Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-10
PLACER COUNTY.
A GLANCE AT IT'S ATTRACTIVE
FIXTURES.
Something Demanding the Atten-
ton OF Intending Settlers-The
Foothiii Region for Fruit.

J1DS. RECORD UNION; Having lived III
t,ais county nearly five years, and become
Somewhat conversant with its various feat
ures, I send you brief article concerning
ing il, which, it has occurred to me, ought
to be q interest to those who have not had
an opportunity to visit the foothills and
the mountain slopes of this hourishing
region.
Placer county is nearly paralleiogram
extending northwest and southeast about a
hundred miles 1t is bounded by the
counties of Nevada, Suffer, Sacramento and
FL Dorado. The Typographical features OF
this section of the State, are traversed by
numerous ravines and diversified by undu-
lating hills, presenting scenery rarely
eoualled. The chief industries are mining,
granite quarrying and horticulture, which,
within the last. score of years. have been
very extensively developed. Mining opera
lions are not so fourishing as formerly.
Many years ago placer mining was the
| leading feature, especially in the vicinity Of
| Newcastle, where the old-time mining
camps of Ophir, and Gold Hill are
located And there are honest old
miners who actually believe this the verita-
BILE "Ophir" from which King Solomon
procured the gold for his Temple. 1t is
really amusing to hear old settlers, who are
vet indulging to considerable extent in
placer mining operations, tell OF the good
! times they once enjoyed.
| Quartz mining is for the most part car
ried on in the lower section OF the county,
there being several mills between Penryn
and Newcastle. The quartz mill which
| was recently erected in the vicinity of the
latter village deserves mention. 1t was
| built at an expense of many thousand
dollars by William Lawrence, and there
are about twelve employees at work. Il
| is reported that work in the Julian mine
about half mile distant, will be re
sumed Immediately.
Between the towns of Rocklin and Au
| burn, along the Central Pacific Railway
which runs in a northeasterly direction
the soil partakes to more or less extent o.
granite formation, production of which is
| to be seen in the construction of colossa
| buildings in San Francisco. This region O
! country is apparently inexhaustible in it:
granite resources. There are three yarietie:
| of this stone in common use in California
for building purposes; namely, the blue
the black and the white granite. The
| quality is so excellent that it is not sur
passed by that of any other county or Ter
ritory west of the Rocky Mountains, anC
perhaps in the United States.
HORTICULTURAL INDUCEMENTS.
The horticultural wealth Of the foothill;
forms a very important feature, being ;
matter of interesting discussion among
tourists and travellers. The interval which
has elapsed since the completion of tn,
Central Pacific Railway through this par
of the country has wrought very importan
changes in the various departments of hort
Iculiure and tothose who have lived herr
during that space of time it is quite aston
ishing to realize the magnitude Of thi!
! prosperity. Although, great as the devel
| Opment hitherto brought about may seem
| this industry is destined to become much
| greater, as it is in many respects in its in
| fancy. No other part of California has Of
| fered greater inducements to actual settlers
| and on investigation it will be found tina
many have been far-seeing enough to GRASP
| the golden opportunities thus offered by
The Government to secure cheap lands anC
permanent homes. Although the greater
portion of the Government land has beer
| taken, there remains vast acreage o.
| tillable railway land susceptible OF profita
bic cultivation, which may be obtained g.
various prices, according to quality of the
| soil and location. The railroad company
has for many years disposed OF these fertile
| lands at very low rates. The foothill sec
ton referred to occupies about one-third Of
the county. Judging from the rapidity
with which these fruit farms have spread
out over this part of the country within the
last few years, it viii not be very long be-
! fore vast tracts will have been converted
into beautiful homes and orchards.
SELECTION OF LArps.