The union Democrat., 1869-08-28
NUMBER IL.
Letter frosa Riekusend.
TuoLuMNE CIrr. August 18th Is


Continental Life Insurance tour in the Para
disc Valley. Rode our steed at q rather rapid
gait and reached the Rock River Ranch just
at dusk and put up for the night. Pound
our old friend WIN. Cooper Esq. setting in his
porch with his two little sons who were a.
happy as larks, playing upon his knees. At
ter partaking OF an excellent supper we went
out upon the vsranda and sat in the cool,
bracing sea breeze, that came sweeping DER
the plains up to this beautiful mountain re-
treat. We remained here for upwards of an
hour talking with our kind friend over the
past. He gave us the history Of this besuti
full ranch and how he came in possession of
it. Said that it embraced $500 acres of land
under fence. He raises stock principally.
| Has six or eight thousand head of sheep
in the mountains of old Tuolumne, away
above Sonora. He has also q great many
horses. 1t is the prettiest place in the coun-
try. Old Tuolumne gave away one of her
| garden spots when she parted with this lovely
spot. The mansion is located upon a hill
surrounded by beautiful oaks and ccmmandsa a
fine view of the surrounding country for miles
around. After an early breakfast we bid
adieu to our friend and started on down the
valley. One mile below Rock River Ranch
we came to the farm of John Wooters and
Jonah Rush. old Tuolumneites, who dug out
our gold in Tuoumue and come down here
to improve the sand plains and help to enrich
naughty tanisaus--Tuolumne's naughty
daughter. We saw Wooters, who was baling
hay at eighboring farm. Nine miles below
on the farm of Mr.. Baker, on the bank Of the
Tuclumne we came across Mr.. Rush, who
was engaged thrashing Bakers wheat. Here
we found Mr.. Burton Fales and four or FIVE
other men from Spiingfeld-all hired out to
the owner of the threshing machine. Ten
miles further down we came to another thrash
ing machine. Here we found Mr. Ed L. +.
Watt, of Raw Hide Ranch, and Mr.. Chas.
Miller, of Poverty Hill. One was upon n
high stack of wheat feeding the feeder and
the other stacking sacks of grain. On, on
we rode till at last about sundown we reach
ed Paradise City. The town presents quite
a lively appearance considering that the river
is low and no steamers can come up to haul
off the grain, which is being hauled as fast as
thrashed into town to be stored. Some are
hauling portions of their wheat ten miles to
the landing on the San Joaquin river, where
the steamers come and take it off to Stockton.
Only one man, Bently, has got through
thrashing. For miles and miles around Par
adise city can be seen great stacks Of wheat
awaiting the thrashing machines and their
gang of men. There are only about ten or
fifteen machines in the Valley. At least fifty
are required. 1t will take these machines
two months to thrash all the wheat. Some
are steam and others horse power. The lat
ter require fougtex G elrses and the sanss num-
ber of men. The steam only requires eleven
hands. The former thrash one thousand
bushels per day and the latter fifteen hundred.
The great stacks of wheat give the plains
farm-like and cheerful appearance. 1t is a
great relief to the eye where there are no
trees or hills but one barren stretch of sand
plains.
Our old friend Julius Halck and DR..
Holmes are doing very well. The former has
taken up or located upon some government
land and intends to sell out his boot shop and
90 to raising wheat. Mr.. Harmon from
Knights Ferry, is doing q very extensive
business photographing. He and his accom-
plished young wife board at Hendricks Hotel
and have tent pitched close by to toke pic"
lures in. r. G. Gridley, the loud-mouthei
Democrat who changed his base and went
over body and soul to the repubs about the
time he made such an ass of himself, packing
that celebrated sack of -four from town to.
town oil over the country, has store here.
and has the same indentical sack of -four in
it. He has got to be P. M. which means,
as Nasby says, post master. He seems to he
clever enough sort of gentleman. though
the Republicans wouldn't give him the NOM
ination for the Assembly. but nominated u
Merced man for Judge Walden to floor next
September. We remained five days at Para
disc City then came down here.
This burg looks rather dilapidated. Many
business places that fourished when we were
here in April last has been closed. Barnes
is the only cheerful, happy looking man in
the town. He has got wife. That's what's
the matter with him. He struts through
the town alongside of her as proud as pea
cock. The editor, foreman, devil and a.
taches of the Tuolumne City Ne,cs are all
married now. They all seem to like it too.
A great many of the citizens of this burg
have got the ''shakes"-fever and ague. The
river is lower than it has been for years. 1t
fell two months sooner than usal. All the
farmers have made splendid crops and as
soon as they get their wheat to market times
will improve in Tuolumne City. Some are
hauling PORTIONS of their grain to the landing
on the San Joaquin river five miles off. We
leave here in about an hour. Will cross over
to Greysonville, on the San Joaquin, aud
remain couple days, then 60 up the river
sixty or seventy miles. Aleck Brooks, Frank
Donovan, Chaloner and Frank Mccoy are
down here working with the thrashers. Wa
ges two dollars per day and board.
Oroter ooptlomon r;d;n1 IN corr;a~o