Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1905-06-15

The antiquity of California Is reprt
sented by her missions, says the Pie
torial American Of Los Angeles Re
fore their time there was naught OF
clvllization--sh had no history; the
aborigineS of THIS summerland we're aS
wild and untaught as the apes OF
Africa or the Simlans OF Central and
South America The future may yet
uncover an ancient civilization upon
the Pacific coast--lt Is posslhle-but
today II Is conceded that the advent
OF the Spanish frays more than cen.
tury ago marks the beginning OF a CIV
ilization that has at the present time
eliminated In u period that will for
nt time be recalled as the brightest
In the sclentdc achievements OF the
Caucasian race
Banished from Mexico In l7GT. the
Jesuits received royal commands from
Spain to proceed to Upper California
for the purpose or establishing mis-.
sicns and converting aud educating the
Indians of this otherwise unlnhablted
country.
The first OF these missions, at San
Diego, was established July 10, 1863.
and TO Padre Jnnipero Sierra Is given
the honor OF having been its founder,
Notwithstanding the historical fact
that Padre Juan Crespi, accompanied
BY little band OF soldiers and ser.
wants, preceded Sierra to the spot some
six weeks and commenced the labor OF
creating the adobe structure which IL
the FIRST and oldest OF chain OF twen-
~ one similar buildings from that
point on the south TO Sonoma on tho
north. For more than half century
this work was In progress. or until
April 25, 1920, when the last and ex.
treme northern mission, San Francisco
de Solano nj Sonoma, was constructed.
These temples OF worship. construct.
ed mainly OF sun-drled bricks OF adobe
earth and straw, were responsible for
the creation OF thoroughfare connect.
Ing each with the others, constituting
one continuous roadway from the mis-
sion on the south to the one at the ex.
treme north; this was called FL Canine
Real. the Kings Highway.
Through the secularlzation Of these
missions, subverting the objects for
which they were created. and the can.
tankerous tooth of time, there remains
to-day for the most part little evidence
Of their former supremacy-they are
naught but ruins, except where In a
few instances some Of them have been
partially restored-mainly as land.
marks and historic relics of the earle,
civilization of California. while some
few still serve the purpose OF religious
ceremonials.
In their palmy days these institu-
tons were prosperous and amassed
much wealth and the padres enjoyed
many luxurles, in quiet way, avail.
able In those primitive times of mea-
ger facilities and products Of art and
husbandry. Settled as they were In
the midst Of populous tribes of peace
able and simple Indians, they avaIled
themselves Of their ability to utilize
their labor to profit. Upon the author.
ity of Major Ben. c. Truman, 1t may
be stated that these missions wefe In
their best condition In 1914. although
In 1926 they had 100000 cattle, 200, 900
sheep and 10000 horses. They also
kept at work 1900 Indians and har-
vested nearly 100000 bushels of grain
Of various kinds"
The mission system Of Alta Callfor.
MIA, founded by the missionaries Of the
order Of st. Francis, consisted Of TWEEN
ty-one establishments, extending from
San Diego on the south to Sonoma on
the north The most extensive and
important Of these, Monterey excepted,