San Andreas independent., 1858-05-29
Pacific, a religious newspaper published in

" At the East in the various descriptions of
California, also quite generally III the diff
ferent publications of the State, our great ag
rlcultural resources appear referred to in such
manner as to convey the idea that they are
and ever will be confined principally to the
valleys between the proper coast and middle
ranges OF mountains, extending far np the
Russian River upon the north to los Angeles
or farther, on the south. The immense re-
!, glons east of the middle range, including the
great Sacramento anc San Joaquin valleys,
seem to be in general regarded as too warm
and dry ever to become remarkable as produc-
tive agricultural districts. Yet we are conf
dent that no one can pass through different,
already settled portions of these valleys, going
over the individual farms and visiting at their
houses personally the different enterprising
farmers engaged in bringing into thorough
operation all the eastern appliances for the
production and gathering of the wealth OF an
agricultural district, who can doubt that here
vast population is in few years to be gath
ered and that this whole region shall flourish
as the garden of the world
"Between Stockton and Sacramento are ex-
tensive tracts, settled almost entirely by fami-
lies nearly every one hundred and sixty
: acres of land, WHO are bringing the same ra-
pdly under an admirable state of cultivation.
luc TOauS are well lalu out, straight anu OI
good width, for miles fenced on both sides,
crossing at right angles, affording excellent
centers for business. Fences extending thro
the farms, divide them into suitable lots, and
beautiful growing crops, gardens, shade trees
and orchards of all kinds of fruits-peaches
and apples the most prominent-present de-
lightful view to the eye and give assurance of
the advancement of the inhabitants in all the
most valuable riches of an agricultural re-
gion Fair buildings for pioneer settlers are
every where seen, while many of the build
ings are large, fine, tasteful structures, which
speak, even of the luxuries of living. On en-
tering these dwellings, and finding the win
dows handsomely curtained, the floors we'll
carpeted, the rooms decently furnished, the
center table carefully supplied with excellent
books, some of high literary and scientific
worth, and the dining table bountifully loaded
with all the best of edibles from the garden
and the farm, with rich cream and fresh but
ter, one cannot we'll but feel, that surely this
is land that God has blessed with rich earth
ly blessings, and which bids fair to deserve,
pre-eminently, the scrptural appeation of
land g overfowing with milk and honey
Occasionally also, moral lOveliness and beau
ty are thrown over all, as one is seated at the
hospitable board in the midst of a large fam
lily, and silence and decorum being observed,
the toiling workman, the reverend head of
the lovely circle, bowling gently with closed
eyes, acknowledges God as the gver of all
good, and asks His blessing to rest upon the
provisions before them. There is something
very interesting and admirable in this simple
acknowledgment of God in the provisions for
our bodily wants at the table, that wonderfully
exalts good man above the brute, rushing
to his food without sense or reason. Yet ma
ny even protesting Christian families, neglect
this duty, and engage in their eating as the
horse eats his barley as soon as he can get
at it.
"The farming districts which we would
specify In this description, are those lying
north from Stockton, a distance continuously
OF twenty miles, and running east towards
the mountains in four great branches into the
foothills Of the Sierra mountains along the
Calaveras and Mokelumne rivers, Dry Greek
and the Costumes, with off-shoots from them
of greater or less extent, sometimes for miles
on the sloughs of these larger rivers. The
largest regularly settled portion is the region
OF Woods Ferry, on the Mokelumne river, a
center for business for about seven miles in all
directions. No old Spanish grants cover this
region to set back the prosperity of the coun-
try for an age, or for ages. Hence, the fami-
lies are brought near together, in numbers
sufficient for schools churches, neighborhood
social gatherings, and pleasant evening visits,
library associations and debating schools, etc.
| so essential to the true advancement of every
thing good in civilization and general society.
Above Woods Ferry, about ten miles, is an
other important center of business at Sta
pies ranch and ferry, upon the same river
The whole region except upon the drier plains
| lying between the rivers, is well timbered for
California, with the white and live oak valley
or willow, pines, and some other varieties of
trees of little or no use for lumber. Water
is generally abundant in from six to twenty
feet of the surface, easily reached by wells
The market in the mountains is always good
for the produce from the farms The heavier
productions, as hay barley and oats, the far
mers themselves generally haul into the mining
regions and sell for money, or exchange at the
mills in the mountains for lumber or for ce-
dar posts, which they take back, to fence their
lands, complete their buildings and make 9TH
er Improvements. The greater portion of
their vegetable productions also reach the
mountain market with a much better return
than is possible in the lower valleys. In the
fruit season also, they have an advantage over
the lower valleys. for their fruits come forward
and ripen nearly three weeks earlier. Grapes
of the richest kinds are here raised, though as
yet, in small vineyards, which mature and arc |
ulSpOSeQ Oh III MdTkeC DeIOFe LnOSe or Dan /
Jose are ripe. Sweet potatoes, of the best
quality from four even to fifteen pounds each,
in weight are grown in abundance, where the
farmers have turned their attention to the
proper cultivation of them. This region is al
so a healthy one. Sickness, we should judge |
but is little more common and less severe than
in Santa Clara county. The settlers have
gone gradually and quietly into this region,
and making it look like land of homes
and blessings
"Much the same might be said of the re-
gion along the Sacramento river, and through |
the foothills of the mountains, only, that the
settlers are scattered much farther apart
But all that we have said above will apply to
them also, except that trees are more in
the Bear river region from Nicolaus, OH the
Feather river East, into the mountains; on
the Yuba and Honcut and Feather, towards
the North But marked difference is gene
rally observable, where Spanish grants in
cumber the lands, deranging every interest,
except occasionally where liberal, worthy men
have secured their claims and honorably sell I
at fair prices to actual settlers Taking all in
all, we do not know but that the region of
these great Sacramento and San Joaquin val
leys is to become the most densely populated I