SOIL—PRODUCTIONS—CLIMATE. 
11 
published depriving the padres of all temporal control, and giving it to commissioners. The 
Indians dispersed, the padres gradually retired, and from that date these mission establishments 
went into decay. Now they are wrecks, monuments of their pristine splendor, masses of 
crumbling walls, with here and there occasional evidences of design and good taste in the 
arrangements of parts and construction. The churches are generally in good preservation, the 
bells of some are still hanging. But adobe walls soon melt before the southeasters of the 
rainy season. 
By degrees these mission lands were passing into the hands of private individuals, a state of 
things going on up to the time of the occupancy of this country by our troops, when the few 
that were left were taken possession of in the name of the general government. Claims and 
counter claims are now set up by individuals for this property, and while they are being adju¬ 
dicated the squatter locates and establishes his pre-emption. The buildings are applied to 
various uses; a church is converted into a barrack ; the padres’ apartments are used for stores, 
smith shops, and stables, and even, in one instance, by a retail liquor vender. Cattle and pigs 
roam at large in the orchards where once flourished the grape, fig, olive, peach, and pear, 
pomegranate, and orange. The agricultural capacities of this country are unsurpassed in the 
world. Its hills and mountain slopes afford rich pasturage. Its valleys and plains yield enor¬ 
mous crops of cereals and vegetables, whilst the fruits of our Atlantic board, together with 
many of those of more tropical latitudes find here a most genial soil and climate. 
According to the State census of 1852, there were in the countries along our route : 
Horses and mules. 
Horned cattle. 
Grain.—Bushels. 
Cultivated acres. 
Santa Clara_ 
4,980 
23,767 
670,697 
19,066 
Monterey ....... 
2,857 
65,959 
23,292 
3,117 
San Luis Obispo _ 
1,232 
27,914 
6,006 
2,538 
Santa Barbara... 
3,110 
52,379 
7,679 
699 
Los Angeles_ 
13,266 
115,083 
53,289 
5,587 
In 1854, Santa Clara had 29,000 acres under cultivation, only one-tenth of her area of valley 
land, and yielded 1,060,000 bushels of grain, besides vegetable products. Much attention is 
paid to the cultivation of wheat and barley about San Jose, on the Pajaro, lower Salinas, and 
in the vicinity of Los Angeles. The Mormons of San Bernardino county have been very 
successful in their farming operations. Very heavy crops of corn are raised near the mission 
of San Gabriel, in a district known as El Mont6, a low bottom lying along the San Gabriel 
river. 
Section 6 . CLIMATE. 
The climate of the district along the route proposed is varied, owing to the localities, whether 
exposed to the immediate influences of the ocean moisture or in a measure shut out from these, 
by intervening ridges, which, by their altitudes and direction, with reference to the prevailing 
winds, affect materially the amount of moisture deposited and the degree of temperature expe¬ 
rienced. The seasons are two, the “ rainy” and “dry.” The former occupies seldom over 
three or four months, and corresponds with pur winter, and the latter embraces the remaining 
months of the year. Working parties can be in the field throughout the entire year, and 
their work will not be impeded by snows or frost. For the working and running of road after 
completion, the climate and seasons are highly favorable. 
