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TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



MONO COUNTY. 



The western portion of the county lies among the Sierra Nevada Mount- 

 ains, the heights being clad in snow, and the slopes of the range covered 

 with forest trees. Among the highest peaks in the county are Mount Dana, 

 13,627 feet high; Mount Lyell, 13,217 feet high; and Castle Peak, 13,000 

 feet high. Among the mountains in the western part, particularly in the 

 vicinity of Bridgeport, to the north, are a large number of valleys, which 

 constitute the agricultural or cultivated lands of the county. 



The eastern portion of the county, which is usually spoken of as a strange, 

 mysterious country, is of a desert-like, volcanic character, abounding in salt 

 pools, alkali, and volcanic table lands, the characteristics of this portion of 

 the county being significantly indicated by some of the local names, such 

 as Hot Springs, Geysers, Sulphur Springs, Black Lake, Soda Pond, Volca- 

 noes, Obsidian Mountain, Deep Canon, Volcanic Table-land, Red Crater, 

 Adobe Meadows, and Oasis. 



Mono Lake, situated in the center of the county, is about 15 miles long 

 by 10 miles wide, its waters being a somewhat unusual compound, various 

 chemical substances being found in solution in them. This lake has the 

 appearance of having once been the scene of volcanic action. 



INYO COUNTY 



The agricultural portion of Inyo lies along the foot of the great range, 

 and is in the main comprised in Owens Valley, through which courses 

 Owens River. The valley is about 95 miles in length, with a belt of arable 

 land, varying in width from 2 to 8 miles, and lies at an altitude of about 

 4,000 to 5,000 feet. It contains about 175,000 acres of arable land, rated 

 from fair to good. About 30,000 acres are under claim, about one third 

 of this amount, say 10,000 acres, having been appropriated during the past 

 year. Something near 12,000 acres are under cultivation and irrigated 

 mostly from the numerous brooks and creeks that come down from the 

 snowy Sierras. 



Agriculturists generally are turning their attention to raising of fine 

 stock, for which purpose a number of thoroughbred animals, both horses 

 and cattle, have been added to those already on hand. The country is well 

 adapted to stock. 



In examining the statistics at hand, we find that in 1884 there were 

 sown in the county of Inyo, 965 acres to oats; 1,312 acres to corn; 1,180 

 acres to wheat; and 1,364 acres to barley; making a total of 4,821 acres of 

 land devoted to the cereals, and that area has been considerably enlarged 

 in the two subsequent years. 



Average Precipitation in Inyo County. 



