Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-09-04
A FINE AGRICULTURAL SPOT.
Scott Valley as Seen by Record
Union" Correspondent.
There lies vale in Ida, lovelier
Than all the valleys of Ionian hills

of the most beautiful valleys in California. |
1t lies about thirty five miles west of that |
well-known landmark, Mt. Shasta, and |
seventy.6ve miles northward from Reddipp.
the present terminus of the Oregon rail.
road. The average elevation above the |
sea.level is almost 800 feet. 1t is en-.
tirely surrounded by mountain ridges with
an average elevation of 1850 feet, occa.
sional peaks rising to more than 200 feet.
The only break in the surrounding mount.
aims is narrow pass through which Scott
river, that drains the valley, fsis its way
to the Klamath, into which river IL
empties. The valley extends from Scott
mountain northward to the Klamath |
mountains, distance of thirty.i miles, |
with an average width of four and one hall |
miles, and contains more than 100 600 |
acres OF rich agricultural land. The name
OF the river which traverses It's entire
length, as well as of the mountain which
bounds it on the south, was derived from
JOHN W. SCOTT,
Who began mining near the mouth of that
river in July, 1850. During the earlier
mining days of that section the valley was
used as range for the stock of the hume
rous gold-seekers in the surrounding
mountains, but the value of the land for
agricultural purposes was soon discovered.
and by the year 1856, and perhaps even
earlier, farming as permanent occupation
was begun. At the present time the val.
ley Is succession of beautiful, well.culti
waited and well-improved farms, with an as.
sessed valuation of nearly 81, 900, 600. Ow-
ing to the elevation above the level OF the
sea, the seasons more nearly resemble those
OF the States lying along the Ohio river
than that of the large valleys of California.
But little snow falls during the winter, al.
though some of the surrounding mountains
rise to the line of perpetual snow. The
towns of Callahan's. Etna, Orc Elmo and
| Fort Jones are all within its limits. The
valley sustains two well-conducted weekly
newspapers, the Etpa Post, published at
Etna, and the Scott Valley Neacs, at Fort
Jones.
correspondent Of the RECORD UNION,
under date of August 2Ssh, describes a re.
cent
TRIP THROUGH THE VALLEY
In company with friend. Leaving the
Trinity river shortly after sunrise, we be.
gan the ascent OF Scott mountain over the
well-graded stage road, and soon reached
the summit of the ridge dividing the Trni.
ty and Scott rivers, an elevation of about
I,00O feet. From this summit we caught
glimpse of Scott valley in the distance, the
nearer portion being excluded from view by
the intervening ridges. Even from this
distance, IN comparison with the country
through which we had ridden since enter.
ing the valley, it looked like land q flow.
ing with milk and honey" which we after.
wards found to be almost literally true.
Winding down the side of the mountain,
through canyons and across small streams,
the road soon brought us to Callahan's,
which lies Just at the foot of the mountain.
This is pleasantly located little town Of
about two hundred inhabitants. Since the
advent OF the stage coach into this section
this has been station for obtaining fresh
horses before beginning the steep ascent of
Scott mountain. After obtaining refresh.
ments for both man and beast, we proceeded
on our way toward Etna. For some dis
tance, the valley being very narrow,
the road winds along the west
bank OF the river. In the
iNSi oSu UH eiCner b9nk are
numerous water wheels, derricks and
other appliances for mining. Soon
the valley widens and the road crosses
the river, keeping close to the mountains
on the eastern side Of the valley. The
course of the river is only discernibIe bv
the growth of shrubbery ainng its banks.
The land lying between the road and river
being used for agricultural purposes, occa.
slonal farm houses greeted our eyes. Soon
the sharp eye of my companion discerned
| several hydraulic mines in the low hills on
the opposite side OF the valley, all in full
operation. Their mining operations are
all tributary to the Klamath river which
cannot be easily injured, for it is of no
practical use. In short time the road led
across the valley, which by this time had
attained considerable width, and passinp
farm-hous on either side we soon arrived
| at the
TOWN OF ETNA,
Twelve miles from Callahan's and twenty.
six from the starting point of that morn
ing. Eta is town of between 400 and
500 population, and was incorporated
March rs, 1878. This lis the point
where the supplies for the mines on the
Salmon river and part of the klamath,
| leave the wagon road, being taken across
the Salmon mountains on pack animals.
Long trains of mules, each one carrying
300 pounds burden, daily leave this place
This packingiis all done in the summer
for during the winter it is impossible
to cross the mountains except on snow
shoes, by which latter means the mails are
carried during that season. Besides sew.
Of h. 49, L. q
ing mills, brewery, a fine school.house and
several churches also frst.class hotel
where we spent the night. Early the next
morning found US on the way northward.
The morning was sublime, not breath of
air was stirring, and a hazy atmosphere
gave an appearance of Indian summer in
New England. The road winds along the
foot of the mountain range and is wide and |
as smooth as a Nicholson pavement. A |
line OF telegraph poles skirts it on the left, !
running along through small growth of |
pine. Rising upward in graceful curves |!
are the Salmon mountains, the highest |
portion spotted with the last remains of |
winters covering. Here the valley attaius |
It's greatest width ard spreads cut on the |
right distance OF SIX or seven miles, |
checkered with alternate ffelds of green |
pasture and fields of brown wheat and oats |
stubble. Clusters of shade and fruit trees
show the location of the numerous -ssi. |
dences which dot the whole valley. the !
river marked, as before, by . growth OF ,
shrubbery. Bounding the range of vision
on the right, and rising with the same
grscefuness as the mountains to ourleft, lie, |
THE MoFFIT CREEK RANGE.
On this side the road is lined with a I
Virginia y rail fence, style OF fence
rarely seen on the Pacific coast. This !
fence is occasionally broken by a stretch
OF Usage orange.hedge. At regular inter.
walls farm-houses are passed, all surrounded !
with many mere outhouses than are USUALLY |
seen on ranches in this State. Long rows OF |
beehives could he seen under some shelter. |
ing tree, while long shelves covered with |
inverted milk Dams seemed tn indicate that