This was long, but I loved it. Such an amazing history in this part of California, and I had no idea about Tulare Lake.
JG Boswell also had to do with its disappearance and damming water dealing it to Los Angeles and other parts. Read the King of California book
An interesting chapter in the long, sad story of the sixth mass extinction.
There’s actually been roughly 15 since the beginning of the Cambrian with five exceptionally big ones. Anyone selling ‘we’re entering a sixth mass extinction’ either doesn’t know their paleontology or is looking to profit. Or both.
California Charlie, thank you! A great laugh and a bit of knowledge!
Thanks for writing this. Time marches on and there’s no going back.
A sixth mass extinction is necessary to open new opportunities for evolution to adapt to changing conditions. That’s what both extinction and evolution are for. Nature cannot be static.
I’m sure in a million years there will be lots of interesting evolutionary developments from what we’re doing to the world right now, but that won’t happen within our children’s children’s lifetimes so I’d much rather just preserve what we have now
No wonder the conservation movement started. These business men and women despoiled the state for future generations. Do you really see any evolution going on here? I think it is devolution.
A absolutely fascinating piece of history. As a history teacher and fellow Corning resident I have made the trip through the valley numerous times, but I always wondered about the transformation into the agricultural region it is now. Yes I also remember Dr. Conklin as well. One can easily compare some the valley’s mega farms operations and there effect on our current food supply today. Definitely a conversation for the next trip from the Southland to Corning.
Chris, long time no see! Glad you enjoyed this piece. I keep thinking I’m going to have to write a book about this. There’s so much just below the surface of California that if we knew about it and it were better explained we’d all understand the state better.
And out in mining country, eggs could be even more expensive than they were in San Francisco: “Reunion of Old-timers at Placerville. A Visit to Scenes of ’49: … There resided in Hangtown in 1849 a family by the name of Upton, who alone owned chickens…They readily sold all the eggs produced at $24 per dozen all that winter and spring of ’49-’50” (Sacramento Daily Union, 26 May 1888, p 1).
As a native California, I’ve got to say this is wonderful. I’m mesmerized by California history. I’m going to get this link to a niece of mine who lives in Visalia. who I think will be equally fascinated.
This was long, but I loved it. Such an amazing history in this part of California, and I had no idea about Tulare Lake.
JG Boswell also had to do with its disappearance and damming water dealing it to Los Angeles and other parts. Read the King of California book
An interesting chapter in the long, sad story of the sixth mass extinction.
There’s actually been roughly 15 since the beginning of the Cambrian with five exceptionally big ones. Anyone selling ‘we’re entering a sixth mass extinction’ either doesn’t know their paleontology or is looking to profit. Or both.
California Charlie, thank you! A great laugh and a bit of knowledge!
Thanks for writing this. Time marches on and there’s no going back.
A sixth mass extinction is necessary to open new opportunities for evolution to adapt to changing conditions. That’s what both extinction and evolution are for. Nature cannot be static.
I’m sure in a million years there will be lots of interesting evolutionary developments from what we’re doing to the world right now, but that won’t happen within our children’s children’s lifetimes so I’d much rather just preserve what we have now
No wonder the conservation movement started. These business men and women despoiled the state for future generations. Do you really see any evolution going on here? I think it is devolution.
A absolutely fascinating piece of history. As a history teacher and fellow Corning resident I have made the trip through the valley numerous times, but I always wondered about the transformation into the agricultural region it is now. Yes I also remember Dr. Conklin as well. One can easily compare some the valley’s mega farms operations and there effect on our current food supply today. Definitely a conversation for the next trip from the Southland to Corning.
Chris, long time no see! Glad you enjoyed this piece. I keep thinking I’m going to have to write a book about this. There’s so much just below the surface of California that if we knew about it and it were better explained we’d all understand the state better.
During the Gold Rush, diners who couldn’t afford one dollar eggs sometimes instead paid a quarter for an egg shipped all the way from Boston, as told in Henry’s post: http://www.theamericanmenu.com/2013/01/fresh-eggs-in-california_23.html.
And out in mining country, eggs could be even more expensive than they were in San Francisco: “Reunion of Old-timers at Placerville. A Visit to Scenes of ’49: … There resided in Hangtown in 1849 a family by the name of Upton, who alone owned chickens…They readily sold all the eggs produced at $24 per dozen all that winter and spring of ’49-’50” (Sacramento Daily Union, 26 May 1888, p 1).
As a native California, I’ve got to say this is wonderful. I’m mesmerized by California history. I’m going to get this link to a niece of mine who lives in Visalia. who I think will be equally fascinated.