The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1882-07-28

The Region which supplies Nevada
with Fruit aud Early Vegetables.

EDITOR SILVER STATE In o previ-
Gus communication, gave your readers
briei history Of the early gold discoy-
cries in Placer county.
FROM MINING To FARMING.
I'nowlpropuse to take a long leap
from the exciting days when watermel-
ons brought from one to five dollars
each, Oregon apples from one to two
dollars each, potatoes from 70 cents to
one dollar pound, and other articles
proportiouately costly, to the present
time, which will plainly Illustrate what
can be done by determination and dill
gence combined. Last year there were
shipped from Newcastle, Auburn and
other poin's in the fruit producing Sec
ton Of this coeuty, fruits and vegeta-
bles aggregating two million pounds.
Nevada can certify to the quality OF
the same, as very large proportion of
these shipments were destined to points
in your State. At Newcastle is located
fruit-drier, which very perceptibly
diminishes the very great waste other.
wise unavoidable, on account of the
supply being so much greater than the
demand. A fine quality Of dried fruit
of all kinds is therefore ready for ship
ment every Fall.
SILK AND COTTON CULTURE.
Silk aud cotton culture is fast be.
coming another prominent feature. Al
ready the most fattering results have
been realized from these industries, and
from the culture of silk alone a number
of those engaged therein declare that
their land, now covered with mulberry
trees, is valued by them at from 81 600
to 81 500 per acre. These figures are
the result of actual gains from the silk
clop Of one year
OF THE LUMBBRING BUSINESS
Much. likewise, could be said, the an
nual output from fifteen sawmlls being
estimated at 20. 900, 600 feet, and from
1900, 600 to 1900, 900 shingles. / re-
member visit once made to Towle
Brothers mill, northwest of Alta,
about six years ago. when figures were
thrust before my eyes which gave me
an idea Of their business that staggered
me. One would almost think that the
grand old forests would soon be denud-
ed, when witnessing the sad havoc ere
ated by the sturdy axmen in the Sierra.
MINING AND IRRIGATING DITCH IS.
Four hundred miles of mining bitches
likewise serve the farmer for irrigating
his land, at cost to him of 30 cents an
ZACH per day. The debris. or slickens,
is Rot charged for, bat the amount of
detachable slum that is distributed over
valuable land is greatly lessened by
numerous settling ponds aud reservoirs.
This water comes from the Bear and
American rivers, aud is the color of
molasses candy when it is about half
pulled, varying to that of creamy hue.
OTHER ADVANTAGES.
With 10 miles of railroads in the
county. and nearness to the markets,
the farmer, although greatly dissatis-
fed with the freight tariff, is enabled
to dispose OF his products with facility.
The business man, too, can step aboard
the cars and take run to the city and
back in a few hours. trans citing his
business without loss of much time,
and with much less expense, of course,
than attends the pilgrimage of Neva-.
dan to the Bay City ON a similar mis-
sion.
OF the population of the county, l
am only able to give an estimate, which
is said to be about l4.500. with 3,02S
registered voters.
Altogether. Placer county can be
said to he one of the most prosperous
in the State, notwithstanding her pio-
neer orchards have become buried in
debris, washed down by the various
rivers and streams. Still, the industli-
Gus, never desponding tiller of the soil,
by his muscle and grit. plod, YEARLY
along from day to day, and is rendering