The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-10-12
The country Rast Of california;.


lowing interesting description of tho country
to the eastward of California: ~.
The gonoraly conceived opinion that the
lands bordering the Sierra Nayada mountains
east are barren and worthless, is a mistake
Although there arc millions of acres which arc
barron and dreary deserts there is really much
that is valuable, which ut no distant day will bo
brought into subjecton.
A tract of country extending the whole
length of California, sufficient for largo
State, with some exceptions, is. rich and fertio
susceptible of cultivation. These lands would
make beautiful grazing farms-in fact much
superior to II oso which lie upon the Pacific
side of the Sierra Nevada. 'a
There is belt of land running parallel with
the mountains, tho Whole length of the State,
and extending oastwardly for ono hundred and
thirty miles, which is really valuable, though
in places it is barron and destitute of vegeta-
ton, like the land bordering the Humbolt riv-
or.
North Of Pyramid Lake there is another
chain of mountains extending, with few breaks
to Oregon, which is covered with tho most
luxuriant bunch grass. This mountain range
would afford the finest pasturage in the world.
West Of this range occures largo plain. in
places presenting the most singular features
now barren and destitute of all vegetation, and
almost as level as a lake. and again covered
with beautiful grass, and delightful rirulets
coursing tho plains. Tho barron tracks OF
country aro doubtless inundated, and form
lakos; while. as tho season advances tho water
disappears, their beds become dry and lcvel as
house floor for many miles in cxt,nt.
Generally near tho base of the Sierra Neva-
da tho land is indeed most beautiful; the
mountains sometimes rising TO tho angle of
thirty or forty degrees, and extending to tho
worry highest ridgo, whore the snow is seen
oven in tho midst of summer, browning tho
highest peaks. Tho belt lying at the foot of
the main range of mountains, is generally somo
miles in width, with an extraordinary growth
of vegetation-clover and other grasses
which form perfect mat, often from three to
five feet high. At tho upper edge of this belt
innumerablo small streams gush from the
most beautiful mountain springs. and meander
across the fertile plain, until thcy are gradual
ly lost in tho sandy waste which lies away to
the east. Indeed, in viewing this tract OF
country, as person approaches, in places,
from the plains, it is the most beautiful pano-
rama the oye ever beheld. Tho belt, fertile
almost past conception, borderod on the one
side by largo tracts of land almost as level as
lake, and entirely destitute Of even ono blade
Of grass, while on tho other side lofty noun
tains rise as it were from this luxuriant mass
of herbagc, towering to the very skies, covered
with gigantic timber.
Tho line where tho horbago and the timber
mects is marked most as distinctly as if it were
drawn by the hand of man.
South of Pyramid Lake the country is diff
forent. Tho mountains do not rise quito as
abruptly rs they do further north, but tho
hills extend in many places far eastward into
tho Plains forming numerous valleys which
Lo,. .f.Io nrfIn Inn
of the territory contains moro good land than
that which we have described: but it is moro
broken. There arc several rivulets of consid-
urable size such as Trucklo, Carson, &c.
This country. it is believed, contains mineral
wealth but little inferior to that of California:
besides, it is suspectipe, in many places of
supporting largo population. There arc nu-
merous valleys, covered with heavy growth
of vegetation, surrounded with mountains COW
ered with timber in the gratost profusion.
The nature of the country, to the northern
boundary Of the State. is not as vol under
stood, but there seems but little doubt that-it
is equally as valuable for grazing as any wo
have described
Indeed the country upon tho eastorn slope
OF tho mountains, we regard as most valuable.
at intervals, for hundreds of miles north and
south, and VIC SEQ no reasons why gold may
not be discovered, when proper examinations
shall have been made, which will almost equal
that in California. Indeed tho explorations u
bout Carson Valley would seem to shadow
forth such result.
We look forward to future explorations
throughout tho country, of which wo have
spoken with great interest, for we believe
there arc sources of wealth yet undevolopod
which will add materially to tho future pros
poets of California