Los Angeles herald., 1891-04-06

to some extent, roofs OF asphalt
and gravel or felt covering are
scarcely known, while in the eastern
states, land Of very cold and hot ex-
tremes, there are veritably square miles
of roof covered with coal-tar and gravel
compounds called asphalt, but conced-
edly' inferior. California should supply
a great many tons of asphalt for roofing
in the future. The asphalt beds OF
California and their products will be a
mine of wealth to Kern county, and
incidentally to California. 1t is now
extensively used in Southern California
in paving for sidewalks and floors, and
also for the lining of reservoirs and
fumes. The Las Posas Land company
and Santa Ana Water company of Ven
tura county, E. l.. Barber of San Fer
nando, J. I. Case & Studebaker of Mon
rovia, the Victoria Mining company OF
Azusa, the Bear Valley Irrigation COM
pany, J. d. Schuyler, former state en-
gineer, and others. are cases where as
phalt has been used for reservoir or
flume work with most satisfactory re-
suits. This use alone means ultimately
the supplanting Of imported cement and
the keeping at home many hundreds OF
thousands of dollars now sent abroad,
aside from the possible construction,
cheaply, of reservoirs in situations not
possible with or without cement.
Kern county has vast mineral re-
sources aside from its wonderful asphalt.
] saw on the same qIarter-section with
the asphalt beds oil springs and oil
producing wells; tract measuring
many acres, seemingly, a crust OF sui
phur in several places developed thus
far four to six feet deep, by analysis 80
per cent. pure; kaolin strata two feet
thick, white, soft and gritless, producing,
it is stated by analysis, 35 per cent. of
aluminium; and in the same strata crys-
tails of alum seemingly pure when
tasted. In the mountains near by are
known to be silver, antimony, cinnabar
and iron, while gypsum is widespread
in its showings. Mr.. Blankenhorn
brought home specimens of many OF
these articles.
Transportation is the one great need
here as elsewhere, which, if the rail-
roads were not blind to the profit of
providing, would open these mines of
riches. Aside from these, standing on
the foothills, perhaps a thousand feet
above Bakersfield, there is plainly in
view a vast and beautiful plain
covering at least 1000 square
miles OF most fertile land and proven
productive of delicious fruits, grain,
alfalfa and cattle. Much of this is now
supplied with water, and that great
natural reservoir, Buena Vista lake,
covering fifty square miles, is now bank
full and running to waste. Haggin q
Carr and Miller & Lux own tracts on
whose land alone railroad would run
twenty-five miles due west from Bakers
field. 1t is singular these gentlemen
have never calculated the effect rail-
road would have for them, and acted
upon it. If built by themselves, the
lands on a strip twenty miles long by
only five miles would increase the values
on the hundred square miles made
accessible, sufficient to build several
railroads. Kern county should not be
lost sight of by Los Angeles merchants.
Its future business should be sought and
its new citizens and settlers courted.
Their leanings are in this direction as
far as 1 could Judge.