Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-06-21
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
From Spring to Autumn In Hours-Meeting
Old Friends-The Cinnamon In the Old Gold
Diggings-etc, etc.

10 the EulLOT Oh tue ukhAL9'
We arrived on the Pacific Slope in the State
of California on the 18th of May. A more
striking contrast as to the difference in Cli>
mate in the same latitude met with in FIVE
hours travel cannot be imagined. Leaving
Truckee at IL O'clock at plight, not sign of
spring could be seen. At daylight we beheld
the striking contrast; the air was balmy the
birds we're singing, forest trees and shrubbery
of different kinds dressed in their full green foil
age, orchards laden with fruit, flower gardens
in full bloom, were beheld wonderingly and
admired by the new corners to California.
But instead of green fields and meadows we
saw nothing but dried-up grass and almost
ripe grain; the pastures looked just as the
wild pastures do in November in Wisconsin.
But the stock which were feeding on this dry
grass were in excellent condition. Arriving
in Sacramento we stopped and soon found our
friend E. r. Tiel and family all in good health
and spirits. Sacramento is one of the finest
cities in California. Arriving in Stocton,
where we have made our temporary home, we
were welcomed by our friend Harshberger and
family The next in order was to see Master
Will elise. We found him in good health, and
attending to his business as regular as clock.
Being informed that all the crops south of
the San Joaquin River were a total failure we
took trip north and stopped at Marysville,
fine little city in Yuba County. Crops look
splendid and farmers and business men are in
good spirits. From here we took trip to the
Foothills. On most all the branches and RAJ
vines we saw where the old gold hunters had
done their work; saw there long bitches
through which they had led the water to wash
the ground and find the precious metal. But
very little mining is done here now, the coun-
try is good for pasture and raising fruit. II
80 4 th,t fho hac md fruit a. raicnd
in the Foothills. From here we strike across
Orovlle the County Seat of Butte County.
Along the creeks the Chinese in great mum,
bers are working the old gold fields over and
over again. Near 0roville on the Feather
River place called the Lava Beds, we were
told that there are from eight to ten thousand
Cinnamon working constantly, digging The
old ground over which the white men left be-
cause it did not pay big enough. Opposite
OrovilIe on the banks of the Feather River
extensive Hydraulic mining is carried on. They
get the gold but the river beds are filing up
alarmingly and good deal of valuable land
must naturally be over flooded. From here
we take the stage to Chico to strike the n T.
r. r. Again at Chico we found our friend
Christian Allinger, Gate Proprietor of the
Platteville HoteD doing a SPLENDID butchering
business. Chico is thriving little city, we
never saw better crops in our lives than there
are around Chico. Farmers estimate their
| wheat to yield from 80 to 60 bushels and bar
| ley from 40 to so bushels per acre. The land
is selling here from $40 to 500 per acre.
Come and buy After going as Far north as
Shasta County we return south again, we find
that the counties north from San Joaquin
as far as Chasta have good crops, wherever
there is poor grain this way it is because the
| land was not worked right. Our next trip we
make per steamer from St0cton to San Frane
cisco, from there to Sonama County, the land
is rich the crops good, and the climate excel
lent but the price of land is too high. We
returned by the way of San Francisco and
Oakland, the latter would be our choice for a
home of any place we have seen. Starting
from Oakland through the suburbs and Brook
| lyn we pass through strip of country where
we thiuk Adam and Eve must have lived.
The fruit on the trees look so tempting. Well
we don't know what we would have done had
we been in their place. After we got farther
away from the city splendid fields of grain are
Joined on the beautiful fruit fields, but as soon
as we reach the coast range barren hills and
sand fields are all we can see until we
cross the San Joaquin river again. We now
take a little rest, and then visit our old friends
from Grant County. j. G. Trainer, Proprietor
of the Ross House in Modesto, where he is do
u TOuSlng OuSlUeSS, WIS bLe HTSb Ouc we SIaTIcu
for, and you bet we had good time. On re-
turning Mr.. Henry Graves came after US with
his carriage and took US to his ranch where
the best OF treatment awaited us. We were
then received by our friends David Rynolds,
VIM. Harelson, George Cassell Cutler Sal
mon, John HARRISON, and many others, to all
of whom we owe thanks for their kindness and
hospitality, they are all in the best of eireum-
stances The most of them have short crops
but they don't care, they will get more next
year they say. What think of California as
far as have seen is this: Farming pays bet
ter than in Wisconsin. Land that is good for
farming commands good price, as the farm,
ing land in California is the smallest portion of
the State, and is farmed on too large a scale,
and often very poorly titled. There are bet
ter chances for good farmers to rent land than
to buy. But here l must stop, will tell you
all about it when | return home. Yours
A. SCHNITT