The Shasta courier., 1866-12-15
The Past and Future.

Shasta, like most Of her sister towns in
California, sprung into existence and rapidly
attained Importance from the effects of the
almost fabulously rich placer mines found
in its vicinity in the early days of mining
in this State. Then, too, the place enjoyed
the advantage of being the general trading
point and commercial headquarters of Trim
ity, Siskiyou and klamath; for there were
no roads over Trinity and Scott mountains,
and everything destined for use in those
counties had to be either purchased or stored
and reshlpped here, instead of passing di.
rectly through, on an easy wagon grade, as
at present For time everything flourished
finely, fortunes were rapidly accumulated.
the town grew into the proportions of
California .' city" and business of all kinds
was conducted upon the high pressure scale
peculiar to the times.
But business prosperity built upon an
unstable foundation is necessarily transient
and as the rich placer mines were exhausted
bv the busy swarm of delivers after the
precious ore, they were gradually deserted
for newer fields Of treasure, and the business
founded upon their permanence languished
and died away Wagon roads were built
over Trinity and Scott mountains, and Red
Bluff becoming the depot for the northern
tradee another source of prosperity was taks
from US. Business continued to decline,
population diminished, and our once bust
ling streets became silent and deserted by the
throng. For several years past those of US
who have remained have lived along in
kind Of stand still fashion, hoping for some
thing to turn up and revive the prospects
of the place; and after this period of waiting
we think we can discern favorable signs of
returning prosperity. and renewed business
activity in the future. Having reached the
lowest round of the ladder, we now begin
to ascend again.
The quartz interest of the county is slowly
but surely rising in importance, despite the
many drawbacks which i: has heretofore
encountered. Incompetent uperintendents,
ignorant mill men, inexperienced miners,
and the want of proper machinery and
sufficient capital have all operated prejudicia
to the proper development and progress of
our mines; but these difficulties are in fair
way of being at least partially overcome, and
the future of our quartz mines are rendered
more promising thereby. The yield obtained
from the Highland, Washington and Honey
comb mills, at French Gulch, and from the
Mammoth, at Quartz 1lill and Potosi, at
Muletown. assures US of the richness Of those
mines and fully iustifes us in entertaining
favorable impressions in regard to the value
of various other le1ges now being opened in
the county, and which present every indica-
ton of being as rich as those mentioned.
| Attention is also being turned to the supe
rior advantages which the climate, and
| adaptabilty of cur soil affords for the culture
of the vine, and the probabilities are that in
a few years more the hill sides of Shasta
county will be covered with fourishing vine
yards, and tuns of purple grapes will be
reduced to wine and shipped to market. and
the proceeds go to enrich the pockets ofthe
producers That this branch of industry
can be made lucrative is proven by the ex-
perience of Woodman, Seamans, johnson,
Wiser and others. In fact every branch of
industry throughout the county seems to be
looking up of late, and the business of the
town will of course keep pace with the gen.
eral prosperity of its surroundings. Having
all the natural resources of wealth around
US upon every hand, Shasta is bound to i'm
prove and when the iron horse comes this
way, the cry of dull times will never again
be heard in this locality.