The herald., 1894-01-01

eOubu Vi OW6ub ihke, buo hVoIaBb Mlutu
is about 10 miles. Between the two
towns the country ia but sparsely
settled, and, except for short distance
under cultivation ia irrigated from the |
streams coming down from the noun
tainsr
The land all the way to Big Pine is
quite "a good as that about Bishop, and
as one of the canals included in the
report already given will supply water
for litigation. settlement will be rapid.
On the opposite aide Of the river from
Big Pine are few settlers; tne land is
excellent. water unlimited, and there ia
ample room for 20 times the present
population.
Crossing back to the west side Of the
river, and six miles south from Pig Pine,
is a settlemepC called Fish Spring. Here
are few tine farms, supplied with water
by stream that comes down from the
mountains. The soil aud products are
the came as abont Big Pine. A hand
some school houee WIS completed few
montha ago. Dust south Of this place
low; rolling swell makes out from the
Sierra and extends across the valley
toward the lnyo range.
BLACK ROCK.
For all kinds OF crops grown in the
upper end Of the valley the lapd here is
equally well adapted. Being farther
south and the elevation Decreasing, this
locality y even better suited to orchards
and Vineyards thar the country above.
Along the base of the mountains on the
west, for a distance OF about seven
miles, number OF small volcanoes sent
down streams OF lava at q remote period.
These are but marrow strips, and be-
tween them are bodies OF land OF great
richness. From under the lower end OF
the last lava strip to the south a spring
rushes out on the edge OF the plain. The
volume ia full 1000 inches, and the water
as cool, clear and pure as ever flowed
from mountain etrean.
On-this stream. high up the mount
ain, a sawmill is located that supplies
lumber for the local needs.
Extending south from the big spring
is a level plain having an urea Of about
25 900 acres. One thousand acres is en-
closed and partly cultivated; horses and
cattle pasture over the rect OF it all the
year round. Most of the plain is already
located and patented.
From the south edge OF the plain tbs
ground rises slightly to rolling tract,
on which is located the settlement OF
Camp Independence, 30 called because
some United States troops were sta
toned there for several years. The
troops were taken away and the camp
abandoned by the government more
than dozen years sgo. Buildings erect
ed for officers quarters are now farm
houses. About dozen families ara now
located in the settlement, and among
these are some of the prettieet homes
and best farms in the valley.
From the school houee the distance to
INDEPENDENCE. THE COUNTY SEAT,
Is two and half miles. Tne town has
population OF about $50. The county
courthouse is a large two-story building.
There are two good hotels and several
business houses. Independence being
the business center for all the country,
from liz miles north to 10 miles south oil
thsitown, much business of ali kinds is
| doass The United States land office ia
located here, and that, with the busi-
ness done at the court house, brings
| many people to the town.
South from Independence eight miles
is the school house Of Georges creek
settlement. Twenty eight families are
located their. At point ON the river
q short distance above 1ndendence a
| canal was opened and is now completed
| to the south line OF Georges creek settle
ment. This ia called the Stevens ditch
1t 10 about I5 miles long, has capacity
| OF 1000 inches. ana the cost is stated 10
be S25 600, being an average Of $B.25 per
lnch for a perpetual water right. a low
settlers have already made improve.
lgrl. IL - ~ - i
very fertile. TN rI1u ,t,et side III the
river, six miles above Citrus, the rail-
road station for Independence, @ canal
was hnlshed last fall; and this is called
the
EAST SIDE CANAL.
A short distance below Citrus an.
other canal is taken out and completed.
This rups parallel to the first, bar at q
lower level, and extends the same dis
tance south. Both canala belong to the
same company. The Joint length Of
these bitches is as miles, and their
united capacity ia $4,000 inches of water.
Entirely reliable authority gives the
total cost as little under $4,000, or
! So per inch for perpetual water-right.
Thirty thousand acres lie below these
two canals, and the quantity OF water
that can be supplied will be beyond
| what can ever be needed.
Eight miles south from George 8
creek is the town of Lone Pine. The
town has q population OF about 300;
three nerchants supply the town and
vicinity with goods; there is one hotel
and livery stable. A pretty church
was lately complseB I'D il belongH to the
| Metnodlsts; services are held every
Sunday. This school house being too
small, handsome tNo-story building
was completed few monlhs ago.
A system of water works owned by
the citizsns supplies an abundance OF
water. The pipes connect with a
stream at 9 point about mile above
the town. This stream supplies plenty
of water for all the land cultivated in
the locality; it comes down from the
everlasting snow fields ON the Sierra.
No disease ofany kild has ever trout bled
vines in Ovens valley. six miles south
of the town is the head of
OWENS LAKE.
| The lake is IS miles long and IL miles
across OF it's widest part. Out from the
shore it is as blue as the Mediterranean.
A London chemist who analysed sam-
| Piles of the water gives the density as
one and one-half times that of fresh
water. The lake has no outlet and
evaporation is very rapid.
The writer has frequently hathed in
|