclaimable by artesian or storage enterprises.

The soil is everywhere fertile. Along the foothills and through much of the valley it is sandy, with loam along the low lands. Alkali is found in this better soil, but not usually in sufficient quantities to make the land useless.

Agricultural lands are obtainable at prices which, in comparison with those charged in many less fertile sections, are very low, ranging from $1.25 an acre for government locations to from $10 to $60 for improved tracts.

The altitude ranges from three thousand six hundred Above the Sea. and twenty feet at Keeler to three thousand nine hundred and seven at Independence station, to four thousand four hundred and fifty at Bishop and slightly more in Round Valley. Owing to this and the dry air, the climate is mild. and healthful. The dry air makes one hundred degrees here far less severe than the much lower temperature in a moist climate. Owens river runs the valley's full length to the lake. Its flow is variable, but will probably average 40,000 inches, though several times as much in high water seasons. Bishop creek, the second largest stream, is a

river in itself at times. There are seventeen other streams of more or less importance, altogether flowing ordinarily 12,000 to 15,000 inches-an estimate but three-fourths as large as another at hand. There are probably twenty smaller streams, each carrying from fifty inches down. The waters of the river are diverted through seventeen main ditches and canals. Owens lake is eight miles or more in width, twenty in length, and is fed by Owens river, a few small streams, and some springs. Having no outlet, and being subject to rapid evaporation, it has in the course of ages become highly charged with minerals. An analysis made by a London chemist, shows its water to have a specific gravity of 1.76, and to be impregnated with carbonate, chloride, and sulphate of sodium, and sulphate and silicate of potassium. This water has rare cleansing properties, and medicinal virtues are attributed to it. Its mineral character has given rise to an important industry, the manufacture of soda. The liquid is pumped into twenty acres or more of shallow vats, where evaporation by the summer sun leaves the solid substances to be shoveled up by thousands of tons, then refined and marketed.

Abundance

of Water.

BOXING ORANGES AT A FOOTHILL GROVE IN THE SIERRA MADRE, NEAR LOS ANGELES.

CHAPTER VIII.

CALIFORNIA SOUTH OF TEHACHAPI. Los Angeles and Surroundings Orange Groves and Climate —In the Footsteps of the Padres -Resorts and Valleys and Mountains for Invalids-Where Water Works Wonders Recent Development of Southern Counties-Orange, Olive and Lemon Groves —Increase of Orange Shipments East -The Ostrich Farm-Palm Springs, Indio, and the Country Below Sea Level-Marvelous Fertility of Land Once Desert-Beautiful Homes of Pasadena, Los Angeles, Redlands and Other Southern California Towns-Santa Barbara and Its MissionFruitful Valleys and Foothills-English Walnuts and Olives -The Outdoor School at Nordhoff-The New Potter Hotel at Santa Barbara-Beans of Ventura, a Wonderful Crop-National Soldiers' Home at Santa Monica --Profits of Small Farms-Big Hotels for Tourists-Santa Monica Wharf and the San Pedro Breakwater -Santa Catalina Island --San Diego and CoronadoUndeveloped Mining Resources -A Rendezvous for Warships.

-And the children shout, and an oriole sings

Where a poppy springs;

And the baby wonders and cannot guess

Why the world is clad in such loveliness.

-C. H. PHelps.

UNSHINE, pure air, fruits and flowers-these are the

SU

characteristics of all California, the things different

from other parts of the country, and these characteristics differ in degree throughout the great State. In the region south of the Tehachapi mountains, for example, covering seven counties, there are more oranges raised than any other kind of fruit, but experiments each year demonstrate that about everything that can grow anywhere under the sun will thrive here. But climate and open air possibilities twelve months of the year form the big asset of this region. Drawn by climatic influences, Father Serra and his associates located the San Gabriel mission here on their march northerly over a century ago; then grew up near the mission the Los Angeles hacienda, which to-day has given way to one of the most prosperous and wideawake of American cities.