The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-18

ed It.
II is not unfrequent in passing over the country
to hear of beds Of mineral COAL during the past
son have visited four such localities, and,
anticipated each Of them proved to be merely small
beds of ignite, and two Of them hardly deserving
that name. One of these deposits proved to be but
bed Of leaves, having a thickness Of about three
inches, resting upon tertiary sandstone containing
marine shells, and covered with twelve feet of o
sandy alluvan. This is one Of those coal beds
which has figured so largely in the public prints Of
the State during the past year, and has Induced
veral gentlemen to pay the locality visit, and to
return deeply disappointed as their previous an
ticipations were elevated.
The report Of coal veins in the Coast mountains
must be received with many grains Of allowance,
and at the best none but tertiary deposits will be
found, and these, even should they exist would be
capable of supplying bat limited demand and that
usually Of an inferior quality.
SOILS OF THE VALLEY SANTA CLARA AND SHORES OF
SAN FRANCISCO BAY.
The soils on the Bay San Francisco differ much
on its eastern and western sides; both borders Of
the bay present the tertiary SERIES but both do not
present the trapean rocks to the same degree Of de-
velopement; this, then, of course, will cause dis
tinctive and marked difference in the productive
pabilites of either shore. 1t will be found that In
all the soils which have been derived in whole. or in
part from rocks more recent than the tertiary group,
that more extensive and varied adaptation 70
agricultural purposes will be present; this VIII De
particularly manifest in those sections where the
tertiaries, containing organic remains enter some
4
Under a proper course of treatment these lands
will be made available for the purposes OF the agr
lands thus much increased. The situation Of these
lands in the interior is such that they may be easily
reclaimed should they ever fall within the jurisdic-
ton of the State, which undoubtedly they will un-
der the law regulating /" saline ands.h In the coun-
ties of San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Alameda,
the wet land that may be made available by drain
age is about seventy square miles, exclusive OF the
olsVnl audc Not thnpn ri .sf f1n
of Santa Clara.
Most of the valley sections of this range of
try is arabic land, and that which is not can easily
be made so when required; the agents for bringing
this about being found in the adjoining hills to the
east The character of the soil and climate adapts
it to all the productions Of temperate climates, and
where local position modifes the climate Of any Sec
ton, it is found capable of producing plants Of the
tropical ATTITUDES.
The extreme southeastern part Of this valley
would be adapted to the growth Of foreign fruits
fuence of the cold seawind that passes inland
the range of lower hills which divide the Sa
linas, Pajaro, and Santa Clara valleys, the effect of
which would be to blight the fruit though the plant
or tree might continue to thrive.
The low bills that flank the east side of the valley
contain all the clements required for the culture OF
tropical plants and FRUITS the climate and soil will
be found adapted land the only agent that appears
in the least to be wanting is water sufficient to sup
ply the demands of those plants. From the appear
ance OF small ago0ns and rivulets at different ele
u
this agent may be found short distance below the
surface.
AS general rule the mountains lying upon the
east border of the valley Santa Clara are covered
much greater depth. ] have measured the depths
of these soils in many places and where it is well
developed have found it varying from four to eleven
feet Tor miles continuous its extreme fertility pro-
which annually contribute to its increase by their
decomposition.
Although these lands are situated within the reach
of the sea breeze from the Bay of San Francisco,
they protected from its cold by the slope of the
hills and the notifications Of its temperature &C
guired in its passage down the bay before reaching
the northern portion Of the valley So much is the
temperature increased that an addition OF ten de-
grees is often acquired in s transit from San Fran
cisco to the head of the valley, distance little ris-
ing fifty miles. This increase OF Temperatures IA tie
air is accompanied with an increase in its capacity
for moisture, hence it is usual to find slight
aqueous haze, which results from the condensation
Of it's moisture hanging about this entire range OF
hills during the summer months, and is usually seen
early in the morning.
The writer next describes the valley OF the Salinas,
ar the river of the name which traverses its
entire length. He says:
The only obstacle that renders these waters I'M
navigable for some distance in the interior of the
valley the bars Of drift sand which are thrown
up by the serf on the coast. good and substantial!
k01ld aonstrgStffd tsayg and materially en-
OF this section of the country, and be the means Of
aording not only much needed facilities Of trans
poration in the productions of the interior to mar
ket but afford inducements for the permanent set
Element OF this immense tract OF country (now, al.
most, it might be said uninhabited and unimproved)
which this, or some other equally efficient me asure
would be the means OF consummating in short
period Of time.
The quantity Of arabic lands contained within the
Salina Plains is estimated at about seven hundred
and eighty square miles, this being comprised in
I'm nuvar fnrr nrIs-. fhn -
strictly be considered as available for agriculture,
but is more properly grazing country, with very
few exceptions. The above quantities are divided
as follows: The lower terra ,e or river bottom con-
tans three hundred and twenty miles, and the Sec
ond terrace about four hundred and sixty, and en-
joying climate in its different sections which will
be found adapted to the growths Of the extremes Of
temperate zones.
PAJARo VALLEY.
This valley is situated the coast and is bound
ed on the north and east by the southern part of
low hills forming spur Of the Gabilan Range, and
which divide it from the Salinas Plains. The valley
is about eight miles in length, and about four in
breadth on an average, exclusive Of the foot hills,
River, forming the boundary Of the counties Monte.
rey, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, has its rise near San
/ Felipe, and flows in westerly direction through
the low hills at the base OF the mountains thence
along the northwest border Of the valley for about
TWO miles where 1t crosses the latter within about
quarter OF mile Of the town of Watsonville and
reaches the sea at point south ten degrees west OF
! the latter locality, four miles distant
There is no part of this State that have visited
which possesses the same natural advantages for
fruit culture to be found in this dstrct while
artificial irrigation is necessary in other parts Of the
State, this is furnished regularly each night by
aqueous exhalation from the ocean, and extending
some thirty miles into the interior. During the
months OF July and August, last summer, an oppOr
tunty TO observe this fact was offered, and found
that over this entire section sufficient amount of
moisture was deposited each night to wet the leaves
quantity sufficient to keep the ground wet under
medium-szed trees until midday. The soil ia equally
adapted to their propagation, being of texture that
WI, permit the expansion OF the roots below the
the Garth, as Is the case in many parts of the
| country, where even the most hardy indigenous
tees found to send their