Fresno County CA Archives History - Books .....A Most Promising Country 1892
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Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of The Counties Of Fresno, Tulare, And Kern, California

A MOST PROMISING COUNTRY.

  The San Joaquin valley is the most wonderful agricultural region in the United
States, capable of producing almost everything, and its area is large enough to
maintain millions of people. The great interior basin of California, comprising
the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys-two divisions of one uninterrupted
plain-has an area of about 17,200 square miles. The extreme length of this great
valley is nearly 500 miles, and the width averages about fifty miles. The writer
in speaking of this great valley is constantly reminded by citizens of each
subdivision of the valley, that he resides in the Sacramento valley; and another
wishes it to be distinctly understood that he is proud of his domicile in the
famous Tulare valley, whilst a third is proud of his home in the only Kern
valley on earth! Thus it will be seen how the writer, not even a resident of the
State, and attempting to treat of this great valley from an unprejudiced
standpoint, will at the same time run in opposition to, and in conflict with,
opinions of good men, who from a commendable local pride and home attachment
wish their immediate section to be known as a distinct and independent valley.
This claim we will admit, theoretically, and will so recognize and treat on
each, in the local chapters in this work. At the same time we must treat of this
great valley practically as a whole, and it certainly can not detract in the
least from the other grand subdivisions to be mentioned as constituting a
portion and an important portion of "The Great San Joaquin Valley."

  We have asserted, and adduced evidence to prove, that California is the most
wonderful State in the Union, and making rapid strides toward the position of
the empire State; and furthermore, that California is an empire herself. This in
no wise detracts from the glory of other States, neither does it from the United
States; and though California, bearing this proud distinction, would not be
other than one of the shining stars of the great American Union, she gladly
shares her glory with her sister components of the greatest nation on earth, and
so do the subdivisions of the great San Joaquin valley feel proud to occupy a
position as a portion of the world-renowned valley.

  Perhaps some writers, as well as readers, will demur to the claim that the San
Joaquin, speaking of it as a whole, is the greatest valley in the world. The
claim will be made that the great Mississippi valley, the Amazon valley, etc.,
are of greater area. This will be readily conceded; but the writer will not
concede that greatness consists alone in area as applied to a country, and
defies the world to show another valley of like area with the San Joaquin that
is its equal in the general averages of all the elements of good quality,-soil,
climate, health, adjacent mountain scenery and variety of productions, and a
capacity to sustain so large a population. The writer has spent months in this
great valley, has made its resources, and future possibilities a study, and has
arrived at conclusions not only from observation and study, but from consulting
travelers who have been over the civilized world; and when such have been asked
the question, "Have you seen a valley equaling the San Joaquin in every
respect?" the answer has been in every instance, "No; nothing that will compare
with it."


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History
OF THE COUNTIES OF
Fresno, Tulare, and Kern, California

Illustrated
Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Prospective Future: with Profuse Illustrations of its Beautiful Scenery,
Full-page Portraits of Some of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of
Many of its Pioneers, and also of Prominent Citizens of to-day.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants." -Macaulay.

CHICAGO:
The Lewis Publishing Company.
Undated, but OCLC lists a publication date of 1892


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