Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-01

terprises of this character will undoubtedly
be inaugurated ere many years. Colusa is
rich in natural resources, but she, like most
counties in northern California, must have
population before they can be developed.
TAXABLE PROPERTY IN 1885.
Real estate and mprovements.......s2 l .5il ,9l6
Head OF lSs0
Heaq OF 9'ooo
Head of horses and mules.............-.. 10, $50
Head OF el,Sl6
Acres in wheat ............ i0l 90l
Acres in barley .......................... ss,4l7
Acres in 65
Pounds OF grapes sold..................... 2O,0Oo
BUTTE.
Synonymous with the history of progress
in agriculture in California is the name of
Butte county. 1t lies in the very heart of
the great Sacramento valley, bounded on
the north by Tehama and Plumas, on the
south by Yuba and Suffer, on the east by
Plumas, and on the west by Colusa and
Tehama. II has an area of 1,765 square
miles, embracing 10000 acres, of which
more than one-half is tlllable. Butte is a
great wheat-producing county. farming
being generally conducted on that extern
sive scale generally termed " ranching,"
many of these wheat ranches covering
thousands of acres.
THE y4EiEy PORTION
OF the county is of rich adobe, qualify
that retains its fertility even after a score
of crops had been raised in as many sue
cessive years. Butte was not one of the
earliest farming localities in the State, its
adobe lands at first not being regarded with
much favor by agriculturists. 1t was orig
inally mining section, and its hills still
yield upward of half million dollars in
gold annually. But as soon as the real
value of its broad acres for agricultural
purposes became known the county re-
ceived large influx of farmers, and land
rose rapidly in price.
FooTHILL FRUIT LANDS.
But it is not alone in the fertility of her
grain lands that lies the real wealth. of
Butte. She has very large foothill sec-
tion whose capabilities for horticulture are
fas0aoming appreciate d. These foothill
LAM 4 late years produced remark
able 81 fruit, and the coming years
willa EN- peopled by communities of
hort rists enjoying abundant success
The 6try round about Oroyille seems to
be natural home of the orange. AL
thou orange culture has not been made
a speciality in that section, there are num-
Der of small orchards that have produced
heavy crops of oranges that surpass
those of the southern counties in
size,-- beauty and flavor. The fruit
mofsYer, ripens nearly month earlier
thai that of Los Angeles. Lemons are
also successfully grown, and all the
foothills. Outside the wheat-growing dis
trict land is not as yet held at high figures
and any person Of moderate means can
readily secure tract of land suitable for
farming on small scale and fruit growing
This foothill country is traversed by large
number of mining bitches which will in
the future be utilized for irrigation, thereby
making productive lands otherwise lacking
in fertility Many Of the immigrants that
have come to California within.the past two
or three years have established themselves
in Butte county, where they are laying the
foundation for happy homes and lives of
prosperity.
THE NORTHERN PORTION
Of the county abounds in pine forests, and
the lumber trade of that section forms one
of the leading industries of the county.
Several large sawmills are required to meet
the demands of the lumber trade, which
gives employment to a large number of
men.
THE PRINCIPAL TOWNS
In Butte are Chico, Oroville, Biggs, Grid
ley, Nord, Cherokee, Nelson, Dayton and
Durham. While Oroville is the county
seat Chico is the larger, its population be-
ing about 1000. Both towns enjoy the
benefits of railroad communication, Oro-
vile being the northern terminus of the
California Northern Railway, which runs
between that place and Marysville, and
Chico being located ON the main line of the
California and Oregon Railroad. These
towns each have stage connections with the
more remote parts of the county. As a
rule the people of Butte are well-to-do, and
their towns and villages are well provided
with churches, schools newspapers and
other evidences of thrift and progress. The
seventy school districts in the county en-
ploy nearly one hundred teachers, whose
average salaries are from $40 to $50 per
month Abundant provision is made by
the authorities for the proper support of
the schools, and the people of Butte feel
Just pride in their excellence.
MODEL FARMING.
Prominent among the number Of highly
improved farms in Butte county is that of
General John Bidwell, near the town of
Chico. General Bidwell was one of the
earliest white settlers in that section, and
has always been prominent figure in pub
lie affairs His Butte county farm is one
of the finest on the coast. 1t comprises
several thousand acres, and has been
brought to high degree of perfection. 1t
is model farm in every department and
branch of agriculture and horticulture.
Cereals, fruit of all kinds table and raisin
grapes, oranges, berries, etc, are grown in
large quantities, and always command the
best prices in market. A flour mill is
maintained on the farm, where the sur
plus product of the grain fields is manu-
featured into flour. General Bidweils en-
terprise and perfect system OF farming has
done much toward attracting attention to
the agricultural resources of Butte county.
TAXABLE WEALTH IN 1885.