Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-15
FRUIT WEALTH.
CONSIDERATION OF THE SIERRA
FOOTHILL REGION.
The Soil. Climate and Adaptation
to Fruit aad Grape
Culture.

II. w. hdSll az NFIdSS fdlIeF' Oii VIZ O'-A
instant, before the El Dorado District Agri-
cultural Association, and viii be read with
interest as a careful review of the question
concerning the foothill region and its
adaptability to the production OF fruits,
grapes, etc;
Dir. President, Ladies and Gentlemen An
agricultural address is very pleasing pro-
duction. 1t is rarely listened 10, ana more
rarely read A few lines from Virgil some
happy quotations, the usual assertion not
wifhstanding that Cain was a farmer, that
{. agriculture is the base Of civilization" a
little advice to farmers, some poetry at the
close. and the thing is done. When l re-
ceiyed the invitation to address you, be-
gan to collect my quotations and poetry,
but a gentle hint from one OF your Direct
ors, who is practical farmer that such an
address would not be tolerated, constrained
me to take the path indicated by him, and
if | am tedious | intend to lay the blame
upon nim, for | fear that before l close you
will find | have only told you what you
already know. ! therefore beg your indul-
sencc for the few facts which [ shall lay
before you, promising that they We're
hastily gathered amid the expressing cares
of nv official duties, which at this time are
especially Onerous.
| think myself happy to appear before
YOU to-day, among so many OF the friends
of my boyhood. | shall be much more
happy if | can say anything which shall
encourage YOU to renewed efforts to place
this district and especially this county, i'll
the van of material progress.
More than thirty-three years ago | set
foot here, beardless boy. All was then
excitement and life | have lived to see
Il. -, frr no, do
Cade, most pOpulous and wealthy counties
of the State-El Dorado, Placer and Ne
vada-decline until they now occupy i'll
the same relation only the twentieth i'll
scale of titty-two.
more beautiful scene never greeted my
eve than that which l witnessed on the
morning after my arrival. 4 lovely valley,
covered with luxurious growth of native
grasses, stretched away to the east, the hills
were crowned with majestic pines, creek
ran pellucid by the town, the air was balmY
and bracing, and the rich soil, the abund-
ance of water, the vegetation SO luXuriant,
the incompatible climate, and all condl-
tions invited to the natural use Of the fer
tile soil with which the Creator has blessed
this county. How changed the aspect in
few wears The hills were denuded Of
their trees. the valley was ravished OF It's
beauty. the stream ran tUrbid-the very
winds, once warm, were cold IN their en-
brace.
But we came for gold, and gold We must
have, and no place was too beautiful, no
soil was too rich to save it from the miners
Dick. ] did my share of the work Of spoil
alton, and shall take my share of the
shame. For thirty-five years the inhabit-
ahts of Nevada. FL Dorado and Placer have
pursued principally the vocation of mining.
They have extracted millions upon millions
of gold. Where IS your glittenng prize2 |
will tell you the farmers have got 1t. You
have toiied and sown but they have reaped.
Suppose that thirty years ago one had
been asked, what VIII be the future Of the
counties named. Here, would say the
questoner, are thousands upon thousands
Of braWny men, OF cultivated intellectS, OF
the best blood of the land, firm OF purpose,
fertile in resources; able and willing to dare
and do, and eager for wealth. Here are
millions upon millions Of gold only await
ing the Sesame of labor to be the slave Of
man He who thus would be questioned,
if unacquainted with the fate OF mining
countries, would have replied;
Gold you will get; the world wants
gold, and you can buy the world with gold.
Property must increase in value, your
counties will be densely populated, your
gold viii 20 TO the uttermost parts of
the world and the riches of Indies viii be
yours wealth VIII induce culture, and
culture foster intellect; the mining counties
will rule the State and the t0lers of the
valleys will be the slaves Of the lamp to
supply your every desire" Who would at
that date have questioned the truth of the
prophecy Has it been fulfilled? Alas
no. You have been like the nightingale
that leans its breast against thorn and
SINGS in main" You have sung your golden
notes 10 euchant the world. and little else
remains to YOU bat memory. But | will
no longer permit memory ito blend with
the twilight charm and bear Us back TO
other DAYS
wish 10 show Won a better wav. ! am
not here to pronounce a panegyric upon
agriculture; that has been done by many
a more able and eloquent tongue than mine
am here rather to awaken YOU to a keener
perception of the wide and incxhaustible
resources of this district. and To point out
TO Won how YOU can REGAIN your vantage
Ground hone Won will pardon the last
expression. The man who lives on Shasta
cam see the mountain Only the dwclier
in the valley sees the grim peak in all its
grandeur Of dimensions. And so having
lived among You. and now dwelling in the
valley. do think it'll becomes me to re-
turn and tell you Of the beauties and posi-
biljfics OF your mountain slopes.
Z ff,,,l,- LcI;pva thar The tida has now
So IA MIL - +,I-,r,
',lity O' ''' ar ne i''O'4' "ti'Cii' - IN
Will ir"t you 10 Ioiililt, anu l'dt INC ll-aU