The Placer herald., 1857-09-26
Annual Assessors Report.
AUBURN, September 18th

agricultural or mineral but nearly divided, in
acres of territory between the two. The mineral
or mountainous and eastern section is also more
densely populated, and its people are almost,
though not exclusively engaged in mining, which
l will more particularly detail under the proper
head. In these mining districts, among the
gulches and flats of rivers and ravines are many
very rich farming spots, which have been located
upon. and are now under improvement and in
high state of cultivation principally used for
the raising of ga den vegetables and fruit orchards
On the western limits and along the banks of the
different ravines they enter the great Sacra-
mento Valley, are located our most permanent
farmers. The lands are improved by good and
substantial fencing, generally and in several in
stances by graceful and costly frame buildings
The improvements in this section of our county
are yearly increasing, and its inhabitants becom-
ing more permanent But few years since,
scarcely an individual farmer could be found who
expected to make California his permanent home.
But within the past two years a change has come
over the spirit of their dreams, and almost uni
versally now find the occupant of the farm
permanent resident; who is now expending his
time and money in Improvements which require
years to reach maturity and afford profit and opu-
lence This idea of only stopping limited num-
Der OF years in our State and then returning to
the Atlantic, carrying out our capital and reduc
ing our population has done mere to retard the
progress Of landed improvements, and impoversh
our county, than all others combined. Heretofore
our Ranches were surrounded with a heap of
decaying brush, as enclosures Now by neat
board fencing. substantially and permanently
built. Then the native forests were recklessy
and rudely destroyed for some trifing object of
gain. Now, protected and cultivated by the per-
manent owner. Lands were cultivated to produce
the greatest crop in a given time without regard
to impovershing the soil. Not so in these latter
days The farmer begins to study the science Of
agriculture, and you see many mixing soils and
IL
are increased, and our farmers are surrounded by
their families. Now in almost every rural district
the little school house is being reared the district
library but opened and education is advancing
arm in arm with the prosperity of our county.
LANDS CLAlMED.--The number of acres claimed
and located, and upon every l6O acres of which
there are one or more occupants. is about 400 000
About one-fourth of this land is fenced. partly
substantially. and by board and post fence. and
partly by brush. The older fences of so and 81,
are necessarily being replaced. and in no instance
by brush.
THE FoREsTs.--From every indication by which
| can now Judge, but for the custom of the abo-
rigines of this county, the settler of 40 would
have found Placer one dense forest The Digger
in their pursuit OF the smaller game. were in the
habit Of setting fire all over the country, which
destroyed the entire growth of young trees At
this time, one can scarcely tread the soil, without
leveing young oak or pine. in few years
our forests will consequently recuperate and be
more dense although accidental fires shall oCca
sionally occur. The eastern portion has always
been our lumber and timber section. but the nu
merous saw mills are making sad havoc among
these ancient and magnificent pines
RANCHEs.-ln my report Of 1855, | returned
one hundred and torty-three improved ranches
which, including stock. were assessed at 52l9 900
l am able this year to report two hundred and
tweuty-siI, being an increase of nearly one hun
dred and the Improvements alone, exclusive Of
stock, &C. is assessed at Sl3I,5S5, and in the ag
gregate improvements and stock. S522.9ll, being
an increase of 100 per cent This speaks for itself
as the figures are not estimated, but from the roll
as they stand today and for which amount taxes
will have been paid on or before the lst day Of
October. Who doubts our permanency and pros
perity as farming community, after reading
this comparison between 855 and 1857
As yet, Placer raises little or no Beef Stock
and at no time is there in the county any very
great amount of this kind of property. a few
dealers are constantly and regularly driving to
supply our butchers, on contract. and limited
number only are in the county at one time. At
this time, | am informed of only three droves
of from 800 to coo head, (Which have arrived
since my assessment was completely and which
are owned by residents. These are feeding on
our lower lines, adjoining Sutter and Sacramento
counties, and are intended for home market next
spring and summer These bands of cattle are
owned by Messrs. Hardy & Co., S. B. Wyman, and
and enterprising and wealthy farmers and ran
chos. In So, reported no sheep. and this year
1885 head, valued and assessed at Sl3.s23. This
animal appears the most prolific in California, Of
all others-doubling generally, and often treb-
ling, every year.
CRoPs.-The crops in this county, as compared
with Sc, are about the same in the aggregate
though about one-third less to the acre. The best
peices of grain noticed this year, were those put
in early in the fall soon after rain as possible.
All crops put in late proved failure account
of the dry spring. Farmers would do well to
plow as early as the earth is softened by the first
rains, and put in their seed. | believe too much
carelessness and Indifference is manifested by the
agriculturist in this particular. As all depends
the success Of the miner, merchant and mechanic.
as well as the tiller himself-upon full crop, it
is highly important the utmost should be paid
to this subject, to The end and aim we may all be
benefited. The farmer in California has two great
advantages over his eastern cotemporaries, viz:
the richness and depth of the soil, and the high
price of his produce Besides, he avoids the eX-
pense of store house. our climate being dry and
free from moisture at the season when his fields
reach maturity. These are great advantages. and
should stimulate him on his road to wealth aud
fortune. 1t appears to me, if there is land, it
is particularly this, that places the farmer in
position we all aspire to ach--independence.
BARLEY.-The number of bushels of Barley
raised this season is not far from 81, $50 bushels.
Had the season been more wet this crop would
have been double what it was as one-half of the
pieces sown were not worth harvesting, or at most
did not more than pay the expense. This is the
great crop of the county, and believe all the
farmers agree it is the most profitable.
WHEAT.-Ihe number bushels wheat is about
$4,000. The wheat fields were in the same condi-
tion of the barley, afording little over half a
crop, and the same cause assigned for their fail
ure.
This season our wheat finds market at home
as within the year two FIGURING Mills have COM
menced operations. But the bulk goes to Sacra-
mento and Nevada.
OATs.-The oat crop was an entire failure, and
was mostly cut for hay.
HAY.-The crop of Grass Hay was very light,
and but for the headlcss thin barley which was
cut for hay only, hay would have been very scarce
and high. Its average only about ] ! tons to
the acre. and about 1000 acres were moved.