*** Source: History and Business Directory of Humboldt County, Lillie E. Hamm, November 1890, Eureka, Cal. *** *** ---page 029--- [ad] Headquarters For Useful Varieties and ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES J. E. Mathews [ad] HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY 29 mountain, canyon and valley are capable of sustaining thousands of herds of cattle, sheep and horses. The rich bottom lands of the valleys await the coming of the orchardist and farmer to liberally reward his investment of capital and his labor. The dozen saw-mills working to their utmost capacity in supplying the demands of the counties bording on the Pacific for lumber invite the capitalist to invest and treble their number which are now incapable of meeting the requirements of trade. To those who think that the days for amassing wealth have vanished we invite them to investigate the natural resources of this great county, and we can, with assurance, say that in no part of the world is capital invested so quickly repaid or labor performed so rapidly and richly rewarded. Nature has indeed liberally endowed Humboldt county even to the borders of extravagance, and the man who, with even a small amount of capital and willingness to labor, cannot succeed here, must indeed be far beyond all earthly assistance and would un-doubtedly starve to death in the midst of plenty. GEOGRAPHICAL. Humboldt county is the most northern county but one, lying on the Pacific Ocean. Its northern line is separated from Oregon by the county of Del Norte 40 miles, and the division line between Del Norte and Humboldt is about midway between the 41st and 42nd parallels. Its southern limit is marked by the 40th parallel. It is bounded on the north by Del Norte county, on the northeast by Siskiyou county, on the east by Trinity county, on the south by Mendocino county and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. It contains 3,560 square miles, or 2,297,600 acres of land. Its length from north to south is 108 miles, and it has an average width of about 40 miles, and 175 miles of meander tide-water line. The county is one and one-half times as large as the State of Delaware, and three times the size of Rhode Island. According to estimates that have been made the county may be sub-divided as follows: Timberlands.....1,221,600 Agricultural.....450,000 Grazing land.....626,000 It must be understood that the timber land when the trees are removed is capable of being made the best and richest and most productive land in the world, and the greater part of that classed as "grazing" would be utilized if in the Eastern States, but in California unless the land is almost in a condition to plow it is passed by in contempt for agricultural purposes. PHYSICAL FEATURES. For a county suitable for diversified industries, the superior of Humboldt county would be hard to find. It is not overly large but numerous valleys, its rolling hills and extensive table lands, its acres of timber, of nearly every kind, and its many streams and rivers, make it a county of almost unlimited resources. In fact, the physical features of Humboldt county are those most to be desired. It contains no very high mountains and but a few acres of valueless land, it being a [ad] Gibbard & Lever, Funeral Directors and Embalmers Undetaking Parlors 3d & H Sts., Pioneer Bdg., Eureka [ad] ---end---