THE 1861 PLAT OF RANCHO SIMI

In January 1861 the Rancho Simi was finally confirmed to Jose de la Guerra Y Noriega by the U.S. Surveyor General.  The actual signature on the map, by J. W. Mandeville, U.S. Surveyor General California, is dated March 19, 1861.  Ironically, the confirmation came about two years after the death of Jose de la Guerra.

The map provides compass headings and distances in "chains" (ten square chains equals one acre).  The perimeter of the Rancho Simi measured 4,614.23 chains, which equals 57 miles 54 chains and 23 links - a good trivia question and answer!  According to the survey, the rancho contained 113,009 and 21/100 acres.  True to the surveyors' craft, the scale of the map is 160 chains to the inch.  (Boy, am I glad we don't use that scale any more.)

The location of the Simi Adobe is shown and is labeled "Francisco Noriega".  The rancho headquarters had moved up to the Tapo by then.  No doubt the surveyors were unaware of the move.

As with the 1858 survey of the area, the mountains north of Simi Valley seem to be unnamed.  However, Oak Ridge seems to be called "Loma Barancosas", or Barancosas rise or slope.

The hills south of Simi Valley are labeled "Sierra de Santa Susanna".  As with the 1858 survey, what we now call the Simi Hills were then called the Santa Susanna Mountains.  It is very clear from this map that the Spanish/Mexican name for the mountains was the Santa Susanna Mountains, and only later, during the Anglo-American period of settlement, was the name changed.  Hopefully, this was not another mistake by the federal government (remember that the U.S. Geological Survey seemed to have changed "Las Lajas" to "Las Llajas").

The "road to Simi" is shown as going through the "Las Posas Valley", while a trail is shown as going up the canyon ("Des Ravina") at the eastern end of Simi Valley near the orifice of the railroad tunnel.  Also labeled there is "Trail in Puerta Suela or Bajos de Santa Susanna".  The first reference is to "the pass" and the second to the Santa Susana Pass.  This is interesting in that we can conclude from the geometry of what is shown on the map that the trail over Santa Susana Pass was probably the same route followed in 1861 by the Stagecoach Road.  Indeed, the route followed by the El Camino Real over the pass was undoubtedly an Indian trail before it was used by the Spanish.  Being intentionally vague, a Ferandeno shrine appears to be present along the old Stagecoach Road.

The other road that is shown on the map in the Simi Valley area is the "Conejo and Simi road in Puento".   Since the road is shown in the pass where the old Simi Road ran between present day Wood Ranch and the Lang Ranch, it is tempting to suggest that "Puento" should have been "Puerta" (pass).  However, "Puento" seems to be clearly written.  (If someone knows the meaning of "Puento", please let me know - this is a work in progress.)

The lowlands which now connect the upper reaches of Skeleton and Lindero canyons seems to be labeled "Canada del Puerta Suela", although there is some question whether "Suela" might not be something else.  If it is "Suela," then it means canyon of the pass - which seems to fit.

"Canada de Lindero" is there, where Lindero Canyon is today.  The "boundary" between the Rancho Simi, El Conejo Rancho and Rancho Los Vergines is a straight line running just west of Simi Peak down to the old "Santa Barbara-Los Angeles Road" (now the "101").  "Lindero" of course means "boundary."  The survey line terminated at a "Dead Sycamore."    

The survey corner markers include a "Manzanita Bush" (southwestern corner), an oak, and several "rock mounds."  One corner (north-central) is established by a compass heading and is 60.00 chains from "Some double oak witness corner."  It would be very interesting to see if some of the "rock mounds" are still present.  At least two of the rock mounds are shown where their locations are somewhat accessible.  If present, they may date to the late 1700s or perhaps a little later. 

To cap it all off, it seems that the Surveyor General's Office of California didn't have a seal.  So they drew one.

Mike Kuhn

1-20-98