THE SANTA FE ROUTE. 177 
One notable feature in the recent development of the city has been 
the construction of an aqueduct 226 miles long to bring water from 
Owens Valley. The capacity of this line is 250,000,000 gallons a day, 
sufficient to supply a population of more than a million. It cost 
about $25,000,000. At present (July 1, 1915) the surplus water is 
used for the irrigation of about 8,000 acres a few miles north of 
the city. Los Angeles County claims to be the richest county in the 
United States in value of farm property and agricultural products. 
The estimated value of all property in the county January 1, 1915, 
was given at $1,500,000,000. General building operations in the 
city in 1913 represented an expenditure of more than $31,000,000 for 
materials and labor. Los Angeles has many parks, including one 
containing 3,000 acres, the largest municipal park in the world. 
There are 726 miles of improved streets, and the adjoining region has 
many miles of fine roads. About 25 miles south of the main body of 
the city is San Pedro, on the ocean, a port from which there is an 
extensive coast and trans-Pacific trade. 
The Museum of History, Science, and Art is one of the most inter- 
esting places in the city. It has 
fine collections in many branches, 
and since 1902 this field has been the 
chief producer in the Los Angeles dis- 
ict. The wells are deeper than in the 
City field, ranging between 1,200 and 
3,000 feet, and the average gravity of the 
oil is between 16° and 18° Baumé. Con- 
siderable gas under strong pressure ac- 
companies the oil, which causes the wells 
to gush during the early part of their life. 
The oil in the Los Angeles district is 
derived largely from the upper 500 feet 
end of 1914 it produced over 40,000,000 
barrels. At present there are about 700 
The oils of the City field are uniform in 
quality, although they vary considerably 
in gravity. They contain considerable 
sulphur, and owing to the entire absence 
of light products are of little value for 
refining, being used almost entirely for 
fuel. The oils uced ip the Salt 
Lake field show a marked similarity in 
properties, being characterized 
by a high percentage of sulphur. The 
heavy oils are highly viscous, and the 
yield of asphalt is considerable. 
The Puente Hills district, from 12 to 34 
miles southeast of Los Angeles, was the 
second oil district discovered in Cali- 
fornia. The first producing well in it 
was completed in 1880. Until 1893 the 
Puente Hills and Santa Clara River 
Valley districts yielded practically all 
the oil produced in California. The 
1,300 feet and the average life of the 
wells about 16 years. The gravity of the 
oil varies between 21° and 32° Baumé. 
The lighter grades of oil are believed 
to come from the Monterey groups, the 
heavier grades are derived largely from 
the coarser sediments of the Fernando. 
On December 31, 1912, there were 470 
producing wells in the Puente Hills dis- 
inclusive, was nearly 41,000,000 barrels. 
oil produced varies greatly in com- 
position, the greater portion being of light 
grade and utilized by refineries near Los 
Angeles. 
