The Shasta courier., 1870-07-23
The Pit River Country.
From the Yreka Journal.

DR.. Moores, dated Burgetville, July 18th,
in which be gives description of that
section as follows: Fall and Pit River
Valleys are really but one valley proper,
and in extent comprise about four town
ships of land, all of whichis or can be made,
with little expense, good, tillable land. It
lies in rather an irregular shape, but it is
as near round as am able to describe it,
with some variations. 1t is surrounded
with an abundance of fine timber, both
fer fencing and for lumber, and can be
procured at little expense The valley is
we'll watered. Fall river heads on the
north side and flows south, meandering
round Though the valley in such man.
ner, that its length is said to be about fifty
miles, when the distance from its source
to its mouth is only twelve miles. On the
southeast side Of the valley we find Pit
river, which appears to be stream of con-
siderable size, but is really river about
one-fourth the size of Fall river. It's water
is very sluggish and dirty, while that of
Fall river is very clear. Pit river and
Fall river come together at or nearly right
angles on the south east side of the valley,
From this junction down it takes the name
of Pit river, and winds its way through
mountains for few miles, when another
small valley containing three or four Sec
tions of choice tillable land spreads out
from Its banks, which is known by the
name of Kating Valley. Below this still,
about twelve miles, is very fine valley
known by the name vf Burney Valley,
which is said to be an xceedingly rich and
fertile valley The soil in Fall river valley
is somewhat varied. In some parts the
soil is of a black, sandy loan, while in
other parts it seems to be of the same
properties with mixture of clay. The
general ocular appearance of the most of
the valley, does not strike one very fav-
orably as being soil that would produce
well, but practical tests have proved that
the soil is good for all kinds of grain and
vegetables Have paid particular atten-
tion to the growing crops in different parts
of the valley, and discovered but little
difference where everything is equal.
Grain all through the valley, where it was
sown early, is very good. Vegetables are
grown We well without irrigation, from
the fact that the water line is but few
feet below the surface There is but a
small portion of the valley improved
About all that has been taken up by set
tiers, is that lying along the river and
around next to the timber. The balance,
which comprises most of the tillable land,
is unoccupied ant open to pre-emption.
The health of the valley is not quite equal
to some of our northern valleys.
There are two mills in this valley-a
saw mill which is doing a-thriving business,
running day and night in order to meet
the demand, and new Touring mill just
completed and in running order. The
amount of grain raised here this year, will
not be sufficient to meet the demand, from
the fact that there was not great amount
of grain sown, and another thing, there is
great increase of population. A very
singular phenomenon took place in this
valley, at the head of Fall river, one day
last week. 1t appears from the statement
of several persons who witnessed the strang
freak, that they heard loud noise, some
what resembling the report of heavy
cannon, when their attention was immedi-
ately drawn iu the direction of the report,
and to their great wonder they saw body
of water, as they describe it, as large as a
house, thrown into the air, to the height of
one hundred feet in solid column. The
place where it occurred, was near where
the water breaks cut from the earth in
forming Fall River The river below rails
ed soon after about six inches. 1t is con.
jectured by many, that another spring has
burst from the earth, and will continue to
flow. 1t is matter of much discussion
what caused this outburst. The most rea-
sonable theory to Inc, is that all the lakes
north have been raising for the last five or
six years, caused from the closing up of
their underground outlets, and the water
finding its way into cavers caused such a
pressure that the earth gave way, hence
the explosion. 1t is reported that quartz
ledge of marvellous richness has been re-
Gently struck few miles ncrth of Ash
Greek, in Big Valley, but have not been
able to get any particulars. 1t has created
quite an excitement in this vicinity.