SAN DIEGO COUNTY. Having found it convenient to visit the western part of San Diego County I am enabled to give some general information concerning it. It was my intention to commence at the Mexican line, and to have made a geological and mineralogical reconnoissance of the whole State to the northern boundary, but I was not able to carry out my plans. On several occasions during the last six years I have examined the eastern portion of this very interesting and important county, the results of which may be found in preceding reports. I left San Francisco, May eighth, by steamer. The weather at this time of year is delightful on the coast, and a coasting voyage is always one of pleasure and interest. Passed Monterey at 4 P. M., and Point Sur, an outlying promontory, and arrived at Port Harford, San Luis Obisbo County, May ninth, at 2 A. M. Left this port at 7 A. M. and ran down by Point Sal and Conception. At 2 o'clock passed Goleta, and saw petroleum spreading over the sea, rising from submarine springs. As the ship throws aside the water in her passage, a strong smell of coal oil is observed. I had often heard of this locality and the oil springs, but I did not realize the extent of surface covered, or the signification from an economic standpoint. The smell is not of asphaltum, but of light coal oil, which to the experienced sense is distinctly different. This locality should be studied, and wells sunk at Goleta, in the hope that the source of these springs may be tapped and the oil utilized. At 3 o'clock P. M. the ship arrived at Santa Barbara, where she remained long enough to allow the passengers to see the town. I noticed a yellow or buff colored sandstone, which is now used for building purposes. It has been fully described under the head of Rocks and Building Stones. It is not very durable, which is evidenced by the decay of the Mission buildings, which are partially built of it. May tenth arrived at San Diego. In entering the harbor a striking feature is observed. The sea is covered with kelp, which, growing from the rocks beneath, spreads its flat leaves on the surface, and in time of storms is said to act like oil on the troubled waters, and to prevent the waves breaking as violently as they would otherwise do. AREA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY. Assuming Bancroft's map of California, dated 1882, to be correct, San Diego County has an area of fourteen thousand four hundred and twentyeight square miles, equal to nine million two hundred and thirty-three thousand nine hundred and twenty acres. There are eight States of the American Union that have less area than this one California county, as follows: For seventy-five miles inland from the seacoast, the country is broken. into irregular spurs and short mountain chains. The Colorado Desert extends for about one hundred miles beyond this point to the Colorado River. The dividing ridge seems to be the San Jacinto Mountains, the highest elevation of which is eleven thousand feet. A portion of the Colorado Desert is below the sea level. The lowest depression, two hundred and sixty-two feet, is on section twelve, township ten south, and range twelve east, S. B. M., or very near that locality. The mud volcanoes lie in the northern part of section fifteen, township eleven south, and range thirteen east. This very interesting locality is fully described on folio 227 of the second annual report of the State Mineralogist, and a map of the region is also published in that volume. Beyond the basin of the dry lake the surface rises again, and is broken into isolated buttes which, from the almost total absence of water, have not been prospected, but appearances lead to the hope and expectation that valuable minerals will be found in them. Since the discovery of carboniferous fossils, it is not unreasonable to expect, or at least to hope, that beds of true coal will eventually be found. A large bed of coal crops out on the seashore fifteen miles or thereabout, north of San Diego. At Elsinore also a bed of coal or lignite has been discovered on section twenty-six, township five south, and range five west, S. B. M., but no systematic exploration has been made. An approximate analysis of the latter will be found under the head of lignite. Salt is known to be very abundant, and since my last report extensive works have been undertaken along the shore of the ancient lake. I am informed by those interested that the enterprise is so far a success. My examination of the desert in 1881 led me to hope that nitrate of soda would be found. Other salts, in beautiful crystals, observed in the mud at that time should be examined by a competent chemist in the interest of the State. The so called desert lands are known to be very fertile, wanting water only to change them into a paradise. The climate is tropical, but exceedingly dry; rain seldom falls. The mountain divide separates two very distinct climates. To the east the country is hilly, and to a rather limited extent is traversed by streams of pure water. The hills are green and covered but rather sparsely with timber. The valleys are very fertile and well adapted for settlement, and the rainfall is sufficient to insure a crop nearly every year. This portion of the county has an approximate area of six thousand and eighty-four square miles, or three million eight hundred and ninety-three thousand seven hundred and sixty acres a surface larger than the State of Connecticut. Along the seacoast the climate is delightful. This portion of the county will undoubtedly support a large population. San Diego harbor is second only to that of San Francisco. The city is destined to become a great commercial center at no very distant day. The western slope of the divide is gradual, while that to the east is abrupt. This is the general character of all the mountain chains in California. The prospect of this county becoming a prolific gold-producing locality increases with the developments that have been made. Mines known to be productive have beendiscovered in the county in the Julian, Pinacate, and Carga Muchacho Mining Districts, while a vast area of unprospected country remains to be looked after. The Carga Muchacho Mines, from discovery to June 17, 1882, worked fourteen thousand tons, which yielded $167,000, since which time the district has been idle. The mines lie in sections nineteen, twenty, twentynine, thirty, and thirty-two, in township fifteen south, range twenty-one east. Pinacate District is in the northwest corner of township five south, range three west. The locality of Julian District will be given elsewhere. Besides gold and silver, the following minerals have recently been found in San Diego County: asbestus, clay, gypsum, mica, ocher, orthoclase, pegmatite, quartz. There are no doubt may others which will eventually be found and utilized. The stage road from San Diego to Julian Mining District, sixty miles more or less distant, crosses a fertile and beautiful country. It passes through a succession of fine valleys-Cajon, Nuevo, Ballena, and Santa Ysabel. The ascent is so gradual that the stage is able to make the distance without difficulty in one day. The following are roughly approximate altitudes taken with a good aneroid barometer, but by a single reading only: Halfway House. Rim of Cajon Valley, east.. Fosters.. 180 510 220 375 260 For the first ten miles from San Diego heavy banks of drift, coar gravel and bowlders are met with. Then a large outcrop of coaf granite may be seen, which presents a singular appearance, from spots blotches of a darker color. Santa Ysabel Valley is circular. It contains much good land. Att time of my visit it was covered with a luxuriant growth of wild oa The rocks from this point to Julian seem to be syenitic. On Hunsacke Grade there is a large outcrop of orthoclase and pegmatite, of a quali suited for the manufacture of fine pottery. At the town of Julian, the Owens mine, coarse granite with mica crystals crops out. The count about Julian is generally mica schist, and of a quality bearing a striki resemblance to that about Dahlonega, in Georgia: I was struck with marked likeness in other respects between the two districts. JULIAN MINING DISTRICT. ne This district, formerly called also Cuyamaca Mining District, was d covered and located in November, 1869, by Mike Julian, Webb Julia James A. Bailey, and D. D. Bailey. These men had been prospecting Arizona and Montana with indifferent success. In December placer min were found, and worked in a small way. The first quartz mine discover was the Van Wirt; the next the George Washington. Both were locate on the same day, February 22, 1870. The first Julian District, organized February 15, 1870, was bounded. follows, taken from the Recorder's books: Beginning one thousand yards west of Harrold's Store and running north five mil and south five miles, and four miles west in width. M. S. JULIAN, District Recorder. |