The herald., 1897-01-03

them is the Galloway canal, which taps
the river one and one-haf miles north
of Bakersfield where the river is 4SU
feet vide, The hecanalle leads northwestern
M a distance of SO miles is so feet wide
on The bottom and 120 feet wide on
top. has banks feet high, usually flows
feet. of. water and has grade oil
eight t-tenths of Sas foot per mile. 1t COM
mands an area of 200 600 acres. Sixty
five distributing bitches from s to 20
feet wide are taken from it. having an
aggregate length of $50 miles.
WATER POWER AND FUEL.
In the great canals which tap the
Kern river, besides in the stream itselt,
an amount Of water is going to waste
sufficient to turn The wheels OF nun
dreds of manufacturing establishments;
This immense power can De useo
over and over again at differeht poihts
north of the city, where the sureanl
makes a sharp descent, ana then out IN
the valley wherever the hundreds or
miles of canal extend. Electricity can
be generated by means of this vast pow
er. which can be conducted wherever
needed i'm Kern valley, furnishing one
of the cheapest easiest obtained and
most effective motive powers for manu-
featuring or transportation that could
be desired.
The vast deposits of asphaltum and
| petroleum on the western side of the
| valley will doubtless be utilized as fuel
for manufacturing purposes also, as is
! done in many manufacturing establish
ments in Los Angeles. The immense
forests of timber in the mountains VIII,
With the completion of good roads and
fumes, furnish another supply of cheap
fuel.
The Kern River company have estab-
| ,.J, 0t
from Bakersfield. The present capacity
| is 1000 horse power, but the water power
is equal to 10000 horse power 1t vii,
be transmitted TO Bakersfield and vi
| cinity in January. Another company has
| been organized to furnish water power
from Kern river to Los Angeles and
intermediate points.
ASSESSED VALUATION, ETC.
IKE total assessed value of all prop
elty in the county for 1886 was s16372,-
422: county Indebtedness, $210, 600; coun-
ty tax rate per $lG0. $l.49 and S1.65.
There was considerable building and
other improvements made in the county
during 1896 and particularly in the min
ing districts. extending from Mojave
to Randsburg. the new FL Dorado.
Among the building improvements is
the completion of an addition to the
county court house at a cost of $4,000,
ana the completion OF the residence or
William S Tevis at Stockdale ranch,
near bakersfield, at cost of about
$40, 900, which is an imposing and charm
| ing structure, of the Old Spanish mis-
| sion style of architecture.
BAKERSFIELD.
Bakersfield is the county seat and
principal town of the county, distant
16S miles from Los Angeles on the South
ern Pacific railroad. 1t is a division
headquarters on that line, and has the
largest machine shops between Los An
geles and Sacramento. About 10 loco
motives are steadily employed at this
| point and frequently 10 to 20 extras.
An immense amount of hay grain.
fruit Vega tables, cattle. sheep, hogs.
petroleum, asphalt and other products is
shipped. from Bakersfield. The Southern
Pacific company will soon extend the
road from Kern City. the twin city OF
Bakersfield, to the business district of
the latter. where 81 handsome and com
modious depot win be erected. The Sar
Joaquin Valley Railroad company has
secured all the rights of way from Fres-
no to Bakersfield and also depot site
near the business center. 1t is confident
ly expected that the road will be COM