San Andreas independent., 1858-08-21
Description Of Visalia and the -Four
Creek Country.

Description of Visalia and the Four
Greek Country.
We condense from the Mariposa Demo
crat the following description of an inter-
esting portion of California, the Four
Greek country:
The section familiarly known through
out the Southern California as the Four
Greek country" is situated in Tulare
county, about 1875 miles distantfrom Stock
ton, on the main road from that city to
the Kern and White river mines, and is
on the route of the Overland Mail from
San Francisco to the Mississippi, under
the contract awarded to Messrs. Butter
field u Co. The four creeks from which
this country derives its name, are four
branches of the Kawcah river, which has
its source in the Sierra Nevada noun
tains. These creeks are named, respect
lively, commencing on the north, Elbow,
Canoe, Mill, and Packwood's, and branch
out from the parent stream about eight
miles from the " foot hills" which are
here very abrupt and rugged Although
several fine farms are being made on the
Kaweah, itself, above the Creeks, yet the
greater extent of fertile country exists
below the forks, and continues in a south
westerly direction, until it is merged into
the swamp lands which surround Tulare
Lake on its northern and northeastern
sides, but which, on being drained, as is
expected will shortly be the case, will add
thousands of acres of arabic land to this
already large fertile district. This section
of country may be said to average about
twelve miles in width, and is about thirty
five miles in length. The want of timber
is here unknown. Huge oaks spread out
their branches on every hand, varying in
size from few inches to FIVE feet and
upwards in diameter; and many other de-
scriptions of timber are seen in abundance
as the traveller passes from point to point
through the beautiful valley.
The valley, as approached by the stage
, road from Millerton, has cheering and
inviting appearance to the traveller. After
having passed over barren plain, eighteen
miles in extent, he suddenly approaches
a fine-looking timbered country, on whose
borders appear fourishing fields of grain,
with herds of cattle grazing near by, in a
condition to elicit praise from the most
indifferent observer. Passing these strik-
ing indications of fourishing agricultu-
raj and stock-raising region, the traveller
is soon in the cool and refreshing shade
OF what might be called "sylvan grove"
Driving through this cool shade for about
hve miles, with occasional sunny openings
OF few acres in extent, we came in sight
OF the beautifully located town of Visalia,
embosomed among the trees on both sides
OF clear, ripping stream the third, as
above classed, of the Four Creeks, which
is called Mill creek.
Visalia is town of about fifty build
lngs, nearly one-half of which are of brick.
The inhabitants number about four hun
dred. 1t Is the county town of Tulare,
as also the largest In the county, and is
destined In short time to become one of
the most prominent interior towns in Cali
fornia. 1t is the nucleus of trade for a
large and extremely fertile district, and is
the trading point, without competition, of
the entire community of farmers and
stock-raisers for many miles in its neigh
borhood-not to speak of many other ad-
vantages, possessed by but few, if any, of
the interior towns in the State. The
Overland Mail Stage Company, whose
line of stages pass through the place. are
already manifesting considerable interest
IN 1t, and are projecting several very ex-
tenslve improvements in buildings, etc.,
IN view OF Its rising importance.
The entire valley of the Four-C Creeks is
nearly perfect level, and every acre is
susceptible of irrigation by bitches from
the Kaweah river and its branches The
soil is light and easily worked, and pro-
duces astonishingly. Every farmer in the
valley, without exception, may have water
conducted through his entire premises at
a very trifing cost; it being simply neces-.
sary to dig his ditch of a depth below the
surface of the ground sufficient to contain
the quantity of water he may require. Ii
was really pleasant and refreshing to see
the bitches of sparkling water meapder-
ing through the country in all directions
and conducting the cool fluid from the
snowy mountains, through the farms and
by the farmers doors, laving the. prolific
soil, and revivfng as it were, all nature
by its refreshing influence.
At Visalia land Office has been estab-
lished, and was last week opened for the
transaction of business. A new court-
house, to be of brick, is being erected, at
cost of $4,000. The contractors have
commenced the work, and portion Of il
Will soon be in readiness for use. When
completed it will add much to the appear.
ance of the town.
uhoE opEAkNG.-Let man but speak forth