PUBLISHER'S DEPARTMENT. 



^ESOU^CES OF 



IF the reader will consult any easily available map 

 of California he will find that the greater portion 

 of the Golden State is comprised within a vast, oblong 

 valley, extending north and south for a distance of 

 six hundred mile.s, bordered on the east by the Sierra 

 Nevada mountains and on the west by the Coast 

 range. 



These ranges approach each other both at the 

 northern and southern extremities, finally uniting in 

 one grand semi-circular sweep. 



In the extreme southern portion of the valley is 

 located KERN COUNTY, to a few of the prominent 

 features of which the attention of the reader is 

 invited, presenting, as it is believed that it does, 

 superior attractions to people of all classes who may 

 be desirous of changing their location from any rea- 

 son whatever. 



In area this county is somewhat larger than the 

 State of Massachusetts, and it comprises a widely 

 diversified region, including a vast extent of level 

 and fertile valley, succeeded by rolling foothills, and 

 extending into lofty and rugged mountains, which are 

 in turn pierced in various directions by canyons and 

 valleys, containing more or less arable land. 



Not an inconsiderable portion of the county extends 

 into what is known as the Mojave desert, where are 

 found rich mines of gold and other minerals. 



THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD. 



The principal town and the county seat of Kern 

 county is Bakersfield. It has upward of 4,000 inhabi- 

 tants, and is situated on the main line of the Southern 

 Pacific railroad, a little over 300 miles south of San 

 Francisco and about 170 miles north of Los Angeles. 

 It is the largest place between Fresno and Los An- 

 geles, a distance of nearly 300 miles, while its tribu- 

 tary territory is so vast and so abundantly endowed 

 with natural resources that it must always be the cen- 

 ter for a great and important trade. 



While an old place, as California towns go, Bakers- 

 field is largely composed of modern style brick build- 

 ings and will compare favorably with any town in the 

 State from this standpoint. 



So far as churches, schools and societies are con- 

 cerned, Bakersfield is well supplied and all classes 

 are fully represented. 



Bakersfield is now the division headquarters of the 

 Southern Pacific road, and no line of railroad can en- 

 ter the valley without coming to this place. It com- 

 mands every pass through the mountains that sur- 



round the valley on three sides, and is absolute queen 

 of the situation. 



It is the universal testimony of those who are so 

 situated as to be able to judge that there is no town 

 in the State that has a brighter and more assured 

 future than Bakersfield. 



CLIMATE AND RESOURCES. 



The climate of Kern county partakes of the same 

 general characteristics as that of the greater portion 

 of California. 



The summer season is long, warm and dry. It is 

 what experience has shown to be most admirably 

 adapted to the growth and perfection of all kinds of 

 deciduous fruit, and to its ready and perfect curing 

 in the open air without the aid of artificial heat. 



The rainfall is confined to the so-called winter and 

 spring months, distributed at intervals from Novem- 

 ber to April, and occasionally later. The mercury 

 rarely goes as low as 25 to 30 degrees above zero, and 

 the winter average is much higher. 



In natural resources Kern county possesses a wide 

 range and a surprising abundance. 



The soil of the valley will produce in luxuriance all 

 the deciduous fruits and nuts known to the State ; all 

 the vegetables, all the cereals, all the root crops, all 

 the small fruits, all the forage plants that are raised 

 in the temperate or sub-tropical zones. Not only can 

 these be produced, but they actually are. 



The mountains have valuable forests of pine and 

 other timber, while deposits of gold bearing gravel 

 and quartz of great richness are now being, and have 

 for years, been worked. 



In the foothills of the western part of the county 

 are the largest and purest deposits of asphaltum in 

 the world. Oil and sulphur are also found there in 

 abundance. 



HORTICULTURE. 



It is only within a comparatively short time that 

 horticulture has received more than desultory atten- 

 tion in Kern county. Yet enough has been accom- 

 plished within a few years to conclusively prove that 

 for the production of deciduous fruits of fine quality 

 and in great abundance, there is no portion of the 

 State that can surpass this. 



Suitable climate is the sine qua non, without which 

 the best soil in the world is fruitless. In Kern county 

 is a combination of both soil and climate which 

 causes the wide range of fruits produced to excel in 

 every quality that makes a choice article. 



