Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-03-30
Correspondence OF the Chronicle.
IOCKFoRp. March 22nd 1861


EDITOR CHRONICLE Our farmers have
nearly finished their sowing, the area cult
waited is much less than in former years, but
the seeding of their grounds, Is more diver
sified than ever before. 1 am pleased to
notice this change in farming; there is no
doubt but that it will prove the most profit
able. 1t is not unfrequent, to find tobacco,
hops, grapes, peanuts, potatoes, fruits. a
good variety Of vegetables together with
every kind of small grain growing on one
farm. This mode ofranchlng, requires much
more time than the old method; this fact,
taken in connection with the severe weather
experienced during the winter, accounts for
the great falling off OF the amount of land
worked as compared with last year, besides
very many in consequence Of the high price
of pork, have turned their attention, and
their ranches to the raising of hogs instead of
grain; large fields are being volunteered for
that purpose. This IS particularly true as
regards barley lands, and should this dispro-
portion of seeding lands extend to other
localities to the same extent as here, it
will materially effect the price of barley
the coming season. Our crops are consid-
cred very backward, especially new sown
grain; it is just now struggling its way out
of the ground and looks pale and unpromis-
ing. We are not alarmed, however, on this
account the land being thoroughly saturated
with rain. y warm sun will soon come at
whole, it is not unreasonable to expect a
very fair crop the present year.
The late storm was the most severe of the
winter, doing large amount of damage along
the river bottoms. The water reached
point within a few inches of the high water
mark of 1862. The roads, though slowly
improving by the last few days of fair wealth
er, are still impossible to Stockton or Sac
ramento--this however is of no great moment
to our people as we have constant commit
nication with San Francisco, via Mokelumne
river. There are some half dozen schoon-
ers making their regular trips between San
Francisco and Toison's Landing, point
miles below Woodbridge, where teams can
now haul half loads at the present bad
state Of the roads. These vessels are en-
ployed in the wood and merchandise trade,
and am told doing profitable business,
Notwithstanding the very low price charged,
{ So per ton); our farmers are shipping
arge amount of wheat to San Francisco by
this route, and the trade appears to be daily
increasing. This landing is of great COM
mercial Importance to our community; it
makes ready market for all our surplus
produce furnishes us with groceries at rca-
sonable rates, and makes us feel quite indie
pendent, as we can reach the great centre of
trade without plunging into the mountains
of mud on either side. I understand pro-
ject is on foot to build suitable steamer for
this trade, and that half of the requisite
means is already subscribed, the balance no
doubt will be speedily taken, the vessel built
and put upon the route. Ishould not trouble
you with these haSty jottings, but for the
fact, that our neighbor in the mud" Stock
ton Independent, appears to studiously avoid
saying anything of our natural advantages,
enterprise or industry of our people. We
are counted in however every November,
and if we fail to respond with our cash, they
condesend to publish minute description of
our property at advertising rates. Seriously
ba fbot fol 4
jealousy is exhibited bya news paper We
are one county and what is good for one is
essentially so for all.
| We have two FIGURING mills in this Yicini-
ty, one twelve miles below this place, at
Woodbridge, owned by Messrs. Rankins, the
other is located four miles above here, and
owned by S. L. Magee, an old resident of
your county; these mills have been constant
ly running since July, and are turning out
superior quality of -four. Our merchants
prefer their brands to any other they can
find in the market this fact is attributed to
the motion of the burrs. The mills at Stock
ton, Sacramento and at the playhouse with
in the last year geared their burrs, 15O to
200 revolutions per minute faster than they
ran before, while our mill men have wisely
kept their old motIon-say from 250 to 275,
with their three and half feet burrs, and
from l75 to 225 with four feet, while the
mills referred to above run $50 to 375 with
four feet, and four hundred to four hundred
| and fifty with their three and half feet
burrs. 1t has been demonstrated by positive
proof, that these high motioned burrs, over
heat the flour in grinding and greatly injure
its quality.
| FARMER.
The Masauerade bull given at Oettenger's