The Shasta courier., 1858-09-25
SHASTA COURIER.
Assessors Report.
Assessors OFFICE,

Shasta, Sept :, 1858. I
Hon. II. A. Higley, Surreyor General, Sacramento:
SIR Il have the honor to submit to you the
following as my Official Report, of statistics and
general interests of the County of Shasta for the
current year.
In collecting statistics have had in view the
Importance of having them correct, and have
endeavored, as far as possible, to comply with
the strict requirements of the law.
In comparing the statistics of the present with
those of last year, it is impossible, owing to the
returns of last year being incomplete, to accu-
rately determine whether the interests of the
County have increased or diminished to great
extent But I am satisfied that agriculture, hor-
ticulture, and stock raising, are steadily on the
increase Our County contains a large amount
of land, well adapted to agricultural purposes,
which is fast being settled up with an intelli-
gent, energetic and permanent population, who
find here ready market for all that they can
produce, at perhaps more remunerative prices
than the same productions bring in any other
portion of the State
Among those most extensively engaged in
horticulture, are D. D. Harrill, and A. L. Dow
ner, of Shasta and BENZ. Swasey, of the Lower
Springs, who have large amount of fruit trees
and vines of almost all the different varieties for
sale.
The soil and climate of this County are well
adapted to the raising of fruit of almost all the
varieties successfully grown in any portion OF
California, as is evidenced by the large number
of orchards to be seen in all sections of the
County.
| Shasta County also contains large quantity
of land well adapted to grazing; and numbers
| of our citizens have turned their attention ex-
clusively to the raising of stock. 1t is a well
known fact that stock has always borne a good
price in our market, and the business has al
ways been and cannot fail of being remuncra.
tive to those engaged in it.
MINING INTERESTS.
Ever since the discovery of gold within thu
present limits of Shasta County, our mines have
been successfully worked by a large number o
men. Situated as it is on the great thorough
fare from the Sacramento Valley to Trinity, Sis
kiyou and Oregon, and the diggings being prn
cipally surface" it presents superior induce
ments to those who have not the capital to en-
ter into mining on an extensive SCALE All tha
has prevented the mineral resources of ouI
County from being more fully developed is the
want of water. We have several canals which
supply water in many localities during the dry
season, but many have to depend entirely upor
the rains of winter to successfully work theil
claims. The consequence is that during the
dry season, many of our miners leave for the
Rivers and Creeks of Trinity and Siskiyou Coun.
ties, and return in the Fall-which makes busi.
ness in the mining localities very unstable
The excitement consequent upon reports Of
the discovery of gold on Frazer River, and seve-
raj other causes, have tended to diminish the
valuation of property somewhat the presen,
year.
Quartz mining has not met the remuneratiye
speculations Of most of those who have engaged
in the business. But there are, without doubt
some as rich lodes in this county as in any coun.
1 ty in the State. Most of the failures in this
branch of mining, are mainly owing to the mex
perienee of those engaged in it, and the want OF
capital.