little city, modem in every particular, and a delightful place of residence. 

 It Is backed by picturesque hills, while the Pacific Ocean in front spreads 

 its pretty beach before the town for miles. Oxnard, on the main line of 

 the Southern Pacific Railroad, which is but three miles from its seaport, 

 Hueneme; Santa Paula, with a population of 1,500 people, which boasts of 

 the largest lemon grove in this State, in its immediate vicinity; Nordhoff, 

 which received its name from Charles Nordhoff, the well-known writer, 

 who may be said to have been the discoverer of Ojai as a health resort; 

 and Saticoy, in the heart of the great Santa Clara Valley, the main farming 

 section. Other villages are Camarillo, Somis, Moorpark, and Simi, all in 

 a rich section which the new line of road running to Los Angeles has 

 opened up. 



El Dorado County 



« 



T 



HE Old Empire County," El Dorado County, is situated about mid- 

 way in the eastern tier of counties, and enjoys the distinction of 

 having included within its boundaries the world-famous resort, 

 Lake Tahoe. It is a county of hills and valleys, extending from 

 the low foothills in the west to the summit of the Sierras in the 

 east. There are no broad tracts of prairie land, nor great plateaus. The 

 soil is fertile, and supports a large variety of agricultural and horticultural 

 products. Large forests of the finest sugar and yellow pine, fir, and spruce 

 cover the mountains. 



Fruit-raising, lumbering, stock-raising, dairying, poultry-raising, bee 

 culture, farming, slate-quarrying, mining for base and precious metals, 

 and the manufacture of wines and brandy are among the industries. 



Fruit-growing is one of the oldest industries, and as it has been sys- 

 tematized during late years, promises to be of more importance in the 

 future. Apples, peaches, pears, plums, prunes, and grapes are grown, and 

 owing to their superior flavor and splendid shipping qualities find a ready 

 market in the East. With the climate, soil, and irrigating facilities, this 

 industry will become one of El Dorado's best. 



The water supply is sufficient for all needs. There are several ditch 

 systems that bring water from the snows of the Sierras. Besides these 

 there are many systems that distribute water to all parts of the county. 



The Sacramento and Placerville Railroad has been extended by the 

 El Dorado Lumber Company to the new town of Camino, where there is 

 located a box factory and the company's planing-mill, lumber-yards, and 

 dry kiln. From this point the company's narrow-gauge road runs into the 

 timber belt. The Calder and Diamond Railroad is a lumber road, and runs 

 from Diamond Springs into the timber belt. 



It was at Coloma that James W. Marshall, in January, 1848, made 

 his famous discovery of gold. Since then mining has been one of the leading 

 of El Dorado's industries. Cinnabar and copper are found in several local- 

 ities, and in several places prospects of the latter metal are being developed. 



Slate-quarrying is an important and rapidly growing industry. The 

 manufacture of slate for rooiFing and other purposes is conducted on a 

 large scale. The quarries at Slatington are being extended, as the capacity 

 of the plant is not equal to the demand. The quality of the slate is equal 

 to the best produced in the East. Limestone and marble of good quality 

 are found, and a large quantity of lime is manufactured. 



The ranges of the mountains are ideal pastures, and thousands of 

 cattle spend the summer there, migrating in the winter to the lower country 

 till the snows of the high altitudes have melted and the feed started again. 

 Dairymen go with their herds, and all summer the dairy products are sent 

 •out of the hills. 



Placerville, the "Hangtown" of early days, is the county seat. It is 



