Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-06-19
CHAPTER v.

The report made by Parsons and
Ritchie of the advantages and resources
of the country which they had visited
was quite as favorable as any one had
expected.
1t was Wild country, of course.
There was no land for pre-emption suit
able for their purposes without going
back from Sacramento some distance,
and they must expect hard life for a
number of years; but it was n beautiful
country, and would one day be ihickly
settled. Already few families had
started fruit ranches, and had obtained
the most gratifying results.
Grapes, peaches, pears, apples, april
cots, nectarines, pomegranates and
many other fruits were grown of quail
ity that the men had never seen equalcd
anywhere lin the States" and that
which under the circumstances was of
the rapidity with which all fruit-bearing
trees and vines began producing.
Grapes ut three years from the cut
ting, and peaches at three years from
the pit, would bear no inconsiderable
burdens of fruit; while most other vari-
cites were equally rapid in reaching
maturity.
Melons. and indeed all kinds of vines
and vegetables, were wonderfully pro,
life, aud Irish potatoes, turnips, car
rots, bcets and other root crops could
be raised in abundance, and by the
simplest methods of cultivation.
For the present it was probable. that
the mines in. the vicinity would con-
sumo, at large prices, any surplus that
the squatters might produces; and if in
time this market should fail, little
work would enable them to transport
everything they produced to the river,
where it could be shipped to Sacramen-
to, or down to the river.
Those whose duty it had been to as
certain regarding the title to the land
in the locality under considera-
ton reported it free from taint
of any kind. In point of fact
the claim OF these men to the land
upon which they settled in the foot ills
above Sacramento City was never dis
putcd.
A motion that they locate upon the
1 lands described was put to n vote and
carried unanimously, and preparations
for the journey mt once began.
| Iuc bclhi WuiCn Ilstu DloNRub DOHIl
Parson $ family across the plains was
again hitched to the c;fnvas-covered
wagon, their little store of goods was
packed therein, including rs much oil
the products of the garden as could .be
added without overlooking the team,
leaving all, even Mrs. Parsons and the
children, to walk, and thus they again
took up their journey, dozen families,
all told.
Some in the little company were en-.
tirely without money, All, not except
ing John Parsons, were nearly so. And
Martha knew well that worse hardships
than walking for u few days. or even
weeks, beside the team, awaited hcl
and her children before they could erect
q shelter or procure the wherewithal Ia
provide comfortable home.
True, the men might go back to min.
Ing. There would be mines in the vi
cinity of the claims they expected to To-
cate, but these men had lost all faith in
their luck with the pick. They had
worked at it, more or less, all of them,
but none had ever "struck it rich.n Be
sides, they were of that class of men
who prefer steady gains, even II slow
and small, to the excitement of specula
ton or searching with pick and shovel
for fortune which may possibly come
at any moment, but in all probability
will never come at all.
Mining partakes very much of the
character of gambling 1t constantly
holds out the promise Of large gains
OF fortune to be secured in day, in
an hour, perhaps. The next deal, the
next shoyelful, the next blow with the
pick, may disclose pocket filled with
gold, and convert the finder into O
Cr9sus; and SO he works on for days
and months and years with but one OBJ.
ject one thought--to find that which
men have decreed should be OF more
value than home. or friends, or honor
than the means OF sustaining life; than
life itself-nay, more; that falling "a
procure this one thing they shall be
denied all Others.