The herald., 1894-01-01
THE BEAUTIES Gf INYO COUNTY.
A Section fyf Southern Califor>
mia Looming Up.
Wonderful Mountains, Valleys, Lakes
and Minerals.
A xexion Waiting Only tho Magic Touch
of Railroads to Be the Center OF
Great and Prosperous
Population.

COUNTIES Oh oOutu OhiiiOIulh HAS atti nSs
ed more attention than Inyo. 1t is evil
dent that the interest is increasing; the
great area of fine land, abundance OF
water and excellent climate, are great
attractions. But in addition to these is
the important fact that Inyo affords an
opportunity for men with small capital
to buy land enough to make good-eized
farms, something that cannot be done in
the other southern counties, except in
localities where there is great scarcity OF
water. Following is
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
The south boundary line Of the county
crosses Indian Wells valley, and from
said line to the north boundary line OF
Los Angeles county the distance is
about 65 miles, the country between
being an open plain, q part of Kern
county. Inyo county has tan area OF
iO.5uU square miles; it is the third
largest county in the state, being ex-
cesded in area by San Bernardino.
which joins it on the south, and by San
Diego. 1t ie in nearly the came latitude
as the island oi Sicily, in,the Mediterra-
mean.
On the north the county 10 bounded
by Mono county; on the east by the
state line OF Nevada; the southern
boundary is already given. and the west
boundary is the water shed oil the Sierra
Nevada mountaine.
The whole suriace of the county is
succession Of high mountain ranges ran
ming nearly north and south, with ex-
tensivc valleys bstween. From the
north the county is reached by the Carson
anu GoioTsdo Taiiroaii this IL line eeii
meets with the Central Pacific at Reno,
New, and thence to San Francisco on
tie west, or eastward TO New York.
The road extends 10 q point near the
south end OF the valley, the present ter
minus being at K aeIer, on the sast shore
OF Ovens lake.
Owen'e river enters the valley from
the north; runs south and discharges
into the lake.
About the head waters OF the river is
an extensive forest Of pine; the trees
could be cnt into logs, put into the river
and foated to Owens lake. or saw mills
could be erected on the streams, the
logs cut into boards and theee foatud to
market in the Numbering states, whore
the facilities are not so good as here.
In Long valley the river and all its trib-
utaries abound in trout. From near the
head OF the valley good bride trail
crosses the mountains to Yosemite val
ley, and every auInmei parties from
, Owens valley 60 over that way to that
region of Worldwide fame; it is a rido
! Of about IS miles from Long valley to
Yosemite. One Of the caiions in Long
valley is called BY the Spanish name OF
Casa Diablo, meaning id English. Houae
Of the Devil. In recent lime volcanic
great masses Of matter siected from rom
the volcano are scattered about Is
strange fantastic forms. Much of this
matter ls obHidian, and in cooling Ii
formed great polygonal coiumns. Wan,y j,
OF these are 20 feet long, or ever,
more, and two or three feet in diametaT.
Ii they could he transported they would
make beautiful columns tc be used in
architecture. Boiling springs are quite
numerous. 1t is a iact to heetated with
some hesitation, but q fact never beless,
that it is quite practicable for an angler
to catch trout in al ice-cold sIream,
and without going out OF his tracks
upon the HOOK, drop il into boiling
spring where ii won'ld be cooked in few
minutes. The river flows down
Long valley about 50 lnilss to a
low transverse ridge which is the divide
between that and Ovens valley.
Through this divide the river has cut
channel from 500 70 QUO feet deep. There
is 4 descent Of about four miles down
which the water rushes in rapid
stream. Here it would be necessary to
clear some large boulders out oi the
way, in order TO hoat logs Or lumber
down, but that coald be done without
much expense. at the bottom OF this
descent the river turns sharp othe east
and runs across the head OF the valley
to Laws, where ii again turns south and
runs TO the lake. From the head OF
Long valley to the lake the length
Of the river is 15Q miles. ''e''
HOUND VALLEY.
This is a beautiful and very fertile re-
gion: the land produces fine crops of
wheat, oats and barley. From 40 to 80
bushels OF wheat per acre is not an IN n
common yield. Potatoes, beets, turnips
and all root crops return heavy yields;
the same ia true d. vegetables, az peas,
beans, onions, lettuce, ceulihdwer.
celery and others. The apples are OF
e,cellent quality; plums 40 Well; cur
rants, gooseberfies, raspberries, straw
berries, all are excellent. The most
delicate fruits, as peaches, apricots and
nectarines do not flourish 80 we'll here
as they do 80 miles further down Ovens
valley, and from that eouthward. T''
Horses and horned cattle thrive well
in Round valley, the pasturage is not
excelled anywhere; hogs do we'll, and
the place is noted for excellent beef.
hams, bacon and lard. 1t is fns
dairy country, and only needs better
facility for reaching market to produce
large quantities Of all kinds Of dairy pro-
duce. Domestic fowls Of all kinds thrive
with very little care, and Chickens and
eggs could be produced in unlimited
qualities.
Round valley contains land enough
and there is plenty OF water for 10 times
the present population. South and
east from Round valley is strip of
rolling country four or five miles wide.
Nearly all Of this could be irrigated at
small expense per acre for original out
lay. This land would be better suited
to fruit growing than Round valley. A
corporation called the Hillside Water
company has planted extensive vine
yards there. They claim water right
Of 10000 inches, and their bitches and
other improvements are valued at $685.
600. This strip Of rolling land is the
western border of an extensive plain of
Whinb fha fnuyx, - al I, n ,ax,tar