The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-02
THE SALINAS VALLEY.

One of the most instructive Illustrations
OF the great disparity existing in Califor-
MA between abundance of resources and
meagerness of development is to be found
In that wonderfully fertile region known
as the Salinas Valley. The truth of this
declaration may be better understood
when it is added that this valley alone has
resources within itself capable of support
ing in comfort more than the whole pres
ent population of California; and yet, in
comparison with the San Joaquin or the
Sacramento Valley, it is insignificant.
1t is one of the very few valleys in Cali
fornia that open directly upon the ocean,
and excepting the Pajaro Valley is the
mate is the effect of the ocean trade winds.
To what extent this explains the remark
able size and quality of the soil products it
would be more interesting than profitable
to inquire. Although it is in growing wheat
OF quality which no other part of the
country can equal that the fame of the val
ley consists, its soil of inexhaustible fertil-
ity, being the washing of mold from the
heavy vegetation of the mountains on
either side of the valley, and its bland eli
mate make possible the production of all
the rare products for which the various
sections of the State have developed special
aptitudes.
Like most of the other rich sections of
the State the Salinas Valley is covered in
considerable part with vast land-holdings
which are heritage of the days when
the Spanish Government in order to secure
fl,a o< H. "a
enormous tracts of the most fertile land in
the world. Most of these grants have
descended intact to the present owners,
who are generally Americans and one of
the reasons for the slow development of
the State has been ascribed to the unwill-
ingness of these owners to subdivide their
holdings and offer them on reasonable
terms to settlers. So long as the proauc-
ton of wheat was encouraged by the gen.
erous prices which this staple received
until recently there was as much reason
for the complaint against the refusal OF
owners to subdivide as for the continuance
of q more profitable course. Since wheat
growing is no longer so renumerative and
since the organizations Of fruit-growers
have solved the problem of an Eastern
market the owners of the immense wheat
| fields are more than willing to sell. This
is particularly true with regard to the
| Salinas Valley, where the largest profits
| to-day are to be made in growing fruit and
sugar beets.
Along with this opportunity to buy
| farms of size suitable for orchards are
some other conditions which affect the
Salinas Valley with peculiar force. The
first step toward better times for the valley
was made by Claus Spreckels and other
progressive men in the running of rail-
road up the valley from Moss Landing, on
the bay of Monterey, to Salinas City.
This opposition to the Southern Pacific,
which had line running to the head of the
valley, reduced freight rates materially, as
vessels at the bay received the wheat of
the valley and distributed it over the
world. The next opportunity is that pre-
scented by the extension of the Southern
Pacific to Santa Barbara, with a short cut
thence TO Los Angeles, in order to make
the line by way of the Salinas Valley and
San Jose the southern overland line for
passengers. Salinas City is to have special
consideration in the shape of workshops
and a roundhouse. The enterprising
spirit of the residents and their cheerful-
ness in giving substantial help to any en-
terprise which will bring them benefit
were shown in the readiness with which
they purchased and gave to this rich cor
poration large acreage within the city for
its purposes.
The people there are now hoping that
the Monterey and Fresno Railroad, which
recently collapsed, will be taken up and
pushed through from Monterey to Fresno
by way of Salinas, as part of the scheme of
the San Joaquin Valley road. In all ways,
therefore, the future of this wonderful
valley is most encouraging,