The record-union., 1896-09-10

part Of the State. Besides the numer-
Gus fertile valleys contained between
their spurs and lateral ranges, their
foothills inclose the great central val
ley of California. This valley is about
the area of the Valley Pc; it's average
dimensions are 400 miles long by 40
miles wide. Tehachapi Pass, at the
extreme southern end, and Acme Sum-
nit. at the base Of Mount Shasta, are
important entrances into the great val
ley. The Sacramento and San Joaquin
Rivers and their tributaries, water and
drain the valley; their combined water
sheds embrace an area of 81, 900 square
miles, situated principally upon the
western slope of the Sierra Nevada
and the eastern slope Of the Coast
Range. The edges Of this watershed
are the creSts of the two ranges of
mountains, except an area extending
into Oregon along Pitt River, one Of
the main tributaries of the Sacramento.
The eastern crest rises from $500 to
$4,000 feet, and the western crest rises
from single tide level gap at CarQui-
quineZ Straits to elevations Of 900 to
5000 feet. The gaps In these mountain
ranges. and the ridge and valley lines
subdividing and lying within them,
constitute controlling features in the
development Of a road system.
CLIMATE.
In variety of climate California pre-
sents wider range than do both the
comparative areas above shown Be
side tho ~ 81
ference Of latitude or distance from the
sea, California presents a wide range of
temperature, due to differences in ele-
vation. These differences extend from
the Arctic temperatures of Is, 600 feet
above to the sem1-torrid climate of
areas 400 feet below sea level Be
tween these extremes every grade of
tmperature, moisture and exposure ex-
lists. In the hotter portions fruits and
vegetables grow without intermission
during the entire year; whilst upon the
colder nights frosts form every night in
midsummer, and only the hardest
cereal plant life exists. Severe frosts
and freezing are thus limited to the
most elevated parts of the State and
hence no great precautions are neces-
sary to resist their injurious action upon
roads. Beside, in the greater portion
Of the higher mountains snow falls be-
fore freezing weather occurs, and re-
mains until the warm weather Of spring,
thus protecting roadbeds In these re-
gions from frost action.
RAINFALL.
The northern part Of the State, lati-
tude AZ degrees, is just within tho ex-
treme southern summer limit Of the
north temperate rain belt. This limit,
during winter, shifts a little south Of
the southern end Of the State There
fore, the State has the full benefit of
the winter rains, and enjoys a oompar-
atively rainless summer.
The mean annual precipitation in the
northwestern part Of the State and upon
the exposed fianks Of the Sierra and
Coast Range is so to 100 inches, whilst
in the southeastern portion Of the State
there are comparatively rainless areas,
receiving from two to four inches an
nually. Between these two, again,
there lies every degree Of annual mois-
ture. This precipitation is, however,
rarely SO heavy that a properly located,
well-surfaced and well-drained road
bed will be badly washed
VEGETATION.
The distribution and variety Of veRe-
tation over an area Of such extreme
range Of climatic and moisture condi-
tions are marvellous and comprehensive.
The cone-bearing trees excel in size and
variety any other known area The
drier portions present q wealth OF palm,
cactus and yucca that bewildsrs the
botanist. Again. the forest growth IL
sometimes so dense that at least one
million feet Of lumber can b out from
a single acre. and other areas are abso-
lutely devoid Of vegetation. Between
extremes OF such vast scope are found
vegetations Of every class In the dense
ly timbered areas clearing and grub
blng are expensive, and the shading of
the roadway causes 1t to remain wet
longer than is desirable, but yields a
grateful shade In the MONDAY of sum-
mer.
GEOLOGICAL OCCURRENCE OF
ROAD MATERIALS.
The geological formations throughout
the entire area Of mountain, foothill and
valley lands furnish road building ma
terials, many of which are Of unsur-
passed excellence. The mountain and
foothill regions yield an abundance of
the harder volcanic, metamorphic and
bitumtnous rocks. together with btu
mems Of the best quality. The yallev
soils are often underlaid by strata Of
excellent road-surfacing materials.
Where clay and adobe predominate as
surface soils, gravel and sand are gem
orally available for improving the roads
necessarily graded up OF inferior ma
terlal; and where sand predominates
clay can be found within reasonable
distances. Thus, by the proper develop
ment and utilization Of the available
materials no section Of the State need
endure the poverty and loss entailed bv