Mariposa County 



TWO of the most wonderful scenic features of the known world lie within 

 the boundaries of this county — ^the Mariposa Big Trees and Yosemite 

 Valley. Mariposa has an area of 1,580 square miles, beginning in the 

 low foothills that look out upon the San Joaquin bottom-lands, and 

 rising through the base of the plateau, and finally, in its eastern third, 

 reaching the most sublime aspects of the High Sierras. The soil of the 

 plains and valleys is black alluvial, and in the lower foothills there is a sharp 

 red admixture of adobe and gravel, all easily cultivated, and good for grain 

 and fruits. 



The quartz veins and placers of Mariposa County have in the past been 

 her particular fame, and the gold-mining industry will continue to rank first 

 for years to come. There are three mining belts in the county — the Mother 

 Lode, with its offshoots, the east belt, and the copper belt. 



As a fruit-raising county Mariposa has not attained the distinction her 

 fruits deserve. There is no variety that does not grow to perfection in size 

 and color, and the flavor is unsurpassed, being of that delicious quality 

 found only in mountain fruits. Irrigation is practiced to some extent, water 

 being taken from streams and mining ditches and used with good results. 

 With the exception of berries, vegetables, and some of the smaller fruits, 

 however, irrigation is not required. 



Apples are the chief fruit product, though wine and raisin grapes, 

 oranges and olives have been prize winners at world and state expositions. 

 Some of the best apples that find their way to San Francisco markets are 

 the product of Mariposa County. The agricultural interests are steadily im- 

 proving. Thousands of acres are taken up by settlers every year, and there 

 is yet considerable valuable land left for new-comers. Fruit-growing and 

 poultry-raising promise to be important industries. 



Thus far the greatest drawback to advancement has been the lack of 

 shipping facilities. Long-distance hauling over mountain roads prevents 

 fruits and other products being profitably marketed. This hindrance will be 

 corrected by an electric road now being constructed from one of the main 

 railroad lines to Yosemite National Park, via the Merced River Canyon. 

 Another proposed railroad to Wawona through the eastern part of the county 

 will be of vast benefit, in giving cheap and quick access to the markets. 



Lumbering is of considerable and growing importance, the mountain 

 flanks being clothed in splendid forests of sugar and yellow pine, fir, spruce, 

 and cedar. 



Stock-raising is a thriving enterprise. The custom of all alpine countries 

 is followed of pasturing the cattle and sheep in the lower valleys during the 

 winter and driving them to the high meadows in summer, where the richest 

 of grasses are to be found at the foot of the snows. In these small and 

 numerous mountain vales dairying is carried on during the summer months 

 and a most excellent quality of butter is produced. 



The scenery of Mariposa County is a very tangible asset. Thousands of 

 pleasure-seekers from every part of the civilized world come annually to 

 marvel at the stupendous sequoias, many of which are thirty-five feet in 

 diameter and as much as three hundred feet in height, and to tarry a while 

 amid the incomparable grandeur of Yosemite Valley, where eveiry variety of 

 accommodation awaits them, from the most commodious hotel to the 

 simple facilities required by the camper-out. The floor of the valley has an 

 elevation of over four thousand feet, with walls five thousand feet higher. 

 The Merced River flows through the Valley. 



The county has a well-organized public school system, with an adequate 

 number of schoolhouses, well supplied and furnished. Mariposa, the county 

 seat, is well built, and provided with churches, schools, hotels, and sub- 

 stantial county buildings and business houses. 



