QUESTIONS ON THE MAP. CALIFORNIA. NEVADA. On the In In Surface. What is the general character of the surface? Lakes and Rivers. What is the most important river of Cali- | Cities. Name and locate the state capital. The largest city. Lakes and Rivers. What lakes in the north-western part? Counties and Cities. - How many counties in Nevada? How do they compare in extent? Name the three central counties. What counties west of Churchill County? What and where is cities in the central part of the state? In the northern half? In the capital of the state? What other chief cities, and where the southern half? What is the most important seaport? Where located? [What county do you live in? located? What others? Are there many harbors on the coast? of the state? What is the county seat?] What parts of the state are most thickly settled? What parts the most sparsely settled? Bound it. In what part by numerous small valleys opening towards the ocean, the most important of which are the Russian River, Napa, Santa Clara, Salinas, and San Gabriel valleys. The Colorado desert, in the south-eastern part of the state, east of the San Bernardino Mountains, belongs to the Great Basin, but has a very moderate elevation, and in some places is below the level of the sea. It is dry, sandy, hot, and barren. The plateau region, east of the Sierra Nevada, is a part of the Great Basin, which includes Nevada and Utah. It is an arid country, generally destitude of vegetation, with the exception of sage brush and bunch grass and the forests on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Scenery. California is noted for its picturesque scenery. The Yosemite Valley, in the heart of the Sierra Nevada, attracts tourists from all parts of the world. It is a glacial valley seven miles long, and a mile and a half wide, with almost vertical walls of solid granite from 3,000 to 4,000 feet in height. It has numerous waterfalls, of which the most remarkable is the Yosemite Falls, where the water plunges down 1,600 feet in one unbroken sheet, and 2,600 feet in three leaps. Mount Shasta, in the extreme northern part of the state, is a volcanic cone, which rises 14.440 feet above the level of the sea, and 10,000 feet above the level of the surrounding plateau. It is one of the most beautiful of mountains; and the surrounding country is a favorite resort for tourists and hunters. The Big Tree Groves, near the Yosemite Valley, contain some of the largest trees in the world. Lake Tahoe is a favorite resort for summer tourists. III. DRAINAGE. The two largest rivers, the Sacramento and the San Joaquin, drain the Sacramento basin, and flow into the Bay of San Francisco. Their tributaries rise in the summits of the Sierra Nevada, which supply an abundance of water from melting ice and snow during the long dry season. The Sacramento River, 400 miles long, rises in the lakes of the mountain region around Mount Shasta, and flows south into the Bay of San Francisco. It is navigable for small steamers to Red Bluff, 300 miles. Its chief tributaries are the American, Yuba, and Feather rivers. The San Joaquin, 350 miles long, rises in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and flows north into the Bay of San Francisco. It is navigable for large steamers to Stockton, 120 miles, and for small steamers 75 miles farther. Its chief tributaries are the Kings, Kern, Merced, Tuolumne, Fresno, Stanislaus, Calaveras, and Mokelumne rivers. The smaller rivers which flow directly into the Pacific are the Klamath River, Eel River, and Russian River, north of the Bay of San Fran cisco; and the Salinas River and Santa Ana River, to the south of that bay. The rivers of the plateau and desert region east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains have no outlet to the ocean. They are small streams that terminate in salt lakes, or disappear by evaporation in the "sinks" of the desert. The most important of these rivers are the Mohave (mo-hä've), which sinks in the sands of the Mohave desert: Owens River, which flows into Owens Lake (salt); the Truckee, which flows into Pryamid Lake in Nevada; Carson River; and Walker River. Lakes. Lake Tahoe, two thirds in California and one third in Nevada, is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, at an elevation of about 6,000 feet. It is 20 miles long, 10 miles wide, and is noted for its beautiful mountain scenery. Clear Lake, in the Coast Range, north of the Bay of San Francisco, is a favorite summer resort. Tulare Lake is a large and shallow sheet of water which lies in the southern part of the Sacramento valley, and has its outlet in the San Joaquin River. Mono Lake lies at the foot of the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, in a region of extinct volcanic cones. Its waters, like those of Great Salt Lake in Utah, are so intensely salt, bitter, and alkaline, that no fish can live in them. Owens Lake, south-east of Mono, is also a saline lake. In the northern part of the state, on the boundary line of Oregon, there is a group of fresh-water lakes, of which the largest are Goose, Rhett, and Klamath lakes. IV. CLIMATE. The climate of California is sub-tropical. There are two seasons, a dry season, from May to November (summer); and a rainy season, from November to May (winter). Snow falls only in the mountain regions. In general, the climate is healthful, breezy, and invigorating, subject to no sudden extremes of heat and cold. In the coast belt the climate is remarkably mild and equable. In the Sacramento basin and the foot-hills of the Sierra Nevada the summer is very hot and dry, but the rainy season is cool and delightful. The rain-winds of California are the south-west return trade-winds, which have their moisture condensed as they are forced to ascend mountain slopes. In summer the great tropical rain-belt of the trade-winds is moved from 7° to 10° farther north than in winter. As a consequence the return trade-winds descend to the earth mostly to the northward of California. Besides, any rain-clouds falling upon California have their moisture dissipated and absorbed by the hot air rising from the heated earth during the long, dry, hot summer. The cause of the equable climate along the coast belt is the return Japan current, which moves in a broad stream from 20 to 30 miles wide the entire length of the coast. This current in winter is warmer than the neighboring land: in summer it is cooler. This difference of temperature renders the climate more equable, and also causes the dense fogs prevailing along the coast both in summer and winter. The strong, chilling, and fog-laden winds that blow in San Francisco during the summer months are caused by the cold-air currents that rush from the ocean through the Golden Gate into the heated valley of the Sacramento. Soil. V. NATURAL ADVANTAGES. The soil of the valleys and rolling hills is fertile and easily tilled, and is well adapted to the production of the cereals and the vine. The tulé lands along the banks of the Sacramento and the San Joaquin are exceedingly productive when reclaimed and protected by levees from overflow. Minerals. California is rich in minerals, of which the most. important is gold. The gold region lies chiefly on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Quicksilver-mines are numerous in the northern part of the Coast Range. There are also in California valuable deposits of iron, copper, and tin, though they are not extensively worked. Forests. The western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, and of the Coast Range north of the Bay of Monterey, are covered by extensive forests of conifers, such as pine, fir, and redwood. The most durable lumber for building purposes is supplied by the redwood trees of the Coast Range. The oak and sycamore are found in the valleys and foot-hills. The Sacramento valley, the southern coast belt, and the plateau and desert region east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, are almost destitute of trees. The "Big Trees" (Sequoia gigantea) are among the wonders of the world. Some of these trees are over 100 feet in circumference and 300 feet in height. The best known groves are the Calaveras Grove and the Mariposa Grove, both near the Yosemite Valley. There is a forest belt of these trees, from three to six miles in width, extending along CALIFORNIA. the Sierra Nevada from the Yosemite region southward for 120 miles. The Sequoia furnishes excellent lumber resembling redwood. VI. INDUSTRIES. Agriculture is the leading occupation, the annual wheat-crop alone exceeding in value the annual product of the gold and silver mines. Owing to the diversity of climate, surface, and soil, the agricultural products are exceedingly varied. The Cereals. In wheat-growing, California ranks as one of the leading states. Barley and oats are extensively raised. The Grape. The culture of the grape ranks next in importance to wheat-raising. The vine thrives in nearly all parts of the state below an elevation of 4,000 feet. The annual wine product already exceeds 12,000,000 gallons. In the hot and dry Sacramento basin and in the southern part of the state the grapes are made into raisins. Fruit. The central and northern sections of the state are favorable to the culture of apples, pears, peaches, plums, prunes, apricots, and cherries. Great quantities of plums and apricots are put up in cans for export, and pears and grapes are extensively shipped by rail to Eastern cities. - Dried prunes, plums, and peaches are important articles of export. The coast belt south of Santa Barbara is noted for the production of the citrus fruits, oranges, lemons, and limes. Other Products. — Bee-culture is an important industry in San Diego and Los Angeles counties, and great quantities of the finest honey are sent to Eastern markets. Olive-oil is an important product of the olive-orchards. Cotton and tobacco grow in the state, but are not extensively cultivated. Potatoes and other vegetables are grown along the coast and in the bay counties. Mining. For twenty years after the discovery of gold in 1848, mining was the leading industry in California; but since that period it has ranked second in importance to agriculture. The annual gold product does not now exceed $17,000,000; but formerly, for many years in succession, the annual yield exceeded $50,000,000. The total product of the mines since 1848 is estimated to exceed $1,000,000,000. Gold is obtained from "quartz-mines" by crushing gold-bearing quartzrock, and from gravel banks by washing away the earth with streams of water forced by heavy pressure through strong hose-pipe. Prominent among the other industries are stock-raising, lumbering, varied manufactures, and a large domestic and foreign trade. Stock-raising. The rolling hills and the mountain slopes of California afford pasturage for large herds of cattle, horses, and sheep. The coast belt north of San Francisco is noted for its dairy products. Lumbering. In the redwood forests of the coast north of San Francisco, and in some parts of the Sierra Nevada, saw-mills are numerous, and lumbering is the chief industry. Manufactures. The most important manufactured products are lumber, flour, wine, liquors, mining machinery, iron-work, woolens, boots and shoes, leather, clothing, canned and dried fruits. Commerce. California has an extensive export and import trade. It is connected by steamship lines with China, Japan, India, the Sandwich Islands, Australia, Mexico, and South America. It is connected with the Atlantic coast by several trunk lines of railroads, by a steamship line via Panama, and by sailing-vessels around Cape Horn. chief exports are wheat, wine, wool, gold, dried and canned fruits. Its chief imports are tea, coffee, sugar, and manufactured articles of all descriptions. VII. GOVERNMENT. Its 5 of the Supreme Court, and superintendent of public instruction, all elected by direct vote of the people for a term of four years. The Legislature consists of a Senate of forty members, elected for four years, and of an Assembly of eighty members, elected for two years. The Legislature holds biennial sessions. The judicial power is vested in the Senate sitting as a court of impeachment, in a Supreme Court, superior courts, justices of the peace, and The Supreme such inferior courts as may be established by law. Court consists of a chief justice and six associate justices. Local Government. The officers of a county government are a board of supervisors, board of education, treasurer, assessor, tax-collector, district-attorney, sheriff, surveyor, county clerk, and superintendent of common schools. The unit of political division is the school district, the officers of which consist of three school trustees, elected by direct vote of the people for a term of three years. National Representation. — California is represented in Congress at Washington by two senators and six representatives, and hence is entitled to eight electoral votes. VIII. EDUCATION. The state has a well-organized system of public schools. The state constitution provides that a free school shall be maintained in every school district for at least six months in the year. The schools are supported partly by state, by county, and by district taxation. Each county has a county superintendent of common schools, elected by State Institutions. — The State University of California, at Berkeley, is The well endowed, and is free to both young men and young women. State Normal School, at San José, is attended by a large number of students; and the Branch State Normal School at Los Angeles is a flourishing institution. The Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind is located at Berkeley. There are numerous denominational colleges and seminaries and many excellent private schools. IX. HISTORY. Upper or Alta California was first explored by the Spaniards, within fifty years after the discovery of America by Columbus. The name "California" was given by the Spaniards to the region north of Mexico. The name is taken from an old Crusader romance which was very popular in the days of Cortez. The Spaniards made their first settlement in Upper California, at San Diego, in 1769. San Diego was the first of a series of Missions, which the Spanish Catholic missionaries established in California, running north from San Diego to San Francisco. Into these Missions the Indians were gathered, and the Padres, or Roman Catholic priests, taught them the arts of civilization. They cultivated the vine, the olive, and the fig, and lived in spacious houses, built of adobe, or sun-dried bricks. In 1821 Mexico threw off the yoke of Spain, and became an independent republic. Alta or Upper California was then made a Mexican province. The first American settlers found their way into California in 1843. In 1846 the war between the United States and Mexico began. The Americans in California immediately raised the "bear flag," and asserted their independence of Mexico. At this time Capt. John C. The chief exports are wheat, wine, wool, gold, canned and dried fruits. The chief imports are manufactured goods of all kinds, sugar, coffee, and tea. San Francisco is the site of a United States branch mint. the largest and finest in the world. Sacramento (26,272) in Sacramento County, on the Sac In July, 1846, Commodore Sloat, then commander of the United States fleet on the Pacific coast, hearing of the declaration of war, took possession of Monterey. A little later, Stockton superseded Sloat. He took San Diego, and, aided by Fremont, captured Los Angeles. Late in the year, Gen. Kearny, with a small column from the army operat- ramento River, 120 miles from its mouth, is the capital of the ing against Mexico on the northern line, reached California after a state. The state Capitol is an imposing building, erected at a cost long and toilsome march from Santa Fé, in New Mexico. Kearny of three millions of dollars. Sacramento is the site of the extenarrived in time to take part in the battle of San Gabriel, Jan. 8, 1847. sive machine-shops of the Central Pacific Railroad. It is in the This action overthrew the Spanish power, and established the authorcenter of a rich farming region, and has an extensive trade. ity of the United States in California. The Mexican war was ended by the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo, Feb. 2, 1848. It was just before this treaty was concluded that the first discovery of gold in California took place (Jan. 19, 1848), a discovery which resulted in founding a great state on the Pacific coast. The news of the discovery reached the States; and it soon spread throughout the world that California was the golden land, the true "El Dorado." An extraordinary rush of immigration to the diggings now set in. Some crossed the thousands of miles of dreary and desolate plains, others braved the deadly climate of the Panama route, while still others made the long circumnavigation of Cape Horn. In 1849, between the months of April and January, nearly forty thousand emigrants arrived at the port of San Francisco. California was soon ready to become a state. In September, 1849, a convention met at Monterey and framed a state constitution. Congress admitted California into the Union, Sept. 9, 1850. Los Angeles (50,394), in Los Angeles County, is the second city in the state, and the business center of Southern California. It is noted for its orange groves and vineyards, and is a favorite winter resort for Eastern tourists. It is the seat of the Branch State Normal School. Oakland, in Alameda County, on the east side of the Bay of San Fran cisco, 10 miles from San Francisco, ranks in population as the third city in the state. It is closely connected with San Francisco by ferries. It is a favorite place of residence on account of its trees, its gardens, and its mild climate. The city has important manufactories of hosiery, cotton goods, nails, etc. San José, in Santa Clara County, is the trade center of the beautiful and highly cultivated valley of Santa Clara. It is the seat of the State Normal School and of the College of Notre Dame. Stockton, in San Joaquin County, on the San Joaquin River, has a large agricultural trade with the surrounding country. It is the seat of the State Asylum for the Insane. Alameda - contiguous to Oakland, is, like that Berkeley - contiguous to Oakland on the north, is the seat of the University of California Chico in Butte County, has an important trade of the San Joaquin valley, is the trade The first period began with the discovery of gold, and lasted till about The subsequent progress of California has been both rapid and health- X. POLITICAL DIVISIONS. town in the midst of extensive quartz-mines. Modesto — in Stanislaus County, in the San Joa quin valley, on the line of the Southern Monterey in Monterey County, on Monterey San the seacoast, is a favorite resort for invalids and tourists, on account of its charming climate. Bernardino - in San Bernardino County, in the southern part of the state, is surrounded by vineyards and orange groves. It is on the line of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and has an extensive trade with Arizona. Santa Cruz-in Santa Cruz County, is a noted summer resort for sea-bathing. It has manufactures of paper, powder, lime, and leather. Santa Clara - in Santa Clara County, is sur rounded by an extensive fruit-growing region. It is the seat of the University of the Pacific and of the Santa Clara College. San Diego in San Diego County, on San Diego Bay, has one of the finest harbors of the Pacific coast. It is connected by rail with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Colton. San Quentin-in Marin County, on the Bay of San Francisco, is the site of the State Prison of California. Santa Rosa - in Sonoma County, is the business center of the fertile Russian River valley. Marysville-in Yuba County, has an extensive San Rafael - in Marin County, on the shores of mining and agricultural trade. branch of the California Pacific Railroad, the Bay of San Francisco, is a favorite summer resort on account of its delightful sum mer climate. Helena - in Napa valley, is surrounded by extensive vineyards, and has an extensive trade in wine. California is divided into fifty-three counties, and contains the Nevada City - in Nevada County, in the Sierra Truckee - in Nevada County, near the crest of following leading cities and towns: San Francisco (297,990) the largest city of the Pacific coast, is a great commercial and manufacturing seaport. In foreign commerce it ranks as one of the chief cities in the United States. The foundation of its commercial greatness is its magnificent harbor, the finest on the whole coast. The city is situated on a low sandy peninsula lying between the Bay of San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean. The bay is a beautiful sheet of water 60 miles long and 10 miles wide. The entrance to this landlocked harbor is through the Golden Gate, a narrow strait one mile wide. The manufactures consist of mining-machinery, iron-work, woolen goods, boots and shoes, leather, clothing, cigars, carriages, furniture, and agricultural implements. Nevada Mountains, is situated in a rich gold cisco and North Pacific Railroad, and at the Port Costa -in Contra Costa County, on the Bay of San Francisco, 30 miles from the city of San Francisco, is the chief point for the ocean shipment of wheat. It contains immense warehouses for storing grain, and has the largest flour-mill in the state. Placerville - in El Dorado County, is the termi nus of the Sacramento and Placerville Railroad. It was formerly a famous mining town. Red Bluff in Tehama County, at the head of light steamer navigation on the Sacramento, commands the trade of the upper Sacramento valley Santa Barbara - in Santa Barbara County, on |