Butte record., 1856-10-04

Surveyor:
OqovILLE, Butte County, Aug. 90, 1856.
Hon. }. Il. BREWSTER, SURVEYOR GEN-
ERAL-S'R In compliance with the terms
OF your circular, addressed to County As
SCISSORS, have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing statistics, derived chiefly from the
schedules submitted to the asse,sab!e DOR
ton Of the inhabitants of Butte County.
In relation to other items, give you the
best estimate have been able to make.
For details Of the characteristics of land
it IL presumed that Nr. Scott, County Sur
yeyor, Will give you the Information YOU de
sire, and ! will merely say, IN general
terms, that there is 10 swamp or oyerhowed
land, and that there Is about an equal p0r-
ton OF what may be called agricultural and
mineral land. Any more definite descrip-
ton IS deemed impractcable, from the fact
that considerable portion Of what would
be stiled mineral is susceptible of cultiya-
tion, and that termed agricultural can only
be made available by artesian wells or can
ais not yet constructed.
There Is, perhaps, 10 portion of Califor-
MA where artesian wells are more required
than III a large section Of this county, bor-
dering on tne foothills, W here water is so
Indispensable, both to the agricultural and
mineral interests.
There is in this county independent Of
collateral or subsidiary branches, about one
hundred and thirty mites of canal, consiruc-
ted chiefly with reference TO the mining in
terest Projects tor more than double this
quantity are On the tapis or in process Of
construction, and will probably be colapet-
ell WITHIN the next year.
Altl,ou,rh balcp,r;,,.r .. o,.o o.v 81
department OF the County Surveyor, would
strongly recommend the adoption or substi-
tuition OF natural for altifc.al boundaries
the definition OF which would be mora clear
and certain, and serve to avoid the contro-
vefsiea between tins and the adjoining couu-
ties.
The imber chiefly valuable in this couu-
ty Is pine, OF wnIeA.ln several di>tu, L, there
is an nexpuStable supply, in the munufac-
ture OF which there are l6 nlls-l0 opera
ted by water power and by steam
There are two Touring mills, both doing
an extensive business, and several quartz
mills, that are being worked more Or less
successfully.
The mining interest Of this county was
never, at any period, in more hourlshing
condition than mt present; extensive d stricts
have become available by the recent intro
duclion OF water.
In reply to sub-sectious > and of your
circular, beg leave to say that much re-
mans to be done in developing both the ny
ricu,tural and mineral resources Of Butte
county
We have now nearly completed one of the
most splendid fre-proof court houses in the
State. situated IN the centre OF the plaza OF
OrOTile. the ner- capital Of the county,
winch has, Minerva like. sprung into exis-
lance something ike yeArPas Arrange
meuts are TOW in progress for speedily OBJ
tanning the benetr OF tetegrai hic connection
with tue B ", and i, IS confidently expected
that We shalt soon have tbe facilities Of rau
road communication,it not steam navigation
with Narysviile and Sacramento
We have comparatively but lew instances
in Butte county where wealth ant art. uni
ted WIKI refined taste, have produced those
floral, horticultural and agricultural em-
belIshIaents which are the pride and glory
OF amy country; one OF which, however--the
estate Of Major John Bidwell, Of Chico-is
not probably surpassed in California. A
portion Of the items Of his - schedule " will
give some idea OF the character and extent
OF bis improvements 6lU0 bushels wheat ;
$3.50 bushels bar ey; 500 bushels corn 10
tons g~apes; 800 bearing peach 100 apples
200 fcnr; 80 ounce; 80 fig; p almond; 10
English walnut, besides an extensive nur-
sery Of every variety OF fruit and ornamen-
tai trees-whlc can be successfully cultivated
in our climate. The princely mansion is
surrounded by extensive lawns, Astounding
with beautiful fountains, and fruit and flow
or gardens, arranged in the most tasty and
judicious manner, the subdivisions Of which
are enclosed with thrifty and vIriegated
hedges, and the whole demesne is bountiful-
ly supplied with water Tor irrigation and
ornament.
Imperfect returns Ito which may be safely
added from p to fifty per cent? show -
wheat 1866 acres bailey, 64t5 acres: oats
l50 acres Indian corn 100acros; broom corn
40 acres; fruit trees, 5000; fvarieties not
designated;" Usage orange, Is 600. onions,
10 acres; potatoes, 200 acres; cabbage, so
acres; t0wles, 30,0U0
Several items indicated in your circular,
which would no doubt be interesting as a
portion Of the annals Of the state, under ex-
listing laws regulating the duties Of asses
sors, cannot be obtained without suhjocting
the county to heavy expense, which they
will not incur. and which the Assessor re-
spectiullv declines assuming
From the official returns Of the property
assessed in Butte county for 1886, the fol-
lowing extract is made: