The Placer herald., 1874-08-08
PROSPECTS OF OUR MINING COUNTIES.

The Calaveras Chronicle says The
present condition of our mining counties is
not very encouraging. People are contlnu-
ally leaving rivers whose beds II or IA
years since were TUNED for miles, aud whose
banks were the scenes of great activity. are
now quite deserted. One may travel for
miles seeing naught save the traces of for
mer settlements, dismantled, roofless cabins,
lone cLimneys, and the graveyards on the
hillside. They hold nearly all that remain.
1t is quite singular with many camps in the
upland dry dggngs. Places formerly con-
tanning popula ion numbering several thou
sand, are now concentrated about a nucleus
of few saloons, stores, post-oflice, ex-
press office and the establishments necessar,
for the sparse surrounding popula-
rion. In the country deserted ranches are
ominously frequent.
We believe that this condition of affairs
will only be of temporary duration. These
localities contain the elements of great
wealth and prosperity. The production OF
miaeral is not exhausted. On the noun
tains may be grown fruits and vegetables
peculiar not merely to our own latitude, but
to that of the tropics. These are also OF
superior quality. Grapes grown at the ele
vaton found here make a wine superior in
favor and of more body than can be pro
duced in the valleys. The mountain po-
tatoes which are raised Is or 20 miles east
of Sonora, Tuolumne county, and which
can be grown throughout the f ot-hill re-
zion, rival those of Nova Scotia, the favor
ties of tn, New York market. Following
up from the foot hills, the gradual elevation
of the western slope, we pass through many
gradations Ct climate. AT one level are
found only the wet and dry seasons of Cali
fornia, L.ss than 80 miles distant to the
westward, and 1000 feet Of elevation, af
ford us a climatic alienation closely re-
semhling spring, summer, fall and winter OF
the New England year.
The communication by railroad with the
east being long since completed, the rush OF
immigration hilher has been mmens-. Thou
sands upon thousands have been added to
our population. They are aware that gold
still exists here and gold yet possesses for
he eastern immigrant II powerful attraction
Of course, the rich lowland valleys, capa-
tile of producing the cereals, will be filled
up frat, but this influx must spread to 9TH
er sections. They will be forced to these
mountain regions. Land here will be cheap
The soil is generous in yielding substance
Many solitary miner supplies himself with
vegetables by a few moments of labor each
day, or little plat of land. Men will buy
with their acres, indications at least of the
presence in the soil or ledge of gold, silver
copper and other minerals. The chances of
such wealth will lend addiona! value to
their possessions. The turning up of the
soil will from time to time reveal such treas
ure. The construction, Ly the miners, OF
long lines of bitches affords great fac ties
for irrigation.
Can it be that region posing all these
and other advantages we cannot here men
ton should remain long unapproprated?
Were it possible to transport section OF
his mountain country with its soil, its equa-
be climate, its desirable lack of long, hard
winters, its prospective underground treas
ure, set down among the bleak, barren hills
of New England, it would by contrast
seem, even though remaining wild and un-
cultivated, an earthly paradise.