Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-28
LETTER FROM ALTuRAS.
Brief Description OF Places, Industrie
etc, in Northeastern California.

Travelling down from eastern Oregon
through northern California there is much
to interest the tourist. We are surprised
all along at the chain of valleys to be
found almost the entire distance, often
separated by ridges of mountains and
sometimes connected by narrow natural
passes. Beginning with Goose Lake val
ley, partly in Oregon and partly in Califor-
ma, lying across the boundary, a faint idea
of its size can be formed by knowing that
the lake is about titty-fve miles long bv
twenty wide, and during a storm the
pillows rage and roll like the ocean. Sur
rounding this is a large belt of what ap-
pears to be very fertile lands, nearly all
occupied by thrifty people
Passing through several valleys and over
rugged mountains, via Fort Crook. one is
reminded OF the similarity much of this
country bears to northern New England.
In the forest is found the moss-covered
Juniper fir cedar, maple, oak, and many
other trees: The yellow pine very much
resembled Eastern pine in appearance, and.
in addition, we have here the majestic
sugar pine. The animal kingdom
is represented by the bear, wildcat,
mink, fox, weasel striped squirrel,
and many others familiar to dwell
ers in New England and Canada.
In the bird families we find both black
and white geese; in the same lake several
varieties OF ducks; in the vicinity are the
partridge, grouse, robin, linnet and others,
endless in variety. Goose lake, as its name
implies, is the resort for myriads of geese
and ducks, and they abound in ali the
lakes and ponds throughout northern Cali
fornia and southeastern Oregon.
Living seemingly midway ha+uaa,, +ba
majestic Mount Shasta, Burney Peak and
the Lassen Buttcs, also between Big valley.
Cation valley, and not far from Shasta val
ley, Is an interesting valley named Fall
River. The valley is about twenty miles
long and ten wide, surrounded by noun
ta!ns, With the Pit river running along the
south and east, which receives the waters
OF Fall river at the southwest corner. at
what IS known as Fall River Mills, or Fall
CITY. Fall river raises near old Fort Crook !;
has three heads, where the water raises out
OF the the ground ice cold, with uniform
How, summer and winter, of water that
rivals the far-famed Blue canyon of the
Sierras.
There is a small lake in the valley about
three miles long, Of very great depth. sup
posed by the residents to be the continue
ton OF Lost river, which sinks into the
ground over ridge of mountains in an
adjoining valley. Certain it is. however
the lake is of immense depth, and residents
claim that portions of it have never been
successfully sounded. popularity of
this river is that il has a uniform flow both
summer and winter, of nearly 1900 cubic
feet OF water, with q waterfall at the mouth
of 20 or 80 feet. There was also a second
fail mile or two above the mouth.
but Mr.. Boggs of Colusa. and
Moore, Of San Francisco, in attempt
ing to drain some tule land
8 grounding the lake some years ago, in
which they spent several thousand dollars
cutting away at the upper falls, con-
verted it into delta of rapids and lowered
the water about one foot. The river is from
ten to twenty feet deep and 100 TO 800 yards
wide, and with its uniform flow forms one
OF the finest opportunities in the State for
uniform water power of immense capacity
There are here few settlers who have
been here many years, and hosts of new
arrivals Some of the land has twenty feet
OF soil rich, dark loan. Some is adobe
and iliore--ts quite shallow and elaEey.
There are about 1000 acres of tule land
surrounding the lake and river, and with
the tine crops of hay aud grain ii produces
forms grand stock country 1t is practi-
cally without a market, as Redding, the
shipping and stage connection with the
outer world, Is 80 miles distant, and freight
when roads are good IN summer, is about
SIS per ton, and $50 in winter. This. to
those accustomed to railroad travel and
transportation, seems high, but at Alturas
thrifty town of about 600 people the
rates are just double-S50 IN summer and
500 in winter Alturas is about $50 miles
from the railroad.
Yet with this drawback people here sell
their farm products at fair prices, as the
immense number of teams engaged in
Neighting and staging form not only con-
srfaaers, but also employ blacksmiths har-
ness makers, wagon makers, and numbers
III slmif9r men III various WAYS. so that the
calance maintained by supply and demand
Z remarkable in this comparatively un-
own region. The staple article of com
are here, however. is live stock, and
sIch freights itself at moderate cost. On
-ee whole people live here nearly as well
with the facilities of quick and CHEAP
travel freight.
There Is here fine opportunity for a
capital investment to connect this chain of
valleys with the outside world by rail. as
even the most rugged mountains are all
dotted with settlers
As | have already occupied too much
space, must pass the questions of scenery.
advantages OF climate, etc, unnoticed for the
present
Atturas, November 20, 1886.