The Placer herald., 1874-07-18
HOUSE AND FARM.

rtlib rome OF lie IcHSOtiS WHY our stClltil H'iS
failed TO make progress proportionate to its
evident capabilities and advantages, aud why
many of our old residents lack confidence
and energy for works of development
There are some other difficulties, which may
he best illustrated 10y examples which have
fallen within the range of twenty years
residence in the foothills and mountain re
rions of California
One obstabe to the development of this
section and contentment OF patient effort on
the part of old residents, is what we choose
to call the 'sellout sentiment This senti
ment is relic of ile flush times" mining
era. In the breast OF your pioneer miner
so long as he sticks to the old stamping
ground. it is chronic and incurabe Trans
pl mt him. and in many instances Tie cure i
lar haunts, never values his possessions ac
cording to their yield, nor according to the
comforts or blessings hy which they do or
might surround him, but only according to
the price for which he can sell out" A
gravel claim may yield an ounce day;
quartz ledge may prospect $50 a ton; tract
of land may yield or he capable of yielding
hundreds of dollars per acre per ammum;
his home may he as saiuhriouS, as fertile, as
delightful in every respect rs the fabled Eden
or Elysium. but none of these have tie
slightest value in his estimation, unless he
can "sell out" IF nobody wants to buy his
property, it is vaueless, and he is wreched
and hopeless. If anybody does happen to
want to buy it, he generally doubles or quad
rup'es the price they are willing 10 pay. and
thirteen tines ont of n dozen won sell unless
lie is absolutely certain or thinks he s that the
price offered is more Than tie property can
possibly be worth. He won't develop prop
erry, Tor fear he can't sell out afterwards; he
must be convinced that he is gouging
stranger, or he won't sell OFT 10 him. Bu'
if you once can Get him sold out and removed
from his old haunts, all of these peculirties
vanish. and he generally develops into an
enerprsing, driving, successful citizen. We
will reriure an example or two.
George b. was pioneer locltor in rich
mining camp. He was full of energy and
soon had control of the butchering bnsines,
and the principal stopping place for teamsterr
and travellers. Money poured in like water
His liberality and public spirit were equal to
bis energy and prosperity, and he was eve,
foremost in contributions for any scheme to
improve th locality assisted ibeialy in run
ming tunnels, "sirking,' prospectors, etc
IN the course Of time the placer digging
were worked out, the population became re-
duced business ran down. and George
while struggling still with an open and free
hand, against the adverse cnrrent, found
himself thrown high and dry with nothing lef
but tie old traveller rest and teamsers
home, the travellers and teamsters all "gon,
where tie woodbne twneth.' But the old
establishment was a roomy, commodions and
substantial structure, splendidly built, bard
finished tlroug ghout, two stories high, with
spacious cellar underneath, hewn ous of ih,
solid rock. In lis 'hours of ease" Georg,
had, chiefly by way of diversion, occasional
ly turned impecunious straggers and hangers
on to account in planting trees, vines, shrubs.
etc. around his house. Thus the revusio,
found the premises studded with some thou
sands of unconsidered vines, fruit, aud orna
mental trees, berry pitches, etc, to sn,
nothing of a glorious well of clear and ice
cold water Though the teamster and tray
vous was still II lovely place. But in the
first year of depression George couldn't, II,
matter how hard he tried, "sell out" th
entire place for much more than the door,
and windows in the house were worth Ii
measured and deplored his downfall, rot by
what the place was worth, but 10y what h
couldn't get for it. He couldn't "selI out,
therefore it WAS worlhle Willie he was
in this mood, an old German, who had slow
ly laid up a little money by Iaborous team
ing. took fancy to The p lace and commencec
negotiations for its purchase. Before h,
came along, George would have jumped at
81 900 for the lace, but as soon AS II pur
chaser appeared he commenced dliitren
kind of jumping, Jumping to this and thai
higher price, until lie thought that he hat
"socked it to The old Dul chman good anu
heavy" " hen he sold him the place ior S3 500
The next year the "old Du,chman' realized
half The cost of the Lace, uesides tnrnishm,
his family comfortable home and malnten-
anct; the second year he deposited 81 500 III
bank from profits on ls products; the thru
year he sold 50 400 from the produce OF
that place, which is reliable for IL permaneu,
income OF IS 600 per annum. George, who
would never have made an effort to do any
thing with that place, went Oft to remote
portion Of the State, OF which he has become
one Of the most en'rrprising and tlourishins
residents. The change was beneficial to al.
concerned, and to the commonwea th.
JUTE AND COTTON - Some curious and
interesting facts have been developed in re-
gard to jue by the cotton planters OIL Louis
lana. Several years ago an appropriation
was made by Congress for the purpose OF
procuring large quan,i'y of Ju'e seed, to be
distributed free to planters IN some OF the
Southern States. in order to test The ques-
ton of the ndapiability of the soil and climate
to le grewrh of this valuable textile. L"s'
year several fields Of cotton in the vicinity oi
New Orleans were surrounded by narrow