The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-25
COAST EXCHANGES,

The Redlands CitrogrGph says that the ex-
element regarding the oil fields in San Tim
oteo and Reche canyons is not abating, but is
on the increase. There is huge rush to Sc
cure locations, and claims are being located
in some cases half dozen times over. The
canyons and sagebrush-covered hills bristle
with location notices, some of them reported
10 be mile or two off the land they are sup
posed to cover. That there is oil underlying
the section referred to there is no doubt. Just
how much will prove paying property remains
yet TO be proved.
Santa Rosa bicyclists are now burning Coal
inga oil in their bicycle-lamps with satisiac-
tory results. The Republican of the firstnamed
city, having received a sample of refined coal
oil from Captain Frank Barrett's wells near
Coalinga, observes that 'the oil is brilliantly
clear, has the odor of the best kerosene and
burns with bright fame and little smoke.
The wells in the western part of this county
are producing the finest grade of Oil found on
the Pacific Coast, If not the best in the United
States. The prospect of practically unlimited
quantities being found, and OF such superior
quality, means the development of a new and
vast industry IN this part of the State"
The Stockton Mail reports that Robert L. Ed
wards, former Public Administrator of San
Joaquin County, has discovered an asbestos
mine which he thinks will bring him fortune
before long. 1t is situated about fourteen miles
east of Raymond. Says the Mail: The fact
that there was deposit of asbestos there was
first suggested by the groupings of the ma
terial. Investigation soon convinced Edwards
that there was valuable deposit beneath the
ground and he was not slow in locating. The
ledge is one and a half feet at a depth of
twenty feet and after taking out about two
tons OF the valuable material he found no in
dication of any lessening of the ledge. shaft
was run down at an angle of about forty-five
degrees and showed the exceedingly fine char
acter of the ledge. According 10 the owner
the material will bring about $75 ton and as
1T is easily mined there will be an immense
profit IN the working of the mine II the supply
is what it appears to be. The asbestos at the
Edwards mine is not of the finest quality, but
it is good enough for all purposes of packing,
for which it is used about machinery. In spots
1t runs TO a very high grade.
Two big irrigation systems are destined to
work wonders in the extensive Salinas Valley.
The San Lorenzo Creek main canal is nine
miles long, twenty feet wide in the bottom
and five feet deep, and has q capacity to irri-
gate $50 acres every twelve hours. The Sa-
linas River canal will be fourteen miles long,
thirty feet wide on the bottom and FIVE feet
deep. With reference to the matter, the King
City Settler says:
IoO inuCn cannot De SAID or the advantages OF
irrigation with water from the Salinas River, as it
carries a fine sediment composed OF gypsum and
lime, which, distributed over the land, acts as a
splendid fertilizer.
With these two systems in operation, who can
estimate the benefit that will accrue to this valley?
Within six months $500 acres of the richest and
best land the sun ever shone on will be under rri-
CATION, every acre of which will grow all kinds of
decduous fruits, sugar beets, alfalfa and cereals
Already the effect of irrigation is seen. Two
af,r,l raA
beets were planted on the San Lorenzo rancho
alone which is a small percentage of what will be
planted the coming season. The Salinas Valley
Orchard Company is preparing to plant on a por-
ton OF the San Benito rancho 200 acres in winter
apples, and will seed 135 acres to sugar beets this
winter.
While no fault can be found with the railroad
tariff on beets from King City to watsopviIle it
being only 10 cents per ton, we should have a
sugar factory where the beets grown. With
the large acreage under irrigation. the time is not
far distant when we will have no; only o sugar
factory, but canneres TO preserve the fruits grown
here.
In calling attention to the fact that the vast
sandy wastes1yi between the Colorado River
and the coast are unprovided with means to
give the traveller his bearings and direct him
to the nearest water, the San Diego Union de-
clares that the absence of sign-p posts is a seri-
Gus drawback TO prospecting the desert.
Inc paper in question suggests relative action
In the premises by the interested counties:
Many man who would put money into mine
IL he could see IL for himself declines to undergo
the perils of . trip over the desert Even good
miners whose field has heretofore been in less
dangerous regions shrink from prospecting over
the unmarked sandy wastes Still, desert mining
will in future be one Of the greatest sources Of
Southern Caiifornia's wealth. 1t would be won
derfully stimulated, however. were the counties
that chiefly interested to take united action TO
remove what is at present the great drawback TO
the industry.
Four whales have been caught in Monterey
Bay already this year and the Monterey Nel0
Era is led to remark that whaling pro Uses to
become once more one OF the leading indus
tries OF the town." A whale which will yield
$50 gallons Of oil was captured there last week
and Captain Jose Pedro states that he expects