Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1886-05-13
SANTA CATALINA.

Senator Fairs Proposed Reserva.
zion for Had Indians Of the
Apache FamiIy-A Paradise ian the
Pacific OeeAD.
The island Of Santa Catalina, to which
Senator Fair proposes to remove the
Apaches, lies, according to a description
| given by Professor Davidson, of San Fran
cisco, off the coast west OF San Pedro Bay,
at a distance Of 10 miles. 1t is Is miles
long with an extreme breadth OF seven
miles and an average breadth Of four miles
to the southeastern part, and two miles to
the northwestern; the least breadth
at the isthmus is half q mile: the shore
line amounts to not less than 46 miles. II
is remarkable for the great transverse
break or depression, five miles from the
northern end, running partly through 1t,
and forming an anchorage or cove at each
side, The land connecting these is very
low, not over SO feet. The general charac-
ter OF the topography Of the island is ex-
ceedingly rough and mountainous. The
highest peak OF the island rises to an ele-
walton Of 2.110 feet. The highest peak on
the part Of the island west of the depres-
sion is ,730 feet above the sea. The shores
OF the island are rocky and precipitous.
On the southern side they are fearfullyab-
rupt, and on the northern side the high
cliffs are cut by deep arroyas and marked
by several indentations. Deep and precip-
itous gulches are formed by the ridges OF
rocks running ~diagonally across the island,
and occasionally q small valley varies the
scene.
"a growth of thorny bushes covers the
whole island. rendering travelling very
difficult. The island is partially stocked
with cattle and sheep, and at one time vast
numbers of wild goats ~abounded, but they
have helped to supply the California mar.
ket with fresh mutton. In 1868 some old
lead mines were rediscovered; the ore is
described as argentiferous galena. No
vein or ledge Of the ore has been found,
and mining operations have been sus-
pended.
At the Office OF the Lick Trust it was
learned by q Bulletin reporter that Santa
Catalina came into the possession OF james
Lick twenty five or thirty years ago, and
is now a part OF the Lick estate. For
some time it has been in the hands of Il.
NJ. Newhall q Co., and the succeeding
firm for sale. How Mr.. Lick obtained
possession of it, it would be hard to de-
termine, as the abstracts of title cover
over five hundred pages. About twenty
years ago an effort was made to develop
mines on the islands, and many companies
were formed and stock issued. Al one
time an effort was made to sell the whole
island to London capitalists for 81, 600 900.
but the purchase was not contaminated.
Mining on q small scale has been going on
there for years, and there exists a tunnel
l 900 feet long and a shaft 400 feet deep,
In which a miner even now occasionally
works. There are now IN the island
about twenty persons who hold leases Of
land and who are engaged in sheep and
goat-raising. A few years ago there were
20, 900 sheep and 10, 900 goats there.
The climate is said to be delightful,
better than that Of the mainland. So
many attractions il it deemed to have,
that propositions have been made to
build hotels or sanitariums there. The
water supply is ample, there being run
ming streams the year round, while the
vegetation is sufficient to feed stock from
January to January. There are vast fields
OF wildcats in some parts OF the island,
and in other large trees and thick shrub
berry. 1t is believed to be particularly
fitted for the cultivation Of citrus fruits,
as well as vegetables, berries, etc. The
waters abound in fish, thousands of
which can be seen in the clear waters near
the shore. In fact, one Of the officers OF
the Lick Trust speaks of the island as a
paradise. To all appearances an Apache
would there find everything that his heart
could wish except scalps.