Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-21
MOUNTAIN HOMES.
INVITATION EXTENDED FROM NE.
YAD4 COUNTY
For Our Eastern Visitors te See the
Lands of the Foothiil and
Lower Mountain Region.

! The Nevada county LAM ana improve
ment Association has for several days past
been lndustriously engaged in distributing
circulars among the Eastern people now
upon this coast California has been
favored by the visits Of many Eastern
people during the present season. Promi-
ncnt among these visitants are members o.
the Grand Army Of the Republic, whose
/ honored guests they still are, and whose
sojourn in our midst will be long remeu.-
bered. There are doubtless many in that
band of heroes who desire more init
mate knowledge eff the resources of the
! Golden State than can be obtained from
! the trips that have yet been devised for
their entertainment. 1t is TO such, as well
as to others of like mind who may now be
visiting the State, that this circular is adj
dressed.
Nevada county claims attention as one
Of the few counties of California in which
may be seen the great industries that have
made her famous, viz: Mining, agriculture
and horticulture-can be seen. side by side
| The county is easily accessible, lying upon
the line Of the Central Pacific Railroad,
and being penetrated by a narrow-guage
railroad extending from Colfax north to
Nevada City, in the center of the county,
and passing through Grass Valley in its
route Geographically, the county lies a
little north OF the central lire of the State
1t e1 tends from the summit Of the Sierra
Nevada mountains on the east line of the
| State, westward 10 the Sacramento Valley
| The eastern portion Of the county is noun
tainous, the principle industries being the
manufacture of lumber, the sale Of timber,
and grazing The central portions CON
tain most of the rich gold mines,
including the quartz, hydraulic and
| placer mines, also the upper portion
| Of the horticultural belt; while the
! western or foothill region consists exclu-
siyelv Of agricultural and grazing lands.
The scenery IS varied, alternating between
| pine-clad mountains, deep gorges and run
ming streams in the easternpart, the
western portions the oak-coyered foothills
are iuterspersed with fruitful orchards and
cultivated fields. The climate of the coun-
ty is happy medium between the ex-
IRENE heat which prevails in the interior
valleys of the State, and the comparatively
harsh climate Of the coast regions, where
chilly afternoon breezes and fogs are prev
alent. The altitude of the county is from
1000 to 5000 feet above sea level, which
fact has an important bearing on the
healthfulness and salubrity Of the climate.
The atmosphere at these elevations has an
invigorating freshness, very conducive to
health and bodily enjoyment. The even
| ings are refreshing, the nights are cool,
| thus insuring pleasant rest and slumbers.
Turning from this brief general descrip-
ton Of the county to more specific mat
\ tiers, we would say that the visitor will see
many things of special interest in a trip to
this portion of the State. We allude first
to the mining industry. Within a short
distance of Grass Valley or Nevada City
are located such well known and product
! i've quartz mines as the Idaho, the Empire,
the Providence, the Wyoming and the Ne
yada City. The Providence has one of
the most extensive plants on the coast.
| The Idaho has been dividend payer for
many years, having recently declared its
202d dividend The workmen in these
mines have penetrated many hundred feet
| below the surface, and heavily freighted
ore cars are constantly being elevated, the
contents Of which are treated by the best
and latest processes for the extraction
of precious metals, all of which pro-
cesses can be seen and understood. The
sites of former extensive hydraulic
works can be visited, where the nature of
the operations can be easily comprehended
by the remaining evidences of past work.
i The Manzanita and Blue Tent hydraulic
mines are adjacent to Nevada City. Pri-
vatc collections of mineral specimens can
be made up by visitors, not only from the
ore freshly raised from the mines, but by
! iudicious gleaniugs from the collections of
hospitable and friendly residents. The
special process adopted in sulphuret works
can be seen, where gold is taken from ore
in state of solution, then precipitated by
III the crurible of the furnace an almost
pure metal. Many semi-public collections
Of minerals in hotels, etc, are interesting,
exhibiting as they do the geological form
ations OF the region, and natures marvel
Gus manner of storing up her metals for
mans industrious search.
The cities OF Grass Valley and Nevada
City, as well as the smaller settlements,
are worthy of visit. The former is
place with population of about 5000,
/ where homes and fruit orchards and mining
properties are intermixed Nevada City's
! population is nearly as large; four miles
distant from Grass Valley and the county
seat of the county. 1t is Economically sit
uated on both sides Of swiftly running
! Deer creek, and its streets lead from a
common business center mp the slope of
the hills on which it is built. From Sugar
| Loaf Mountain, about mile from town,
view OF a large scope OF country can be OBJ
/ tanned, embracing radius of two hundred
miles. and taking in Lassen, Butte, Downie-
| vile Buttes and other prominent peaks.
( The smaller towns are sites Of former or
| present mining operations where, per-
chance, the old pick and spade of the
miner are supplemented by the pillow and
! harrow, and the golden haryests of fruit
and cereals are 4 substitute for the rich re-
turns in metals Of former days.
ANY who may desire homes in this re-
| gion Of our State can find a spot suited to
their taste If they desire a change of
residence for the sake of health, they can
engage in one of the varied industries of
the county, such as agriculture horticult-
ure or mining, and while obtaining a
livelihood by their labors, they can regain
health and strength. The tourist will
find at Grass Valley and Nevada City
ample hotel accommodations for all who
may come, both places being supplied with
hotels which have State reputation for
hospitality and comfort. At present the
county Is in the midst of fruit harvest,
and the luscious mountain fruits of the
Sicrras will prove toothsome luxury to
epicurean tourists. During the last week
Of August the annual fair of Nevada and
Placer counties will be held on the grounds
between Nevada City and Grass Valley,
and from this exhibition of the products
of these sister counties the traveller may, in
part, see what this region, once thought
untitled for any industry but mining, can
do in the production of fruits and grains,
cattle, horses and sheep, that have made
other parts CT the State famous.
Visitors can take the cars at San Fran
cisco or Sacramento, or intermediate points,
!. for Ne7ada county, changing cars at Col
fax, on the Central Pacific Railroad, where
the coaches of the Nevada County Narrow
Gauge Railroad will be awaiting them, and
row, tLaooa h.- an hour's ride they will he