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Cafiada San'Benito in the County of Monterey, to the Pajaros River on the 

 aorth, and forming the middle eastern boundary of the Salinas Valley, and 

 western boundary of the Valley of San Juan, to be denominated the Gabilan 

 Spur. 



The above arrangement differs but little from that proposed in my report of 

 last year, (Doc, 9, Assembly, pages 12, 13, 18, 19, 21, 23,) and becomes neces 

 sary in order to form anything approaching a comprehensive idea of this almost 

 unknown portion of the State. The principal and almost only difference in this 

 arrangement, is in fixing a point at which the Coast Mountains appear to have 

 their termination, a point hitherto unsettled, and one that has caused more con 

 fusion, perhaps, in relation to the geography of the State than any subject hith 

 erto engaging the attention of travelers and citizens. The true position of 

 these mountains and their relations with other chains must, at no distant day, 

 command a much greater amount of attention from the people of this State, and 

 the Atlantic States also, than has as yet been bestowed upon them, for it will 

 be found that, in selecting a route for the national railroad, the crossing of this, 

 or an adjacent chain will be necessary, and the principle involved in the great 

 question upon this point will simply be, the best means to be adopted that will 

 avoid the transit of two chains in place of one. 



A correct understanding of the situation of these ridges, will explain many of 

 the phenomena constantly occurring in these inland districts, and it affords us 

 the only means of investigating those causes of sterility that are found to ac 

 company and prove a constant attendant of extensive areas enclosed within, as 

 extending to the east of the high ridges composing the chain. 



Their study then, becomes a matter not of scientific interest alone, but en 

 gages our attention in a practical, and enonomic point of view ; it is fraught 

 with pecuniary public interest, and unless fully understood must result in pecu 

 niary loss to all parties directly interested. 



The altitude of these mountains is such that they have the effect to absorb 

 much of the aqueous matter carried from the ocean through the various gaps 

 that occur in the coast-line proper, and when the higher hills fail to accomplish 

 this, the increase of temperature, consequent from the relative position which 

 the mountains hold to the plain lands that may be situated among the immedi 

 ate ridges, or beyond them to the east, is such that it has the effect to dissipate 

 whatever aqueous matter that might have remained. 



This state of the meteorological condition of the atmosphere is admirably 

 illustrated on the northern end of the Salinas and the southern end of the val 

 ley Santa Clara. These two districts have the appearance of being subject to a 

 constant drought, so far as external and surface features are concerned ; but a 

 closer examination of all the attendant circumstances that are to be met with 

 in this section of country will convince the observer that an erroneous opinion 

 upon this subject may easily be formed, when mere external character alone is 

 observed during the daytime. 



During the after part of the day in the summer season, there is usually a 

 dense fog setting in through the opening made by the Bay of Monterey, which 

 sweeps across the Gabilan Spur over on to the south part of the Santa Clara 

 and the valley of San Juan ; and although this fog is often sufficiently dense to 

 obscure the view for any considerable distance, while it rests upon the northern 

 portion of the Salinas Plains, and west of the Gabilan, still it is not apparent 

 often in the atmosphere four miles east of that ridge. The atmosphere is perfect 

 ly transparent, nor would the traveler suppose for one moment that any mate 

 rial change in the condition of the air had taken place, or that it was in any way 

 different from that through which he may have been traveling during the entire 

 day. 



