San Luis Obispo County History

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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Source:
A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara,
San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California
by Yda Addis Storke
Published in 1891 in Chicago by the Lewis Publishing Co.


COAST TOWNS. 

The most northern of the coast towns is San Simeon. The bay of San Simeon has, in 
past years, attracted much attention as a probable commercial port for the productions of 
the neighboring country. Mr. George Hearst, proprietor of the Piedras Blancas Rancho, 
which surrounds the landing, in 1878 invested a considerable sum in the improvement 
of the port. This year also a new wharf was built, to replace the old, which for some time 
previous had been inadequate to the needs of commerce. The new wharf began 
on the northeastern side of the bay, terminating at a distance of 1,000 feet, where at 
low tide there is twenty feet of water � a depth sufficient for the largest merchant 
steamer. The wharf is excellently built, with commodious warehouses for the reception of 
goods. It cost $20,000. The building of this structure gave a new impetus to business at 
San Simeon. This name is applied also to the township, which embraces the northwestern 
part of the county, extending to the Monterey County line. The township embraces the 
whole of the Rancho Piedras Blancas, consisting of eleven Spanish leagues (48,000 acres), 
of which a very large proportion is cultivable land. While the climate is somewhat raw and 
damp, with fogs and winds, it is excellent for dairying purposes, the grass being always green, 
wherefore the milk production is of the the highest. Thus far, the chief products of this 
rancho are butter and cheese, although the lands are excellently adapted for the cultivation 
of corn, oats, barley, peas, and beans. 

To the north of this rancho lies the old property of Juan Castro, a large tract of 
grazing lands, besides 900 acres of arable land of very high order. On this land stands 
the Piedras Blancas Light-house, which is 100 feet high, built of brick and iron, and 
cost $100,000. It contains a Fresnel light of great power, and is one of the marked 
features of the coast. 

On this coast there are a number of whaling stations � at Monterey, San Simeon, 
Point San Luis, and Point Concepcion. The whaling business was begun here as early as 
1864, and it has proved quite profitable. The least catch during the season was three whale, 
the greatest twenty-three. The whale hunts, conducted in open boats off these rugged 
coasts, is exciting but dangerous sport.