San Andreas independent., 1858-05-01

DOUGLAS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FLUME-
wIRE-sUsPsssIoN Observation-Disclosures
SCENERY, sc.
The roads and weather fayoring the idea,
in the beginning of the present week We took
trip through Southern Calaveras. Taking
the Sonora stage road, We passed through
Lower Calaveritas and Forman's, arriving at
Angels by 9 o'clock, A. NJ. The distance from
San Andreas to Angels is about Id miles. Be-
tween the two towns the face of the country
covered with the richest softest verdure; the
places on the road, most worthy of note. are
Formans and the Hawk-eye ranch. The for
mer is very snug and pretty little settlement
situated in small valley on the San Antonio
creek. A few years ago there were extensive
mining operations conducted here, and even
now it has the reputation of fourshing mi
ming camp Its geographical position being
central betwixt the northern and southern ex-
tremities of the county, it is regarded by many
as the most suitable place for the permanent
location of the county seat. Several neat
cottages crown the neighboring hillccks, and
an air of pastoral quiet and home-joys gives it
place in the memory of the visitor.
HAwK-EYE.
The Hawk-eye ranch is two or three miles
farther along to the southwark. At this sea-
son of the year it is most delightful spot in
deed. The main building is large two-story
frame, containing hotel and store, fronting
towards cluster of grand old oaks, so vener-
able, that doubtless, the crows of several CEN
turies havess grown old and died amid their
branches" meadow stretches out around
these, through which small stream, skirted
with young Willows winds its sinuous way,
until lost among the hills, aud under their
shade cattle were grazing or ruminating evil
IDENTITY enjoying the pleasing scene as well as
their master. Around the house, good taste
and industry have assisted native comlness !;
besides the tender tribute of creeping vines
and flowers, the weeping-willow, locust, and
cottonwood spread their charming shade
The coveted music of the imprisoned song
bird is superfluous here: the air Was redoent
with the scent of flowers and vocal with the
songs of wid-birds About 100 acres of good
bottom land, mostly fenced and covered with
growing crops, compose the ranch.
A pleasing land of drowsy head it is,
OF dreams that b-fore the half-shut eye;
And of gay prospects in tie view q at pass
Forever flushing round a summer sky:
There exc the s,ft delights that witchingy
Instil q wauton sweetness through the breast,
And the calm pleasures always hover nigh;
But wlat'e smacks of noyancs unrest,
Is far far off expelled from this delicious nest
Between the Hawk-eye and Angels dis
tance of four mies-a number of family resi-
dences have recently been erected; and, with
the facilities afforded for irrigation, we think
few years will place new and very charm
ing face on this part of the county.
ALTAvILLE AND ANGELS.
Altaville is a recent supplement to Angels,
having sprung from the quartz mines which
here abound. 1t presents newish appear
ance coupled with an air of substantially not
often seen in mining camps. There are seve-
raj large quartz mills located here, the chief
of which, belongs to Messrs. Fritz & Co; none
of which are now in operation. There is also
foundry here, owned by Messrs. Gardiner Il
Wooster, in operation since the first of Janu-
ary, and now doing very fine business In
the southern end of town, Mr.. B. r. Prince has
completed q large two-story stone build
ing, of quite pretending mien, but sadly dis
guised by some barbaric specimens of statua-
ry stuck upon the top of it. which might be
taken as the attempt of an Aztec stone-mason
to reproduce, from memory, a specimen of
some tribe of people little more barbarous
than the subjects of Montezuma. 1t is pity
that so fine building should be defaced in
this manner, and we sincerely wished for an
old-fashioned Ash-Hoow thunder storm, with
dash at the statuary in question, OF that
crashing element which at once smashed and
sancti6ed the thunder-stricken wolf OF
Rome" In Angels they are increasing the
number of stone buildings. They are built
of an igneous rock, heavier than the lava OF
Mok. Hill, but not so dark or solid as basait
1t makes fine looking building works readily
under the hammer, and is as impervious to fire
as salamander. Angels wears a sober, busi-
ness aspect, and from the depths of her i'm
mense quarts veins, promises a solid growth
and great enlargement. Itis in contemplation
to bring this place in communication with the
north by telegraph, in the course of the ap-
preaching summer. Angels is distant from
San Andreas, IA miles; from Murphy's. 8
miles; from Columbia, IL niles and contains
a population closely approximatinp to 1000
souls.
vALLECITo.
From here we took an easterly direction
over yerdant lawns and oak-crowued hills sor
four miles, when we descended into yallecito
or AS its Spanish name signifies, the Little
Valley. The town of Vallicito isa small camn
of Struggling and unpretending dwellings,. To-
Gated between two low ranges of hills and is
diffused around over large fiat, without much
regard to street arrangements, crooked OIL
straight. At first this absence of streets and
strancTing method of building might strike
stranger as fatal to comfort and convenience
n little reflection, however, dispels the thought
the place is literally alive with the worst breet
of dogs in the world--a breed that would pu