Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-28
GBs aaiIu spp: aalursser. foag onng eune g. 1872.

out in one pit, which, after a short time, begins
to fill again from constant springs; and thus
the process goes on. In numerous places upon
| the surface are oozings about as thick as LIQUID
tar, where the formation is constantly going on.
| 1t is refined at the mine by boiling, and about
eighty per cent is pure asphaltum. The resi-.
dunn is used for fuel to carry on the boiling.
1t is the only material used for the manufacture
of gas in Los Angeles, and is shipped in large
| quantities to San Francisco for various pur-
poses. As it comes from the mine it is worth
five dollars ton. After boiling the price is
| twelve dollars per ton. There are many places
in this and Santa Barbara counties where it is
| found, though in less quantities than at Bres
lake. So far but little has been done in the
manufacture of kerosene from the liquid brea,
though few years since much excitement was
created in the east by bogus specializing com
| panies to make people believe that the deposits
were similar to those in Pennsylvania. But the
sanguine chemists and biologists from the
| laboratories were either knaveS, or mistaken
j., If mistaken, they were more ignorant in their
specially than they like to take credit for. Large
sums of money have been spent on their state
ments without dollar ofreturn. Sufficient ex-
periments seem to have made it certain that
their predictions had no foundation
Some ten miles from Brea lake are salt works,
| producing large quantities by solar evapora-
ton, and in the immediate vicinity are the re-
cent discoveries. of peat, in the low lands toward
the ocean. have not examined it, hut reliable
| persons say that it is a superior l.tiCle. If so,
tits very fortunate for this region, because there
is no wood nearer than the mountains, sixty
miles distant, and very difficult to obtain. The
| coal that is used is brought from Oregon, and
sells for twenty dollars per ton. Little is done
in mining in southern California; no valuable
| deposits have been found. The indications are
that the staple interest is, and must be, agricul-
tural, or we might say, with more propriety,
horticultural" the growth of fruits.
In previous letters, the leading fruits have
been named, but lines, olives, and castor beans
may be added as safe and profitable crops. The
olives and beans grow luxuriantly, and proper
| ly prepared make oils equal to the best import
| ed. Little attention has been given to their
culture, but new corners are engaging in it with
excellent promise. There seems no limit to the
capacity of this soil and climate; the one mex
haustible, the other favorable to nearly
all growths of temperate and semi-trop-
ical chimes. If persons like a mild, even,
healthy temperature and atmosphere, one where
extremes are absent, no frosts, no excessive
| heats, almost constant sea breezes blowing with
| zephyr-hke softness, it will be hard to find any
where upon the globe locality superior TO this
ocean and mountain sirt country. The mercury
has ranged, the past three weeks, from 65 de-
grees in the morning TO 70 degrees at three P.
NJ, with almost unyarying regularity. This is
the average temperature in the winter months.
In July and August it grows warmer. The
nights are always comfortable for sleep, pleasure
or business.
Even away in this corner of the Union the
stranger is reminded that he is in the domain of
Uncle Sam, where patriotism is in the ascend
ant. Last evening the city council made an
appropriation OF five hundred dollars for
the celebration of the fourth of July, and
this evening a voluntary citizens meeting
has made liberal arrangements for increasing
ii. Republicanism gains everywhere west of
the SieTras- Oregon has lately given verdict
poialas with unerring certainty to a triumph
ant YindicatiOu Of the administration in Novem-
her Il Is pleasant and satisfactory 10 write
that the party Of ideas aud progress, practical
and efficient administration Of national affsirs.
IS appreciated and supported in these great
commonweslihs beyond the plains and the
mountains JPM