The herald., 1894-01-01
RAILWAY MAP OF Los ANGELES COUNTY.

Sierra Madre on the south and the
Sierra Nevada on the north and west.
Inc east line OF Antelope valley is de-
nned by the Lovejov bnttes, spur Of
detached hills. from 150 to $50 feet
nigh, which runs northeasterly from the
Sierra Madre. Antelope valley is about
oO miles long east and west by some 25
miles wide north and south. The sur
lace OF the valley has a general slope to
the northeast. The average altitude of
the valley is 2200 feet above sea level.
The Sierra Nevada constitutes its north
ern and western boundaries.
RIVERS.
Los Angeles county has only two Yiv-
ers-the Los Angeles and San Gabriel.
The dictionary definition of river as s'a
large stream of water flowing in chan
mel on land toward the ocean, a lake. or
another river" (Webster) does not de-
scribe the rivers of Southern California.
The definition holds good for rivers
which drain countries of regular and
abundant rainfall. But, here, where the
annual precipitation is comparatively
small. by q river is not always meant a
visible stream. During the summer time
their beds are filled only with dry sand,
through which, however, considerable
amount of water seeps down to the
ocean. 1t is only during the period of
the winter floods that the channels may
be filled with water.
The Les Angeles river rises in the
western part of the San Fernando val
ley, about IL miles northwest of the
city, and flows easterly IS miles to the
Los Angeles pass. Its stream is fed all
along by springs. Two other "rivers,"
the Pacoima and the Tejungs, join it in
the San Fernando valley. Turning
south, it flows through the Los Angeles
pas1 and on through the city. In
former years its waters flowed through
the southwestern part of the city and
out through the Cienega district and
emptied into the ocean through La
Ballona harbor. Subsequently the
river changed its course, and for years
emptied its waters into the lowlands
around Compton and Wilmington.
Then neither the Los Angeles nor the
San Gabriel river had channel to the
ocean. Their winter foods accumulated
in lakes and ponds in the district above
named. An immense forest OF willows,
alders. sycamores and cottonwoods COW
cred all that district. The winter floods
of 1825-26 were very great. The lowlands
were filled to overfowing. The waters
broke through the sand dunes just west
of Long Beach. A channel was formed,
and the drainage was so complete that
the big forest totally disappeared in a
few years.
Most of the water of the Los Angeles
river is now taken for irrigation and city
use. During the dry season the surface
stream seldom flows below the city
limits. Only ehort time at intervals
during the rain season, at the height OF
floods, does the stream ever reach the
ocean.
The San Gabriel river has two princi-
pal sources in the Sierra Madre. The
north fork rises in township north.
range II west, San Bernardino base and
meridian, and flows easily through
three townships into township north,
range west, where it forms junction
with the east fork. The latter stream
rises In township 3 north, range 8 west,
and flows southerly. From the point oi
junction the river fiowe southwesterly to
the ocean. For years. before the great
flood OF 1886, its discharged its waters
into the lowlanjs north OF Wilmington.
After that it joined the Los Angeles
river in township 4 south, range Ii west
The winter OF 1878 witnessed another
great food. The San Gabriel river then
broke over its banks in township 2 south
range IL west, and, flowing southerly
cut new channel through to Alamitot
bay. Since that time it's waters have
been divided between the old and new
channels.
| BAYS AND HARB0Rs.
The shore line Of Los Angeles county