Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-07-06
OUR CALIFORNIA LETTER
Tyrone. CAL. June %. 1s.

look could have induced me to leave the
shores of old ocean, where for two years l
had enjoyed life, gazing upon its turbulent
waters, as they lashed the rocks which de-
Tended my home. Its air was pure and in
Vlgorating; its low rumbling, or angry
roaring, was music to my ears. 1t was a
pleasure to walk by its side, and pick from
OH Its rocky margin, curiosities thrown
rom out its depths. 1t was company to
"aIch us restless waters, which, seeming
ly lmoued with life, came rolling in from
the tar-distant, only to splash helplesslv
at your feet. The vast lumber trade Of
the coast; the increasing wealth and uopu-
lation of Oregon and its adjacent territory.
has caused commercial activity upon the
water, so that the constant passing of sail
and steam craft gave pleasant variation
to our otherwise mOnotonous life. l am
not now out of the sound of the Pacifcs |
vOice-Only three miles intervening, but |
no way to look upon its waters, unless l |
climb one of these high mountains, which |
shuts out the view like rocky wall. At
the bottom of deep and narrow defle, |
known as Dutch Bill Canyon" 1 have at
present home. Its high and slightly |
sloping sides are covered with a growth of
redwood and pine, which for ages has re-
mainsd undisturbed, until they have reach
ed a gifiantic size to become of utility to |
man. Now, the ak of the woodman and |
the saw of the lumberman are laying bare
these hillsides, and letting in sunlight,
where shadow has always prevailed. A
pure mountain stream goes gurgling along
at the foot of this cIevice, by the side of
which in its interminable windings, creeps
narrow gauge railroad. The Russian
River Land & Lumber Co. own about ten
thousand acres adjacent, and have two
mills; one is now running each day, with
a capacity of forty thousand. Another is
being built at place called Moscow-four
miles from here-and will be completed in
few weeks. Here they have store, 3OxSO
feet, well filed with goods, and an outside
trade, Independent of their own supplies,
amounting to $4,000 per month. All lum-
Der companies board their own men. This
one is running four camps-besides several
Chinese ones-these people always prefer
to board themselves. To supply these
camps with all the necessaries for carrying
on the lumber business, takes capital, as
well as a large amount of merchandise, and
you can imagine we disburse some goods!
On the pay roll are the names of from $50
to 300 men. Their pay for the month of
May aggregated S8, 1865, which was paid
them on the 18th of the present month
| This does not include amount due on con-
tracts let by the Co. for wood cutting, &c.
This was paid in gold coin, and each
month the same repeated, places some
money in circulation in this gulch. Some
of it, no doubt, goes to needy families;
some is laid by for future necessities; and
some encourages the gambler and rum
seller in their respective callings. Be
this as it may, it all makes glad the heart
of the receiver. Even the poor Chinaman,
who comes forward on payday to receive
his paltry allowance of $40 per month, has
as bright smile on his countenance as the
clerk who receives his $3.50.
Times are, as a general thing, dull. Last
winter our rain fall was not as much as
usual, and now our dry season has set in
earlier, and more severe than common.
This has materially shortened our crops,
and interfered with the prosperity of our
farmers; consequently they will not buy
lumber for improvements, and that mar
ket is very dull, and many of the coast
mills have shut down for better times. In
this canyon, within space of six miles,
are six mills, three in active operation, and
the other three will be in a few weeks
These mills have broken up the lumber
ring, and are selling at such low rate as
to nearly destroy all competition. They
all have good facilities for shipping, in
fact, the railroad which runs by all their
yards, is owned and controlled by nearly
the same stockholders.
The ''South Pacific Coast Railroad" is
said to be one of then crooked in the
United States. 1t is a narrow gauge road,
and at its very outset on the bay opposite
: San Francisco, it plunges into mountain
GUS country, following water courses, and
} climbing grades, where six loaded cars are
load for its most powerful engines. Fou
miles from here is the highest point on the
| road; to reach it they climb grade OF 125
feet to the mile, and pass over bridge
139 in height; then they plunge down the
hill again nearly to the oceans level, on
the flats of Russian River, where the road
terminates. The original projectors of the
road failed in their enterprise when about
half completed, and the wealth of Milton
S. Latham was called into requisition tC
finish the road; he at present owns nine
tenths and is President, the balance being
owned by capitalists of Marin county. The
| road is well stocked, having 13 locomotive:
{ and an abundance of freight cars. The
3 coaches are models of neatness; their pal
? ace car is fitted up in an elegant manner
being composed only of California woods
= polished and inlaid so artistIcally as tt
form very attractive interior. The OBJ
J isct of the stockholders is to take advan
) tage of the present good showing of th'
road, and induce foreign capitalists to taxi
f the stock off their hands. Nearly every
E week the palace car goes over the road
3 with some party of wealthy Englishmen o.
7 Germans, who are lionized only for futurt
< use. Its continuous route of romantic
e scenery has made it thoroughfare fo
, tourists and pleasure seekers. Sunday ex
cursion trains go from the city loaded. Tht
t more wealthy and better class, pass by OF
e week days. Following this road along
= miles north of here, we find it crossing
r Russian River on Howe truss bridge o.
l 200 feet spans, terminating just on th'
= other side, where town is rapidly devel
e oping itself; already numerous building
? have sprung up, and the different branches
? of trade and industry are in active opera
ton. A hotel capable of accommodating
200 guests is now completed, and we'll fill