CALIFORNIA
CALIFO’RNIA. This name was at first applied to a peninsula on the west side of Mexico, but was gradually extended to an indefinite portion of the adjoining continent, as far north as the parallel of 42°. The original C., however, and its augmentation were distinguished from each other as Old and New, Lower and Upper. In 1848, partly by conquest and partly by purchase, continental C., down to the parallel of 32° 28′, was ceded to the United States. After existing as a territory for two years, it was, in 1850, constituted one of the United States, bounded N. by Oregon, E. by Nevada and Arizona, S. by Lower C., and W. by the Pacific. Between the two Californias of the present clay, the American one and the Mexican one, there is nothing in common but the name.—1. Mexican C. is the peninsula above mentioned, which, though considerably longer than Great Britain, is yet so narrow as to be very little larger than Scotland. From end to end, it is one ridge of mountains, which here and there rise to about 5000 feet above the sea. A few favored spots yield fruits and grains in abundance; but generally speaking, the productions are unimportant, for even trees, and those of no great size, are found only towards the southern extremity of the country. The population does not exceed 25,000—the oldest and most considerable town, Loretto, on the east side, containing barely 1000 inhabitants.
On the west side is the magnificent harbor, peculiarly on a coast so destitute of shelter, formed by the Bay of Magdalena and the island of Santa Margarita.—2. American C., vaguely claimed, under the name of New Albion, by Drake for England in 1579, lay unoccupied till 1767, when it was invaded by Franciscan friars, the successors in Mexico of the newly expelled Jesuits. These zealous apostles, backed, when necessary, by armed coadjutors, planted various missions, bringing under their influence, such as it was, the great mass of the aborigines. Under such circumstances, the new province became pre-eminent, even in Spanish America, for everything that could paralyze the progress of a community. Anglo-Saxon speculators engrossed most of the trade; American trappers walked through the land as if it had been their own; the Muscovites established, in the north, a town under the ominous title of Ross or Russia; and a Swiss adventurer of the name of Sutter, who had carved out for himself a New Helvetia, virtually set the government at defiance. But the discovery of gold in Sutter’s mill-race during 1847, and the political transfer of 1848, taken together, changed, as if by a miracle, the aspect of affairs. The matchless harbor of San Francisco became the grand mart on the Pacific, presenting a center of attraction to the restless and energetic of every race and every clime. Between 1850 and 1855, the population increased from 92,597to 327,000; in 1870it was560,247; and in 1880 it was 864,686, of whom 75,000 were Chinese. The total yield of gold in this state up to 1875 was about 1,000,000,000 dollars. In 1874 the value of the gold and silver produced was 20,300,531 dollars, and in 1881, 19,870,000 dollars. C. possesses the richest quicksilver mine in the world—that of New Almaden— which at one time produced from 2,500,000 lbs. to 3,500,000 lbs. per annum. It now yields about 1,000,000 lbs. In 1864, 15,000 tons of copper were exported, to be smelted at Swansea and Boston, but not nearly so much is now produced. Platinum has been found in many of the placers. There is coal in nearly all the coast counties; and asphaltum is produced. Other mineral products are iron, tin, and borax. In the year 1881-82, C. shipped 870,472 barrels of flour, and 22,170,000 centals of wheat. In 1881, there were 100,000 acres of vineyards, and the produce of the vintage was 9,000,000 gallons of wine.
Silk culture is making rapid progress; and the woollen factories of C. consume nearly 6,000,000 lbs. of wool annually, while about 30,000,000 Lbs. are exported. Manufacturing industry has lately greatly increased, the chief manufactures being woollen goods, flour, iron, glass, wine, sugar, and silk. The amount of taxable property, real and personal, as assessed in 1878, was 584,583,651 dollars. The state debt amounted in the same year to 3,403,000 dollars.
The country is mountainous, and is cut into coast and interior by a subordinate range from Oregon. The interior is subdivided into the valleys of the Sacramento and the San Joachim—two rivers from the north-east and the south-east, which enter the noble haven of San Francisco. The former is the chief seat of the ‘ diggings.’ Since the completion of the Pacific Railway, terminating in San Francisco, C. has been visited by many pleasure-seekers attracted by its magnificent scenery. The most celebrated district is the Yosemite Valley (q. v.). C., with a lovely and salubrious climate, produces fruits and grains freely, under advantageous circumstances of soil and situation. In the growth of timber, however, it appears to be almost unrivalled. Fremont measured one tree that was 21 feet in diameter, or 66 in circumference; and another has been seen, which, with a length of 150 yards, is nearly 120 feet in girth. A Sequoia gigantea in Mariposa county is 274 feet in height. Besides San Francisco, the state contains the cities of Sacramento (the capital), Oakland, Stockton, San Jose, Los Angelos, Marysville, and San Diego, with a fine port. The university of C., near Oakland, was established in 1869 : there are besides several colleges.