Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-02-08
THE EVENING NEWS.
The s.rprise valley Rssis..

~m
Tuesday Kvsains---.--.Fsb, 8,1S1o
The ssrprise vaney Rssssn.
From all accounts, that portion of
our young and flOurishing State which
includes Surprise Valley, Goose Lake,
and country adjacent, % about as fine
as the sun shines upon. From time to
time we have had occasion to make
special mention Of that fertile and
promising region, aad particularly of
late Is 1t coming into more prominent
notice, by reason not only Of Its supe-
rior productiveness, but 1t Is rapidly
becoming occupied by actual and en-
terprising settlers, such as are the bone
and sinew Of the world, and tend to
the true development and progress Of
any country. Heretofore there have
been Indian depredations and other
drawbacks to interfere with the set
tiers. but that time is now past.
Surprise Valley lies, at the foot Of
the Sierra Nevada mountains, in the
northern portion Of the State, some 200
miles north Of here, and Is some 60
miles long by 10 to 20 In width.
Goose Lake Valley, lying to the north
west Of 1t, Is about the same size,
and is divided from it by a ridge Of
hills. Both are exceedingly fertile,
well watered by numerous ravines on
all sides, furnishing bountiful irriga-
ton, and the mountains and hills are
heavily timbered. therefore wood Is
plenty and all kinds Of lumber very
good and cheap-$15a and $40 per 1000
feet. A friend Just in from there where
he has been stopping for the last two
or three months, considers 1t the most
fertile and beautiful country on the
face of the globe. 1t abounds In bunch
grass and other choice grasses, there
fore the range Is immense and cattle
keep rolling fat the year round. Crops
are produced OH the ranches with little
labor, and most bountiful returns.
Wheat, barley. oats, corn-in fact any
thing grows there -luXuriantly, wheat
yielding GO or 20 bushels to the acre,
and the crops never falling, by reaso
OF the great irrigation facilities. Game
Is also very abundant, consisting of
grizzly, deer, geese, ducks, prairie
hens, etc. The population of the re-
cion numbers some 600 souls, inelml-
Ing many families and is rapidly IN
creasing, now that the proper protec-
ton is afforded by the soldiers Of In
Gle sam, and the Indians are kept IN a
respectful state Of subsection. Two
military posts are established there
one at Camp Bidwell, ut the upper end
Of Surprise Valley, having 200 soldiers,
consisting Of cavalry and infantry. and
the other, Camp Warren, 60 miles fur
ther north has 300; the Indians. have
to take a back seat and behave them-
selves now, or be wiped out altogether.
Goose Lake is at the foot of the valley,
and ut the head Of Pitt River.
Eligibly situated at this point is
Lake City, q very thriving little town,
containing already several good bust
ness houses, most prominent among
which Is that Of L. B. Frankel, our
enterprising fellow townsman. who
has a large and well-assorted stock Of
provisions and general merchandise
suited to the country. Frankel was
one of the first settlers of Gold Hill,
where his well known store on Main
street Is an established fixture Of the
town. From Lake City to Reno Is
about 100 miles, and a weekly mail Is
established between the two places,
which will. on and after July lst, be
changed to q t~ri-weekly mail. 1t
passes by way of Winnemucca Valley.
Lake City Is the main, in fact. only,
town, and an application Is already
made to the Legislature to organize
Lake County, with Lake City as the
county seat. The proposed Oregon
Railroad will open up and develOpe
that country as 1t should be. but ut
present the market for grain is limited
TO the population itself and the mill
tary posts. Vast quantities of grain
are also fed to the hogs and sheep;
200 head Of these fat grain-fed hogs
were driven In from there a few days
ayo and sold to the butchers at Viz
GINA. Finer pork Is not often SEEM.
Snow seldom falls there. except in the
mountains, and what few inches does
sometimes visit the valley never lasts
long. The range Is sufficient for mil
lions Of cattle, and large droves are
brought over from California Tor better
nasturage. In> the middle of Surprise
Valley Is an excellent Touring mill,
which furnishes as good Hour as any
in the world; therefore the people
find it a very convenient and indls-
pensable Institution. Living ischeap,
as everybody raises just what they
choose with perfect ease and facility.
Men that went there two or three years
ACC, with nothing at all, now have
plenty of cattle and everything else.
As a matter Of course, drones, there,
the same as everywhere else in crea-
tion. do not thrive we'll, but energetic
people all get along splendidly.