The Shasta courier., 1872-05-18
SHASTA COURIER.
SHASTA AND FRENCH GULCH.

Grand Master Hill, who recently travel
ed through this part Of the State, thus
communicates his impressions Of Shasta and
French Gulch, in letter to the New Age:
Shasta is the county town of Shasta
county, and is place of about 800 inhabl-
tants. Like most of the mountain towns
in California, it is built on ridges and In
ravines, which make nearly all the streets
pretty steep climbing, or very disagreeabie
sliding down, SO that one has to look well
to bis footsteps, especially in slippery times.
Shasta however, has not the denuded ap
pearance which marks most mining towns,
for no mining has ever been carried on In
its immediate vicinity. 1t has been more
of taading post for the surrounding
country, which is both mining and agricul-
tural The site is about three miles, in
direct line west from the Sacramento river,
along the banks of which, the iron horse
will plod his fiery way, by the close OF the
summer months.
Shasta among its desirables has an ex-
cellent weekly paper, the COURIER" one
of the oldest, as we'll as best conducted
journals in the State. There are also
Lodges here of the Masons, Odd Fellows
and Good Templars, and all of them active
institutions. There is Roman Catholic
Church, and the Union Church, building
occupied principally by the Methodists.
1t was kindly placed at my disposal, the
Sunday was in Shasta, and | had the
pleasure of meeting most of the good people
of the town on that day, and of receiving
from all most cordial reception.
"Shasta Lodge, No. 57,' as its humber
indicates, was established at an early day,
and has always been favored, with not
few of most jealous, and efficient Odd
Fellows.
French Gulch is small mining camp
in the deep canyon of Clear Greek. 1t was
once lively place, and there is yet an
abundance of gold in its gulches and quartz
leads, if the capital could be had to develop
the same. What pity it is, that some OF
the many hundreds of thousands of dollars,
which are thrown away in you city, in the
daily efforts to convert "Bulls" and "Bears"
into the Kilkenny cats of traditionary fame,
could not be spent ir the more profitable
work of developing the mines in hundreds
of places like French Gulch. There is
however, another source of wealth in this
locality, which it is to be hoped, the people
will develop. The soil, situation and
climate of this French Gulch Canyon ex-
tending for miles along the creek are re-
markaby we'll adapted to the cultivation of
fruit of all kinds. Bro. Plumb, Past
Grand of the Lodge, who made US partake
of the hospital;ties of his house, showed us
some spitzenberg APPLES of his own raising,
and after seeing and tasting them, | did
not wonder at his enthusiasm about the
fruit raising qualities of the Gulch. When
the railroad is completed to Shasta, this
fruit will, l venture to predict, always
command ready sale and the highest
price.
French Gulch Lodge of Odd Fellows,
was established at an early day. 1t has
had its ups and downs, and although at
present having only about 30 members and
but little work to do, yet keeps its officers
we'll posted, under the supervision Of Bro.
Lacks, d. j. g. NJ, and has some excel
lent material in members.