San Andreas independent., 1858-04-10
A Trip to Salt Spring Valley and Scor-
pion Gulch.
ANGEL's S, April 5th, ISIS.

ANGEL >, ApIlI olii, 1000
Mr. Editor Il had occasion but recently to
visit the south and western portions of the
county, and as little has been said OF that sec
tion, | will give you notice, knowing full
well that the readers of the Independent along
the Stanislaus river would be at least graft
fed, if not entertained by notice and brief
description of their prosperity and prospects.
Leaving Altaville = that hourshing little
town II soon passed the large quartz mill of
Mcssrs. Nightingale & Co., aud reached Smiths
Flat, large vale, that in connection with
French Camp-whch with their mills and
gardens and cottage homes-forms one of the
most important valleys in southern Calaveras
Leaving Smiths Flat over | went to Parnell
Valley, another beautiful spot, green with ver-
dure and blooming with flowers. You nor
your many readers need not be told that these
valleys and hil-sides are covered with bios
SONS of every hue, giving to the eye at every
turn, from plain and hillside to the mountain
top, view of indeScribable loveliness
From Parnell, | passed over the summit of
a spur of Bear Mountain, into Nassau Valley.
Nassau has long been distinguished as one of
the most fertile valleys in the mountains
Here is situated the ranch of Harmon & West
brook. reached Salt Spring Valley, where,
after dinner took a look around me- There
is a melancholy pleasure in going out to gaze
upon scenes that bring to US the rcmembran-
ces OF other and perhaps better days
"Thoughts thoughts a countless trong
Rush. Casing countless t. .ougts aloHg."
] could not but sigh when looked upon the
large cultivated farms that now surround the
" Tule Pond when beside which, once in
1851, lived and fourished, was robbed and
broke! "a rather unpleasant thought.)
Leaving the valley, | PASSED the fine farm
of Mr.. Brooks and Son, reached the Four
Springs, owned by MessrS. Reynolds & Co..
upon the Reynolds road. This is very pret-
ty although not very profitable place. The
travel does not appear sufficient to support n
public house, and the farm does not appear
large enough to support a very thriving busi-
ness. From the Four Springs ! passed Mr..
Blacks Ranch. which lies upon the Reynold 5
road fronting Nassau Valley. This has be-
come valuable farm. After short tarry
with an old friend, started down the, valley
and soon reached the ranch of Mr.. Wander
mark. This | will say is the farm of South
Calaveras. Well fenced, well seeded and
stocked, it presents to the eye-which takes in
at a view that beautiful vale-one of the most
Z,
beauty. prosperity and wealth. | was partic-
ularly interested in the appearance ofthe stock.
especially the cows. They were fine, and /
know the milk of some of them was good. be-
cause tried it, leaving the bowl empty It
was worth n dozen drinks of :. Minnie Rife y
Dear reader try it!
From Nandermarks | took to the gulches
and hill-sides, and made the "cut off y to
Byrnes Ferry. Here arrived at mining re-
gion again and felt once more that FEELING
which all feel who live within the sound of the
gratings OF shovels and the sharp ringing of
picks, incident to mining life. From BvrnesI
to Two Mile Bar, it presents to the eve one
succession of claims worked with s.wheeIs
elevators of water, bitches, conductors SC
which so characterize the scenery of the Stan
islaus river.
In and about Scorpion Gulch arc many good
quartz caims-many of whose richness and
value, their owners took occasion to call nv
attention to, and expatiate at some considers
bic length. upon future prospects and probozu-
uies If they had but considered that their
auditor came from Angels-this camp of
magnificent proportions-they would possibly
have had less faith in the success of their at
tempts to excite my credulty
Leaving Scorpion, | took to the hills and
following the windings of the ridges, found
myself once more in Salt Spring Valley.
have frequently travelled this route, and love
to revisit its solitudes. From the princiDal
summit, the eye catches view of beauty and
grandeur seldom equalled. Away, upon the
left, stretch into distance, the broad plains of
he San Joaquin, which fade away into the
mists, until from their dmness, rise the base
hills and cliffs of the Coast Range, with the
wild and rugged peaks of Mt. Diablo towering
over all. Away upon the right rise hight
above hight, the Sierras, or snowy mountains,
that skirt the eastern horizon-cold and white
or blaze in the sunlight, like glazers-
These little valleys, in, and about Bear noun
tain, arc being settled by farmers, and will
soon form one of the most important portions
of our county.