Madera County 



L. W. SHARP 



THE fertility and natural advantages of the great San Joaquin Valley 

 have been abundantly proven throughout its length and breadth, 

 and this vast plain, which but a decade ago supported only a few 

 villages, now contains numerous cities and towns, all having sprung 

 Into existence as the result of its wonderful resources. 



Occupying a position almost in the center of this grand valley is 

 Madera County. And in no part of the valley are conditions more advan- 

 tageous for the home-seeker than are to be found here. For richness of 

 soil It has no superior, and its fertile acres yield splendid returns from their 

 tilling. To the east the county extends through the hills which increase 

 in height to the summit of the Sierra Nevadas on the extreme eastern 

 boundary. The county embraces a million and a half acres, about half 

 of which is a level plain with an elevation of about three hundred feet. 

 The hill and mountain sections rise gradually, the altitude of Its highest 

 mountains being over 13,000 feet. Grain and fruit-raising, dairying, stock- 

 raising, and manufacturing are the leading pursuits of the valley. In 

 the hills fruit-raising, stock-raising, mining, and quarrying are the most 

 important industries. In the higher mountains Immense tracts of timber 

 make lumbering an extensive enterprise, and vast mineral deposits give 

 promise of rich mines. 



In the valley the fall, winter, and spring months are mild and agree- 

 able. The summers are warm, but the atmosphere is dry, and heat pros- 

 trations are never known. The heat is never so intense as to interfere 

 with outdoor work. In the mountains the summers are cooler, and many 

 delightful resorts furnish excellent opportunities for enjoyable vacations. 



As in all locations where cultivation of the soil to the highest degree 

 is dependent upon an ample water supply, Madera is no exception, and is 

 well supplied in this regard. Copious spring, winter, and fall rains play 

 their important part, but irrigation is a chief factor. The watersheds of 

 the San Joaquin, Fresno, and Chowchilla rivers are capable of supplying 

 sufficient irrigation for a territory vastly larger than the localities through 

 which they run. The many natural reservoirs in the hills and mountains 

 give excellent opportunity to conserve these waters. The Madera Canal 

 and Irrigation Company recently demonstrated the practicability of such 

 conservation of water. Two large reservoirs were built, with a combined 

 capacity of Irrigating nearly 20,000 acres in a season. The company's 

 system, aside from the reservoirs, is capable of supplying water to 20,000 

 acres, it consisting of 108 miles of canals and ditches. Other irrigation 

 works, on a smaller scale, are also in operation. While Madera County has 

 abundant water for irrigation, it is never subject to damage from over- 

 flowing and floods. In those districts not reached by irrigation systems, 

 pumping plants have been installed and have proven most successful. 



Madera County is unsurpassed in productiveness of soil, and there 

 are very few fruits that cannot be raised here to perfection. There are 

 numerous large vineyards and orchards. Raisin-growing is an important 

 industry, and the product is unexcelled. Wine grapes are particularly suited 

 to conditions here, and the brandies and sweet wines produced by the 

 Swiss-Italian Colony Company at its immense vineyard and winery here 

 have an excellent reputation both at home and abroad. 



Another leading industry of the county is the Madera Sugar Pine Com- 

 pany. Its mountain mills cut 33,000,000 feet per year, yet its timber Is 

 sufficient for many years' operation. 



The public schools of the county are numerous and excellent. There 

 are thirty-three well-equipped districts in the county, and at Madera, the 

 county seat, a splendid union high school is maintained. Here, also, are 

 churches of the more prominent denominations. The town contains many 

 handsome public and private structures. 



At Raymond, the second town of the county, are located the Immense 

 granite quarries that supply excellent building-stone. 



