CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Physical Oeography. 



Extent of survey. — Of the coast mountains. — Erroneous notions of. — Parallel ranges. — Number of and geographical posi- 

 tion. — Northern extension. — Depression across the line of strike at San Francisco. — Monte Diablo range. — Effect of the 

 topography on commercial destiny. — Absence of navigable rivers. — Flow of the waters. — Outline of topography of the 

 State in the south. — Climate independent of other lands. — Effect of mountains. — No distinct winter season. — Rainy 

 season. — Fall of rain. — Drought. — Earthquake movements, frequency of. — Elevation of coast range. — Geological period 

 of. — Igneous rocks. — Different points of elevation. — Depression of fissures of the strata. — Resemblance of the orography 

 to Mediterranean Europe. — Paljeozoic strata not discovered. — Of the miocene period on the Pacific. — Upheaval of the 

 Sierra Nevada. — Probable effect upon the level of the Great Basin. — Absence of polar drift. — Of the quarternary period. — 

 Of the coast line of California. 



CHAPTER II. 

 Geology of the Coast Ranges. 



Two different axes in. — Occasional blending of volcanic rocks.— Prevalence of felspathic rocks. — Age of the granites. — 

 Different strike of granitic and volcanic rocks. — Uniformity of elevation and deposit. — Climatic conditions of the miocene 

 period. ^Mode of elevation of the coast range. — Grouping of the ranges. — Enumeration of the ranges, their direction 

 and axial rock. — Extension of the ranges south into the sea —Reappearance in the Channel islands. — Examination of 

 the coast soundings. — Connection of the fossils of the various strata with each other. — Dissimilarity to European tertiaries 

 of the miocene age not necessarily coeval in distant oceans. — Relation in fauna of the several beds of southern California. — 

 Evidences of marine life and deposits. — Difficulty of reducing them to analogous Atlantic shore deposits. — Slight or 

 doubtful development of palajozoic beds south of 37° north latitude. 



CHAPTER III. 

 Santa Clara valley and Fajaro River valley. 



Position and boundaries of the Santa Clara valley. — Structure of the hills bounding the sides of the valley. — Subsoil and 

 strata of the valley. — Artesian wells in. — Depth of the quarternary clays. — Climate and productions. — Fruit orchards. — 

 Cereals. — Productiveness of the soil. — Cinnabar mine of New Almaden. — Position of the mine, village, and hacienda. — 

 Geological relations of the ore. — Method of mining. — Quantity extracted. — Operations at the hacienda furnaces. — Mode 

 of charging. — Unhealthiness of the operation arising chiefly from unskilfulness in the conducting of the processes. — • 

 Recommendations for remedying it. — Value of the shipments. — Pajaro valley. — Extent and character. — Geological struc- 

 ture. — San Bonito river, terraces upon. 



CHAPTER IV. 

 Salinas River valley. 



Extent and position of the valley. — Gradual slope. — Character of the river. — Non-navigability. — Geological character of 

 the valley. — Alluvial plain, with terraces or flats. — Natural vegetation and productiveness of. — Westerly winds in the 

 south of the valley.— Effect upon the climate. — The Gavilan hills. — Structure and disposition. — Point Piuos range. — 

 Intrusion of trap through the sandstone. — Metamorphic effects produced in. — Sandstones of the San Antonio hills. — 

 Structure and fossils of. — Recapitulation and observations upon the geology. 



