The herald., 1897-08-08
before the rush and thirst of gold took

before the rush and thirst Of gold took
possession of this sunny land.
The old mission, nearly 200 years old,
quaint old adobes fully as aged, caval-
-cades of senoritas and caballeros dash
days before the "Gringo" came.
Santa Barbara, however, is best known
today as famous winter resort, although
some fault may be found with its citizens
for not more thoroughly making known
abroad its superior climatic attractions
as summer resort. For however much
1t may be lauded, and justly so, as a
tspot where the winter climate is un-
surpassed in mildness and healthfulness,
Jas summer resort also it is almost
Incompatible. In the broad area of CAL
ifornia one may find every variety Of
Iclimate known to man, from the torrid
Ito the frigid, almost the year through.
Few people, one suspects, realize the
Immense area included in the boundaries
|of the state of California. Lying between
latitude 80 degrees 20 minutes, and 40
degrees north, it has 158, 1850 square miles,
or 101, $50, 400 acres, of which at least S0,-
100000 acres are suitable for some kind
OF profitable husbandry. Nearly four
great states the size of New York could
repose within the confines of California.
Cut its domain into states the size of
Rhode Island and 126 new stars could be
added to our flag, or, if we give to each
Estate an area equal to that of Massachu-
lsetts, we could add 10 new states to the
union and give 3S new senators the op-
lportunity to serve their country
! The whole six New England states,
together with New York, Pennsylvania
land Delaware combined, could be in
Fclosed within California's limits and yet
leave Santa Barbara's domain intact.
California is one and half times the
size of Italy, is more than equal to Aus
tria and over four-fifths the area of La
Belle France. England, Wales and Ire
land could find acre for acre in our state,
and yet leave land sufficient to accom-
modate the state of Massachusetts and
not crowd her population of two and one
half millions. 1t is well to state the
above facts since the people as a whole
have not yet been educated to the fact
that California Is more than a state. 1t
lis principality in itself.
NO wonder, then, that in diversity OF
natural features California is uncom-
monty interesting. Its physical aspects
are Oh a character so unique and of an
extent and variety SO astonishing that
visit to its portals will do more, in
way OF giving breadth and food for the
mind, than trip over all the rest of the
world. This assertion is not exaggera tiorl
IN the least. Its trees, valleys, canyons,
mountains, waterfalls and seaboard are
all ON colossal scale. Think of sailing
along shore for over 700 milestone
quarter of the distance across the At
lantic. ocean-and all the while know
that your boat is within the Jurisdiction
of one state, and that state is Califor-
, mia.
| For two-thirds the way down the
Estate, or 450 miles, there are two great
lmountain chains, the Sierra Nevada and
Coast Range, running parallel to the
coast line and with each other-the Sier-
ira Nevada along the eastern border and
1.-THE Coast Range along the western, dip
Ipiug down to a bold and rugged coast.
lThe ranges join at their northern apJ
lsouthern ends. forming the. great inte-
Irior basin, which, though one continu-
Ious stretch Of plains, is composed of the
valleys of the San Joaquin river in the
southern half and the valley of the Sac
ramento In the northern half
The Sierra Nevada mountain range Is
about eighty miles wide with attitudes
all the way from 5000 to 5000 feet above
sea level. Running parallel with the
Sierra Nevada 10 the Coast Range, with