Far Western States

[Music] from canada to mexico along the pacific coast it is the mountain ranges which dominate life in the region known as the far western states oregon washington california and nevada from these mountains flows the climate which has created places of spectacular contrasts within this region on northwest mountainsides facing the ocean over 100 inches of rain a year soaks the depths of great redwood forests yet mountains cut off the southeast from the ocean a scamped four inches of rain annually get through to this barren earth in california tropical fruits oranges lemons dates yet in washington mount rainier has winter sports even in the summer california's mount whitney highest point in the nation while only 80 miles away death valley nearly 300 feet below sea level reflecting these contrasts in nature most of the region is very sparsely settled while heavy population density occurs in certain metropolitan centers along the pacific seaboard the mild even climate in certain parts attracts many retired people yet the region's rapid seasonal changes from north to south mean temporary jobs for thousands of migrant workers in the different faces of its people indian mexican oriental italian farmer scholar engineer aircraft worker we can read the history of the far west the reasons for its strength and growth the far west was the end of the trail for pioneers to oregon and gold rushers to california but at sutter's mill in 1849 only a year after california joined the union the cry was gold gold in the far west and thousands were lured to the rich strikes today mining continues to be one of the far west's major activities giant placer mines in california annually recover precious ores worth millions in nevada load mining plants dig out gold bearing rock which also has a heavy silver content in recent years radioactive minerals from which uranium has been extracted have been found in nevada oregon and california the region's oil production centers around southwest california's rich oil deposits california's oil deposits second in production only to texas are among the nation's most valuable natural resources in overall production of minerals california leads in gold platinum mercury borax soda iodine potash and silica in petroleum she is second nevada's important mineral products include gold silver copper lead and sink up in the northwest there is a direct relation between mountains and rainfall in the distribution of the region's timber resources washington and oregon lead the nation in lumber production now a highly mechanized industry go by truck or are floated downstream directly to the mills to ensure a continuing supply of this valuable natural resource the government has established more than a score of national forests in the far west still another method to preserve the region's timber resources is practiced by extensive replanting in carefully selected areas tree planting has been just as important to the region's agriculture washington's dependable climate has kept it in first place in the nation's apple production most of the pacific northwest's apple regions center in washington while oregon is well known for its apricots pears and small fruits protected from rain bearing winds from the ocean valleys in both washington and oregon have become sites where some of the world's finest dairy cattle are bred and tested east of the cascade mountains centered about spokane washington the valleys of the columbia and snake rivers wander through a vast arid plateau known as the inland empire planned use of the limited rainfall makes possible great yields of wheat on the area's inner slopes the most noted dry farming sub-region on the continent in this dry areas valleys abundant sunshine and strict control of moisture supply through irrigation make possible heavy crops of fruit potatoes grapes sugar beets and hay with rarely a failure as in nevada stretches too dry to farm are used as pastures for cattle ranches now engineers have radically changed the inland empire completion of the grand coulee dam has poured new life into this area and greatly increased crop production to the southwest a more natural water system irrigates another far western farm area central california's sacramento san joaquin valley thousands of sheep graze on the surrounding slopes of the coast ranges to the west and the sierras to the east but the same snow-capped sierra slopes furnished the valley with water which has made it one of the world's garden spots this valley is the nation's leading producer of grapes plums apricots cherries olives figs and almonds in this valley many of the regions chinese and japanese work or own land here are located the world's largest fruit canneries and the world's largest fruit drying sheds to the southeast and extending down into mexico endless cultivated fields mark another garden spot the imperial valley canals from the turbulent colorado furnish the water supply in the imperial valley truck crops such as lettuce tomatoes cauliflower and celery million dollar operations supply most of the early truck crops for the united states the imperial valley is also well known for its unique selection of domestic tropical fruits grown nowhere else in the country because vast distances from eastern manufacturing centers have kept transportation costs high the far west has rapidly developed many of its own manufacturing and processing plants nearly one-third of the nation's fish products come from the far west fishing and other activities of this rich section have promoted the development of its good harbors along the coast san diego los angeles san francisco portland and seattle world famous ports there are important new industries such as aircraft manufacture and ship building other developments further exploit the region's natural resources for example washington state alone has one half of the total potential water power in the united states california's production of hydroelectric power is highest in the nation and regional technology has tapped the wealth in chemical byproducts likewise in the past 10 years the far west's population has increased faster than that of any other region and here too is the nation's largest state university the far west leading the nation in hydroelectric power seafood products dairy products timber resources among leading producers of apples grapes oranges nearly all the tropical fruits gold and silver and almost all entertainment films used in the united states in turn it imports from other regions metals tobacco and cotton manufactured goods autos and machinery and wheat in this far western region originally cut off by mountains from the rest of the nation a vigorous culture has taken firm root making its influence felt despite the physical barriers today this region dominated by mountains and sea coast has been transformed from our last frontier into a highly industrialized kind of society a way of life unique in the american scene america's gateway to an increasingly significant world area the orient so