California
California, the Golden State of the Union, ranks as the
Empire State of the Pacific Coast, and as such takes
precedence among her sisters, as first noticed in this
number of the Pacific Coast Business Directory. To a
certain extent California is a representative of the
body of States and Territories west of the Rocky
Mountains, from the peculiarities of the seasons, the
mineral resources, the grandeur of the scenery, etc., as
contradistinguished from the Atlantic slope. The lofty
Cordillera constitutes the backbone of the continent,
and parallel ranges give feature to the scenery and
character to the climate. The year is divided into the
seasons of Wet and Dry, rather than Winter, Spring,
Summer and Autumn. The mountains reach into eternal
snow, and the valleys possess an equable clime,
bordering on perpetual summer. Extremes of fertility and
barrenness are found in various sections. Forests of
incomparable grandeur and rocky peaks; broad fertile
plains and forbidding deserts are contiguous. The
precious and the useful metals are found in every
quarter, and no section, however barren in its outward
appearance, can safely be condemned as valueless.
Beneath the verdant meadow is the glittering gold, and
the rocks of the desert are veined with silver and lead
and other valuable minerals. These facts have been made
known through exploration and toil, and the development
continues. From year to year discoveries are made and
new resources opened, and thus, as was proceed, are
hopes encouraged. Read more....
Pacific Coast Business Directory
Source: Pacific Coast Business
Directory for 1876-78, Compiled by Henry G. Langley, San
Francisco, 1875.
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