Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-20
SHASTA COUNTY.
Some of the Attractions and Opportuni-
ties for Settlers and Capitalists.

november IA, 1856.
EDS. RECORD UNION: will send you
another short communication from this
section, as l am greatly interested in the
good work the RECORD UNION is doing in
seeking to make known the wonderful re-
sources of the central and northern por-
tons of our State. There certainly could
not be any better work for any newspaper
to engage into benefit its readers and the
State-and there is no better land than
ours to be described and its great qualities
TO be made known.
I have been living here in themountains
thirty-fve years, and l regard the foothills
and mountains the best part of the State in
which to live, both as TO opportunities and
for the pleasure and enjoyments in life.
The richest resources of the State are right
here in the mountains, and all any poor
man needs by which to appropriate them
to himself is to be willing to work. This
granted, he can take up or get him piece
Of land at very low price, and with an ak
go to work with and split out posts and
shakes, and make good living, while be-
tween times of clearing up his land, can
raises his own potatoes, cabbage, and what
ever he needs to live upon, and excellent
timothy hay for COW and horse, and to
sell. Raising timothy for hay can be made
very profitable, as the lowest price paid
here for hay is S25 per ton, and from that
up to $40. Raising vegetables can also be
made to pay good returns, as the least that
have known potatoes to be sold for is q
cents per pound, and often as high as or
cents. Cabbage, carrots, and all other
kinds of vegetables bring corresponding
prices, and as can be seen, yield good profit
for use of land and the labor expended.
The soil is very rich and yields of its benefi-
cence with but the slightest effort on the
part OF man.
1t will be seen that few years, and
proper amount of industry and patience,
will secure to any man and family good
home and competency. Within from two
to five years most all kinds of fruit can
be brought into bearing, and the finest
quality of apples, pears, peaches,
plums, prunes, ounces, figs, ETC., as well
as all kinds of berries to be found
elsewhere, can be raised right here,
of the most perfect, and in the most I'M
limited abundance. And they can not only
be raised, but there is demand for all that
can be grown, and at remunerative prices.
Apples are now selling at 81 % per box,
but it would be much more profitable, if
person does not greatly need the money, to
keep them until spring, and receive very
much higher price.
Most of the land in this vicinity is Gov
eminent domain, and with COW or two,
person can commence the raising of
band of cattle that can roam at will, out
side the quarter section he settles upon. OF
course such an opportunity as this will not
last always, for this entire section of the
State is bound, before many years, to be all
occupied, except where very broken. The
large ranges now run over by deer and
other wild game will be reduced to uses of
civilization, and into small holdings for the
millions of people who are destined in the
future to occupy this entire Golden State in
happiness and contentment, as enjoying
the richest and brightest of Gods earthly
heritage for man.
This is the outlook for the young man,
or one who is older, who has industry ana
frugalty as his helpmeet, but there is no
place here for those who wish to tramp and
not work-who desire to subsist on the
earnings Of Others importuned from door
10 door. In fact, such have no place any
where, and as they have no home, no
country, they should-in the eternal fitness
of things-have no existence. On the other
hand, what can be more interesting, in
spring and all-satisfying, than for man
who wishes a home for himself and little
family, and who loves home because it is
their home, in the blessed meaning of this
good old woodland who is determined to
have such hallowed place and inheritance
to start, if need be, in an humble way,
and to soon see developing fields, growing
fruit trees, plenteous garden, cows, pigs,
chickens and other surroundings of the
newly-aequired possessions, on the path
that leads TO competency, wealth and indie
pendence
-, ~
place for men of small means who are
willing to show their worthiness by the
test of frugal industry and perseverance
but there is also room and demand here
for men of means and capitalists. The i'm
mense forests OF magnificent sugar pine,
yellow pine, spruce, fir, cedar, etc, which
abound in this region, with as fine water
in numerous rivers and streams as can be
found upon the continent, invite invest
ment and the application of energies, with
assurance of highly remuneratiye returns.
In connection with such enterprises the
lumber manufactured can be transported
TO any and all distributing points below,
through fumes and bitches, for which, as
stated, there is an inexhaustable supply of
finest water, and when used so far as
needed for that purpose, can be
sold at nunifcent figures for
irrigation purposes, in foothills and valley.
Then again, there are calls-and warmly
inviting calls-for capital, to develop the
inexhaustible deposits of gold and other
precious metals, which abound here. and
which are known to be almost fabulous in
richness and extent. These riches lie in
the old prehistoric river channels of ages
ago. running through and under the noun
tains, and require more means than any
but wealthy people, or combinations of in
diyiduals possess, TO run tunnels into the
mountain sides, and bring it to the use Of
man. Nine miles from my place there is q
low mountain range, of about nine miles IL
length, where millions OF precious treasure
is known to be buried in these old hidden
river channels, but no tunnel has thus far
been run deep enough to drift it out
successfully, but sufficient to prove the
richness and its locality. The outcrop
pings of these old channels have been n.y.
draulicked TO some extent, and outlying
creeks and ravines have been placer-mined,
but the main source of all the golden
wealth, which has thus been scarcely
touched, lies beneath the mountain sides,
and to secure which the investment of
thousands is necessary, and will bring in
return unknown millions.
I have hardly touched upon the
undeyeloped features and elements OF fu-
ture wealth ana prosperity winch apouhu
in this part of the upper Sacramento sec
ton of the State, and must leave to new
corners and homeseekers to verify by exam
ination, not only what have stated, but
also TO realize and testify to their friends
and others not simply that Seeing is be-
lieving," but that The half has not been
told W. L.