Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-04
SHASTA COUNTY.
More About the Vacant Land There-Let-
tiers of Inquiry Answered
leo Shasta county,, Jan. 20, 1880.

leo Shasta county,, Jan. 26, 1880.
Numerous letters of inquiry relative to
the subject matter in my letters to your
paper addressed to the homeless, have
reached me, some of which | have an
swered in the way of letters, but as more
have reached me, all from poor men with
small families, find my stock of patience
somewhat taxed, and as the inquiries are
all somewhat similar, desire to give de-
tailed answer in the shape of further in
formation to the homeless Those reading
this article should also read the article In
the RECORD UNION of the 5th inst.
The railroad penetrates Shasta county
about twenty or twenty-five miles, its
present terminus being at Reading. The
road is destined to continue through our
county into Oregon, wise legislation per-
uniting. Freight and passenger fares have
never been considered exorbItant. From
Reading, going north through this county,
stages leave at o'clock A. NJ. for Pit
River, Dog Creek, Portuguese Flat, Soda
Springs, Strawberry Valley, Butteville and
Yreka, Cal, and Jacksonville, Canyonville
and Roseburg, Or, connecting at the latter
place with the Oregon and California Rail
road for Portland, Or. There are, also,
some other local accommodations into the
Interior portion of Shasta county, in the
shape of stages, fast freight lines, ETC.,
running to and from Reading From Shasta
to Reading it is six miles. From Igo to
Reading it is eighteen miles. From Bald
Hills to Reading it is twenty-five miles.
From Burney valley to Reading about sixty
miles. The interior of our county is well
supplied with stores, and every two or
three miles school house. The county
once had quite large population of
miners. Of late years mining has de-
creased, and considerable attention is now
being paid to agriculture and stock raising
| The soil produces second-rate crop of
grain and hay, compared with the best
| lands of the State. In berries and fruit
and the grape it is second to none, under
proper culture As to mines, it possesses
both placer and quartz mines, many of
which are now being worked with a fair
profit. A great deal OF the most favorably
located land has already been settled upon,
but there still remains plenty of good land
for homes, both railroad and Government
lands. Irrigating facilities are good. All
who will work, and can work, find plenty
to do, male and female Wages for com
mon labor are from one dollar to two dol
lars per day, and board, for female help,
from twelve to twenty dollars per month.
The county is free from fever and ague,
the water is remarkably pure, and there
are plenty of sulphur and ether medicinal
springs.
Persons desiring to come here by rail or
otherwise should bring as much of their
effects with them as the circumstances of
the case will admit. Always be sure to
observe the rule that in freighting your
merchandise it is best to economize space,
and carefully pack. 1t is always better, ii
you are poor, to cling unto your household
goods than to sell them cheap and take
your chances on getting new things in new
country. Do not be alarmed when you
reach our county if you occasionally meet
with man who will tell you that you can't
make living here farming-it is not to the
interest of men raising stock to have the
public lands fenced up-they want to use
it for grazing purposes. Again, we have
quite large number of men in this section
who are worthless and lazy-men who have
So1h Vel
them by their habitations.
One man wrote me, saying; 81 would
like to come to your county and get q
hon e. Left New York year ago, and
have only had three months work, at low
rates, since | reached California. But
have not got money enough to get out Of
Sacramento with myself and family" Be.
lievlng that there are thousands of just
such cases in and around our densely pop.
ulated counties and cities, would it not be
an act of wisdom ON the part of our legis-
lators to provide some means so as to ena-
BILE poor families to get out of the cities
into the interior and border counties
Such step, if possible to be taken,
would throw ray of sunshine into the
hearts of many distressed family, and
the State, in very few years, would be
repaid hundredfold. Thousands of dol
lars are legislated away biennially for
much less meritorious purposes. If a man
living, say, in San Francisco, could have,
after he landed in any one of the more in.
terror or border counties, what it costs him
to get there, what great help it would be
towards supporting his family until he
could support them himself after the nat
ural order of supporting family in such
counties. Who will point out some way
to encourage this home emigration?