Litchfield enquirer., 1870-05-12
(E De Continued
OCEAN TO OCEAN"
VI.

VI.
 THE VALLEY OF THE SIERRA NEvADAs.
 This valley has been settled since 1851, my uncle being the first settler and the town bearing his name. The lands are owned by few individuals who attained their rights from the state. The early set tiers were granted all they would keep un- der fence, consequently some have ranches of thousands of aores They now, in turn with other valleys, are having their share of Gland troubles" since the late United State surveys. The early settlers defend what they term their rights, even resorting to arms. It seems hard after years of toll to have others come and reap the benefits of their improvements. Still it will be better for the valley and the country to have the lands divided into farms of 160 acres and under cultivation than as they are.
 The ranchers think ranch of less than a thousand acres hardly worth possessing They kept stock extensively, employ a great many men. who laze away great portion of their time, spend all they earn in gambling, chicken fights, horse racing, and bear fights, and at the end of tue year are always in debt to their employers. The latter generally consider themselves fortu- nate in securing their debt by note of hand, after which debtors "vamoose" and are never seen again. Some have the i'm pudence to stay and ''board it out." One man who owed my uncle several thousand dollars, and is still contracting debt for board, told him that unless Che, my uncle. bought him new suit of clothes, he should be ashamed to come to his table,
 I am surprised at the forbearanoe of the property holders still they think it would not agree with their notions of California hospitality to turn thenJ of. At the same time they are complaining of hard times can't live if they are denied of their lands, &e.. and allow these leeches of laziness to suck their life's-blood. What country would not be poor with such management. Their ideas of life have got to change fear fully.
 The only currency is coin; the smallest two bits (25 cts.) Anything smaller they wouldn't humble themselves to look at. They speak of "Yanks" with more con tempt than ever heard in all my travels south. In fact many were southerners who were afraid to fight for their cause du- ring the late rebellion and skulked to this mountain country for safety, are still bark ing, like "Beecher's Dog" at them. They tried to break up the Union in that "dark hour, and are now praying that same un- holy government to grant them their rights as regards lands, to the exclusion of the honest and upright citizen, vowing ven- geance on all foreigners, especially "John Chinamau." These they are willing to hang higher than Haman and all because they-the Chinamen-are willing to work cheaply. consider much of the recent legislation of California disgrace to the country. thought New York City bad enough, but there seems to be @ lower grade of ''demagoguism" here than there. It is a shame that country possessin g such advantages should be under such rule. have been in several of the mountain val leys and regret to say they are all in about the same state of demoralization.
 COST OF LIVING.
 r It may be interesting to some to know what the cost of living is in this country, at present, and what it Was in 1851. The first wheat my uncle sowed cost 40 cts. per pound. delivered in the valley Flour was selling at $1 % per b., Everything here is sold by the fb. ), Bacon, $1; Potatoes, ,25 cts. Butter, $1.50; Beans, 75 cts, &c.,, &c. The price of help, at present, is $50 per month, the year through. Their wheat is worth 311c.; Oats. 216c.; Potatoes, &c.,; Corn. 4c.; Cabbage, 4xc.; Beef, l5c., gross; Bacon, 25c. scarcely any raised here Butter, 50c. &c They can produce three times the amount of eastern farmers with the same labor and still Cit don't pay. ? The miners who are at work in the sur rounding mountains consume all these products, and generally ''pack their own grub" as. ass
 There is certainly great depreciation in prices since 1851. But if farmers can raise potatoes in the west for 15 cts. per bushel, they ought to be able to make it pay here at $1.s0. Stock grazes the year through, some farmers feeding month or two. Hay is worth from $25 to $50 per ton, within two days travel. I will not com ment further. The country is rich in min erals, the mountain sides filled with rich quartz, the Canyons and gulches with ''surface diggings" of every variety. There are now in active operation within the cir cult of twenty-five miles some forty quartz
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