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

t'lre lor the year was 5S.600. This equable
temperature makes it possible to produce
almost all the fruits that are grown in any
part OF the State. In many of the wards
and gardens can be seen at least one or
two orange trees loaded with fruit; and
even the lemon has in some cases been
cultivated with success. From many ex-
perlments already made ii is believed
that eahis locality is specially adapted to
olive-growing. There is one large olive
orchard already in bearing, another of sew
eral hundred four-year- old trees, and at
least coo more olive trees will be planted
the coming season. The plants have also
| been successfully cultivated, and the people
are Just waking up to the possibilities of
their resources.
Tie delightful climate of Arhuun Is
also secured for it a good rept a
health resort for those trout ith
bronchial or pulmonary disea fhe
town has seven good hotels, whic i've
a Eirse share of their patronag rom
heath-seekers. and the confidence Ibis
particular place of the physicians whdlEend
their patients here has IN most instances
been justified by the benefits received
In two respects the town of Auburn is
petiiljar. Although it contains nearly
900 inhabitants. there are as yet no Manu-
Figuring industries within or near it ;2iid.
| while all the people are well-to-do-ahd
prosperous, there are none who can be
called wealthy. In this latter respect, at
least, there is the anomaly of town of
1000 people without the usual rural mag
nate who rules the village roast by virtue
Of his affluen ce There are three churches
Catholic, Methodist and Congregational.
There is a ..odel public school in which
three teachers are engaged. and a private
normal school, which offers superior ad-
| vantages and which has been fairly sue
cessful
Auburn has long depended for the greater
part OF its business on being a distributing
lpoint of supplies for the Forest Hill and
Iowa Hill divides, and on the fact that it is
the county seat. Its growth has therefore
is now in progress. The hillsides for
miles around are being cleared
of the brush and timber, and
planted to trees and vines. Its future
Importance as fruit shipping depot is al
ready conceded, and one firm has been con-
Quoting that business at good profit dur
ing the season just closed. The soil is the
best of what is known as the red soil of
the foothills" the climate, as indicated
above, is unsurpassed, and the average
rainfall is sufficient to grow most varieties
of fruit without any irrigation. Since last
June the rainfall to date was 1927 inches.
Where artificial irrigation is necessary, the
Bear river ditch affords an abundance of
water.
Even if it is not fanciful. it may be look
ing good way into the future to predict
that some day Auburn will be noted for its
great number of handsome country resi-
dences, which will be built by people who
wish to live in leisurely retirement, or by
wealthy business men of Sacramento, and
even San Francisco. People like to go to
the foothills during the summer months,
and there is no place on the line of the
railroad within reach of those cities that
affords more choice building sites than Au-
burn.
| NEWCASTLE.
Four miles below Auburn is the little
town of Newcastle, which only few years
ago had no business interests and consisted
of only about q score of houses. 1t is now
rapidly coming TO the front as one of the
most important places In Placer county,
owing to the large fruit interests of which
it is the center. There are four large ship
ping houses and another in course of build
ing. During the season just closed there
were shipped from Newcastle $3.50, 1893
pounds of green fruit This large quantity
is at least 4 tenth part of the estimated
number of pounds shipped from the entire
State, which is a fact not generally appre-
ciated by the pubic, nor even by the fruit
growers in other sections.
At Auburn the geological formation is
slate. Newcastle is situated on the granite
belt, and is some 800 feet lower than Au-
burn, SO that fruit ripens from three to
seven days EARLIER about Newcastle than it
does at the county seat. In fact there are
four varieties of fruit-cherries strawber-
ries laspberries and p.ums-which ripened
at Newcastle last season earlier than in any
other place in California. With these ad-
vantageS of early fruit, and being at least a
few hours nearer the Eastern market than
any other place, Newcastle will undoubt-
edly become one of The most important
fruit centers in the State.
LOOMS AND VICINITY
Twenty-Five miles from Sacramento and
twelve miles from Auburn is q station on
the Central Pacific railroad, called Loomis
formerly Pino). Up to the winter of 1881
81 the land contiguous had been devoted
principally to hay farming and stock rails
ing. Near by were two vineyards of pro-
ductive capacity. but their owners had
made little effort TO bring the country into
notice. In the spring of 1882 f. W. Maslin,
of Sacramento, bought a piece of land from
the railroad company, near the station, and
proceeded to test the question of planting a
vineyard without irrigation. He cleared
the land of chaparral and oaks, and planted
six acres of wild California vines, as resist
ant stock. Contrary to predictions made,
the vines fiourished, and in 1881 were
grated with Zinfandels. Other purchases
were made soon after of adjoining tracts.
notably by w. G. Williams, Mrs Almira
Merwin, George MARITIME, Mr. Coppin. J. f.
Hill and J. r. Johnston, of Sacramento; J.
j. Morrison, J. Morrison, Andrew Ryder,
Mr.. Snyder and Mr.. Treneal, of San Fran
cisco. The new plantations which followe ed
the advent of the new corners show mary
elous growth, and the success of Loomis
as a fruit-growing section is already as
sured. The effect of non-irrigation upon
fruit was manifested at the last State Fair.
Messrs. Morrison and Maslin made an ex-
hibit of grapes, apples and other fruits, and
also of vegetables grown by them and by
their neighbors, and which formed a part
of the Placer county, exhibit These dis
PLAYS contributed toward winning the
awarded prize of 800 to that county At
the close of the fair the fruit was in perfect
condition, and was removed by them to
the Mechanics Fair at San Francisco, and
there exhibited as the production of Loomis.
grown without irrigation, and was awarded
a prize of a silver medal and framed
diploma.
The hills are of gentle slope (i0o to 15o),
and do not wash in winter. Not many
springs abound, but soft water of a tenn
perature of 60o in the hottest days of sum-
mAr, is found at varying depths of from Is
to 25 feet. In the winter the water is nearer
the surface. The climate is about the same
in degree of heat and cold as Sacramento
city, while the nights, both winter and
summer, are most agreeable. The elevation
402 feet above the sea) practically exesnpts
the country from the winter fogs. The
ridge between Antelope creek and Secret
rayine may be said to be within the ther-
NAL belt, and practically exempt from
frost On the night of April 14 1884, when
nearly the whole State was visited by $ the
great frost" this section passed unscathesi
: Transportation facilities are UNSURPASSED
in the State, Loomis enjoying, with ever,
J other station in Placer county, several sid,
i tracks, where the shipper may load at hi
, leisure. The train hours are favorable 7,