Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-08-06


fornia-Are of Little Importance
Aorieulturally-Santa Catalina the
Best Kncwn-Title Assumed 10 Have
Passed to the United States When
California Was Acquired.
Nine American islands OF the coast
OF California. number Of them IN
habited. aud some important tu marin
Geographic stations upon them are
claimed by Mexico, according to dis
patches from Mexico City. These is.
lands are the subject of the following
bulletin issued by the National Geo
graphic society from its Washington
%. CO headquarters:
THE climate of the southern Cali
fornIa mainland has acquired a world
wide reputation because of its mild
ness and equabIity; but the climate
of the islands lying from L. TO 80
miles OF its coast is praised 10y Wis
itorS aS even more delightful sur
rounded by the blue Pacific under
sclnltropic sun. but famed by ocean
breezcS, they are land Of perpetual
summer and can be imagined 10 merit
the title. enchanted isles that some
enthusiasts have bestowed ou them.
"All Of the California islands are
rough and most of them too small 10 he
abundantly supplied with water. They
are therefore, Of little Importance
agriculturally. On several OF them,
however sheep and goats are raised
In considerable numbers The largest
Of the islands Santa Cruz, only about
- miles south Of Santa Barbara has
some vineyards and orange gro'cS
santa Catalina. which has been
developed as pleasure resort, is III"
best known Of the islands. ON beau
tiful little crescent bay of that island
facing the mainland % miles to the
east. the town of Avalon has been
built Thousands of tourists visit IA,
place every year in the steamers which
run regularly from San Pedro. Avalon
Is the main Pacific coast headquarters
for lic game fishing. the adjacent
waters Astounding in tuna. sea-haSs ans
>wordfsh The little town has buili
up quite an industry in the mounting
II specimens of these great fishes
that they may adorn the trophy room,
nf Sport~mcu.
Rose From the Sea.
''Culifornia owes her nff-shorc j.
and, not 10 drifting sands as the
southern sections OF the Atlantic cOns
owe thcirs tut To the fact that tn
state i the center Of one of the mo>i
active regions gcol0gically In the worla
IN recent geological times. San Gle
mcntc. tho SnuthcrnmOSt Of the islands
has risen from the sea. according TO
BIOLOGISTS. until its topmost peak has
IN altitude of over ! 900 feet. Santa
Catalina on the other hand. has been
sinking. though evidences OF the slow
movement are not apparent 10 laymen.
None Of the California islands is
II any great extent Santa Cruz. the
largest i II miles long and has an
average width of five miles II is also
the highest having n peak which
Ia Barbara island is only one and one
half miles long and one mile wide.
The three Anacapa islands which nj
most touch, are together slightly
larger. but the individual sections are
smaller These islands are generally
considered one
THE farallones. though small. are
probably the most useful Of the Cali
forna islands. They are Il group Of
rocky lslets about 20 miles directly Of
the Colder. gate. the entrance Of san
Franci>co'S wonderful harhor, Past
these i>lcts streams an important part
OF the commerce of the world and
from them are flashed by submarine
cable reports of arriving and depart
ing ships ON the largest OF the is
lets i situated Farallonc light which
throws IA, first welcoming henm of
cisco from across the Pacific and out
Of the South seas.
Play Part in History.
The california islands played part
In the history III the west coast
Cabrillio the first European To sail
north Of the present Mexican line on
the Pacific coast discovered them In
l542. died on one OF them and was
buried there. Viscaino. another Span
ish explorer, surveyed them in 1902.
gave them their present names and
strengthened Spaln's claim on them.
There was no actual occupation Of the
islands until after 1863. when the first
settlement IN Alta California was
made NJ san Diego, on the mainland
near the islands During the gold rush
Of ls4a Catalina was occupied by
United States troops.
when Mexican Independence was
gained the islands passed with the
mainland from Spanish Ia Mexican
sovereignty. II has been assumed
that. when he United States took title