r 



The many beautiful lakes high up among the mountains are favorite 

 summer resorts. The Blue Lakes, especially, are a famous rendezvous 

 for summer pleasure-seekers. In many parts of the county are mineral 

 springs, both hot and cold. 



In the valleys the soil is a heavy alluvium, rich and fertile and yielding 

 bountiful crops where cultivated. Some very excellent apples, pears, and 

 small fruits are produced. 



Markleeville, the county seat, is located on the west bank of Carson 

 River, and is reached by stage via Carson City. 



There are at least sixty irrigation ditches in operation. The mining 

 industry, so long dormant, is giving promise of large results. 



San Luis Obispo County 



REGINALD W. NUTTALL 



OWING to the long delay in completing the Southern Pacific or Coast 

 Line of railway San Luis Obispo County has not been developed in 

 common with other parts of the State, and for this reason many of 

 its resources are comparatively unknown. 



Its chief minerals are oil, bitumen, asphalt, chrome, manganese 

 ores of great purity, as well as deposits of marble, onyx, gypsum, and other 

 minerals and clays of superior quality. Agricultural products consist of 

 wheat, barley, oats, beans, sugar beet and every variety of root crop and 

 deciduous fruits. Its chalk rock formations and climate are unexcelled for 

 the production of grapes and the manufacture of choice wines. 



The coast line of hills and valleys is famous for dairying and raising of 

 horses, cattle, and hogs. The sage-covered hills and canyons of many 

 parts of the interior are valuable for bee raising and the production of first- 

 class honey. 



Large annual appropriations by the Government for the improvement 

 of Port Harford will influence the building of a railway from the interior, 

 as this is the only place south of San Francisco where the Coast Range is 

 cut in two by a river running east and west, making it available for such 

 an object. It would also connect two transcontinental lines and promote 

 settlement and development of northern Santa Barbara and eastern San 

 Luis Obispo counties. 



San Luis Obispo County, which is equi-distant between San Francisco 

 and Los Angeles, has an unrivalled ocean beach, good for driving and 

 bathing, for a distance of sixteen miles, numerous hot springs and beautiful 

 resorts, only requiring capital to rival anything in the State. 



The oil measures of this county, as yet but partially demonstrated, 

 are extensive in area and can be traced by the lines of upheavals lying 

 between metamorphic contacts, generally trending in a northwesterly and 

 southeasterly direction. So many different theories have been formulated 

 regarding the origin of oil that it is unnecessary for me to add to the num- 

 ber by a disquisition on the subject more or less unintelligible to the 

 ordinary reader. The oil-field area of California is extensive in character 

 and possessed of wonderful possibilities, especially those sections bordering 

 on the ocean, which are not subjected to costly transportation of products. 



The greater part of the coast line of our country is owned by Swiss 

 and Portuguese, who from their knowledge of the soil and its adaptation 

 to special purposes have brought the land up to a high standard of value. 



Within the past three years great advancement has been made in devel- 

 opment. Port Harford has become the oil center of the State, and no less 

 than eight or nine wells are being drilled at different points within a few 

 miles of San Luis Obispo. A refinery is being erected by English and 

 American capital. 



IS 



