Bøger af Wallace Smith

This factual story about how Christopher Evans and John Sontag came to be the most wanted men in California in 1893 is also the story of life in the San Joaquin Valley at the turn of the century, where harsh realities forced rash acts that had far-reaching repercussions. Wanted for murder and train robbery, Evans and Sontag were the focus of a statewide manhunt that reads like a Hollywood western: A U.S. marshal, Apache trackers, the California judicial system, and the one supreme power in California in the late 19th century--the Southern Pacific Railroad--all took a hand in creating their amazing story. The incredible history of this area of central California, now the richest agricultural area in the world, is recounted, from 25,000-acre wheat farms and the birth of the Caterpillar tractor to the development of its huge gold and silver deposits and natural gas and oil resources.

This comprehensive history of the San Joaquin Valley begins with a study of the indigenous Native American tribes of the area and their interactions with one another. It then explores the occupation by the Spanish, the trapping industry, the arrival of settlers from the eastern United States, and the formation of expansive cattle ranches. The development of agriculture and irrigation and the subsequent battles over land and water rights are addressed. Also discussed is the grand era of the railroad, which would forever change the valley, bringing light industry and modern agricultural practices.