Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-19
A VOICE FROM SHASTA COUNTY TO
THE HOMELESS.

EDS. RECORD UNION I desire to write
| for the SACRAMENTO DAILY RECORD UNION
brief article on a subject dear to many q
heart, and one on which many similar ar
ticles have been written, many of which, l
fear, were for deceptive purposss-articles
carefully prepared to delude the home-hunter
to settle in sections uninviting, aud where
comfortable living could not be made in the
pursuit of agriculture and stock-raising. L
know that there are on this coast thousands
of poor families languishing IN the ashes OF
poverty who would willingly emigrate to any
portion of the Pacific slope if they were
satisfied that they could find land to claim
as homestead or pre-empL, on which by IN
dusty they could make comfortable living.
1t is to this class l speak. l am familiar
with the Pacific coast for distance OF 9OO
miles-with Nevada and northern California.
There is plenty of land to homestead, pre-
empt and to purchase in Tehama, Shasta,
Trinity, Humboldt and Siskiyou counties.
In my opinion the chances for good living
are better in Shasta and Tehama counties
than it is in any of the other enumerated
counties, because the marketing facilities are
better. The soil in this county tShasta) Is OF
two kinds-slate and granite alluvia. The
slate deposit, of course, embraces what was
once a great basin or northern extremity OF
San Francisco bay. Its width is from the
foothills of the Yallo Bolla range to the foot.
hills of the Lassen Butte range-a distance
of about As miles. The granite and gravel
range lies in the northern extremity Of the
county, more in the shape of table and basin
land. On the slate range the soil in places is
dark, and in other places red. On the
granite range the soil generally is deep, hav-
ing a great deal of clay mixed through it.
The country is generally well watered, having
about 100 rules of permanent irrigating
bitches The country is adapted to agrieult-
ure and stock raising; and as to fruit, look
upon Shasta county as being one OF the best
natural truit-growing counties in the State.
In fact, l have eaten peaches, apples and
blackberries grown in this county that had as
fine flavor as any fruit l ever ate IN my
life. The section needs little life infused
into it to make it one of the most desirable
locations in the State. The railroad COM
pany owns portion of the vacant
land in Shasta county, but ! was
told by the general real estate agent
of that company that the land would
be graded at very low figures. Of course it
will be to their interest to grade the land low,
in order to induce settlers to move in and i'm
prove the land. Outside of the railroad
claims there is plenty of Government land to
be taken up. There are other portions of
the State that will outyield this section in
hay, grain and vegetables, but the yield here
is very good-good enough to enable man
with reasonable amount of industry to
make living for himself and family. Stock
of: all kind commands very good price, and
compares well with the most favorable por-
tions of the State. The water, as a rule, is
remarkably pure, and, as a whole, it is one of
the healthiest localities in the State. The
mountains and foothills are well timbered
with oak, pine, cedar, etc. There is plenty
of lumber, ranging from SIS to $40 per
thousand.
In conclusion permit me to add. if you
want home, and are poor, and what have
stated will suit you, come on, but come pre-.
pared to put up with few inconvenience,
and to labor and live economical and in few
years by prudence and industry you will rear
for yourself home that will ultimately give
you comfort and pleasure.
j. P. w. DAVIS.
Igo, SHASTA county, January 5, 1880.