, 1872-10-18

atmosphere. almost all Of California north OF
sen FRANCISCO: IS qls1hle,- the southern part OF
Oregon. the line Of the Sierra Noyadas. and
the Pacific, hundred milep at SEQ. At this ex
treme altitude, the gnoT is as light and dry as
powder, and is tossed by the winds in great
white clouds, halfway down to the base. Near
tbs summit, register for visitors is deposited
upon the open rock, and, although it has been
exposed for three yeare; It is uninjured. Rain
never falls upon it, and the snow is dry md
never nelts.
Eear the foot Of the mountain, is so transparent
that every pebble may be geen upon the bot
tom, hundred feet in depth. Tall and aombre
filed speclzlcd trout of exquisite flavor. Put
ling the grandeur Of the scenery out Of the
question, this entire region is g sportsmsn's
paradise, and its attractions in this respect are
qnequa11ed in California: There re, are grizzly,
tain sheep, panthers, and wildcats in the noun
tains, and grouse, hare, squirrels, and other va
rieties of smaller game in abundance IN the val
The California and Oregon Railroad, which
is being buiIt from both ends Of the Line, will
pass directly through this country, splitting it
wide open, and placing its hitherto inaccessible
districts upon public highway. In this Vleln-
ity, some Of
THE RICHEST PrAcER-D1aGNGs.
in California were discovered, and we're worked
by hand, IS far as practicable and then aban-
doned; but, IN the Valleys there are miles upon
miles Of rich gold -beari1g ground, which capital
Wall eventually cause to yield millions to the
treasure Of the world. No available water for
age in others, have been the drawbacks, and the
miners wandered off to other DISTRICTS or re-
turned to the .'States,' aud their foreaken
claims have 1ain. for years unEorked, end will
continue SO until galvanized into life by the
advent OF capital.
the county-seat Of Siskiyou County, situated in a
lo7ely valley in full view Of Mount Shasta, was.
once town Of 12,ooo inhabitants, aad the:
shipped to San francisco. Tie popu-.
1etion now is scarcely 1900; its streets
and atore-houses are deserted its
buildings are going to decay; and there is an air
pressing to tho last degree; and yet there is
scarcely spot in the whole valley. from base to
base of the mountains, which does not shoT
gold in pairing quantities and could not be
worked With immense profit, water could be
had and drainage secured.
Back in the mountains, among the forests,
the settlers belong to the c1aEs OF
FRoNTEnsMEN
rather than the rninerB-the same class Of
pioneers found in all new countries,-men who
want plenty OF elbow-room, dislike too many
neighbors, and spend the most Of their time il
hunting and fishing. I passed the night at the
house Of one Of these old hunters, who, in his
youth, had been Rocky Mountalh scout, and. in
company with Kit Carson, had piloted Fremont
over the Serra Nevadas- He was q rough, IN
couth old fellow, but honest and aincere to the
last degree; and vas amused at his description
of JOAQUIN Miller, whom he seemed to know
well and admire. He said 81 He had never heerd
any OF the books read that Miller had writ, but
he had been With him often in the mountains,
and then related q
NUMBER OF THEIR ADVENTURES
together, among which was q long story about
Miller crawling into thicket and killing
wounded grizzly bear, where everybody else was
afraid to venture; and he closed by saying he
had seen Miller tried moro than once, and that
he was " clear grit had "eand.in his craw,"
and ''never did take water, whatever those
expressions may mean.
am glad I stumbled On this region Of coun-
try. Having no acquaintance with Joaquin
Miller, except through his published writings,
believe in him thoroughly. His poems are tile
free outbreathings Of nature trained amid the
grandeur and solitude Of these majestic noun
tains, and are entirely destitute Of the mawkish
sentiment Of schools. His description Of Castle
Lake, in "Ins," is one Of the most complete
and perfect descriptions ever written, and it is
exactly correct in all it's details. He left here
about ten or twelve years ago, and never re-
turned until the past summer, when he made his
appearance in rough costume, slept night ut
the base OF Mount Bhasta, talked in their OWL
jargon to the astonished Indians, who at first
did not recognize him, renewed his acquaintance
with his old friends, and then left suddenly as
he came. MARSHALL.