SYMMES & ASSOCIATES
Symmes and Associates, a San Francisco based agricultural engineering firm owned by Leslie Webb Symmes (1879-1956), was hired in the spring of 1922 to complete an assessment of Santa Cruz Island to accompany the island partition action ordered by the court. Their 93 page report was based on field investigations made during the months of March and April, 1922 along with a study of available data of past island conditions and operations of the Santa Cruz Island Company. Their report paid particular interest in range conditions for feed and water since the island’s primarily use was as livestock property. The Symmes report identified Prisoners’, Chinese and Smugglers as the most important harbors. This unpublished manuscript is on file at the Santa Cruz Island Foundation.
- Symmes and Associates, Santa Cruz Island, 1922
The central or main valley (Cañada del Medio) east from Portezuela. Eucalyptus trees at the Main Ranch in the center distance. Christy road grade in foreground.
Santa Cruz Island, Symmes, 1922
View of Cañada del Indio from southern ridge showing vineyard areas on lower slopes. Diablo ridge in distance.
Santa Cruz Island, Symmes, 1922
Beach at Smugglers Cove protected from Northwest winds by San Pedro Point. Olive grove and eucalyptus trees shown. Excellent feed in foreground due to absence of sheep. White marks show limestone nature of this territory.
Santa Cruz Island, Symmes, 1922
Wharf and beach at Prisoners Harbor.
Santa Cruz Island, Symmes, 1922
Pelican Bay resort showing spit running out into water and wooded hills. Trees principally oak and Monterey pine.
Santa Cruz Island, Symmes, 1922
China Harbor looking east from Potrero Norte.
Santa Cruz Island, Symmes, 1922
China and Prisoners Harbors looking west from the main ridge above Campo Chino.
Santa Cruz Island, Symmes, 1922
Narrow point of Cañada del Puerto a short distance below Main Ranch showing surface water flow, oak trees and steep hillsides.
Santa Cruz Island, Symmes, 1922
Cañada del Puerto at point half way between Main Ranch and Prisoners' Harbor where it commences to widen out, showing dry wash, surface flow, oaks and nature of the hills.
Santa Cruz Island, Symmes, 1922
North side of Main Ridge west of Montañon, the narrowest part of the island.
Santa Cruz Island, Symmes, 1922
Cattle on the flats at Campo Chino in Portero Norte.
Santa Cruz Island, Symmes, 1922
View looking northeast from Main Ridge east of Portrero Norte, showing Pinos de Mielquieres and Campo Chino, and Montañon in distance.
Santa Cruz Island, Symmes, 1922
