Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-17
GRASS VALLEY.
THE CENTER OF A FINE FRUIT.
GROWING REGION,
And the Richest Quartz Gold Min
ing in the State-Its Vari-
GUS Advantages
From the Daily Tidings. I

From the Daily Tidings
Grass Valley, in Nevada county, is the
oldest, largest and most prosperous of the
quartz gold mining towns in California.
In days gone by it was one of the live
lest of the mining camps" with
which the Golden State abounded. At
the present day it is town of
substantial, steady-growing prosperity; its
future is bright, the quartz ledges, horti-
cultural and agricultural resources, and
unequaled climate, giving assurance of
permanent prosperity. It is situated 3,
400 feet above sea level, on the western
slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 1t
is exempt from fog and malaria. The un-
cultivated lands around it are clothed
with thick growth of fine trees
which, according to the best of medical
authority, impart peculiar health-living
qualities to the atmosphere, while on the
lands that have been put under cultiya-
grain fields and vineyards. 1t is the mar
hill farming and fruit-raising region. The
town is situated in and on the hills bound
ing what in early days (before the discov-
cry of gold) was a small, grass-covered
valley, whence the town derived its name.
Its business streets are lined with COM
pactly built stores, which carry large stocks
of goods and do thriving trade. Its resi-
dences are for the most part situated
in spacious lots, in which flourish flowers,
and in many instances useful "garden
truck fourishes. Shade trees abound all
along the streets, giving pleasant appear
ance and refreshing coolness in summer.
The town is we'll supplied with hotels and
livery stables. There are five churches
Methodist, Catholic, Congregational. Epis-
copal and African NJ. (which are
largely attended. The school department
is unexcelled by any town of its size in
the State, over 1000 pupils attending, for
whom first-class accommodations and teach
ers are provided.
There are two newspaper and job print
ing establishments in Grass Valley-the
Daily Union and the Daily and Weekly TId-
ings. The town has gas works and q most
excellent water system, with good supply
of that necessary fluid, which comes
from the Snow Mountain ditch in a Y
fume, the fiume being about thirteen miles
in length. The water is run into reser-
vOirs on Alta Hill, to the northwest of the
town, from which reservoirs it is distrib-
uted through the streets in pipes. The
assessed valuation of property in the town
ship, for 1886, is about S2,500,000.
Grass Valley is il miles from Colfax,
which latter is station on the Central
Pacific Railroad The distance to San
Francisco, by rail, from Grass Valley, is
l61 miles; flom Sacramento, SO miles, and
from Nevada City (the county seat, %
miles. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge
Railroad connects Grass Valley and
Nevada City with the Central Pacific, at
Colfax. Travelling is therefore comforta-
bic, and the transportation of supplies to
this place is always rapid and uniform as
to price.
The climate of this place is delightful,
being mild all the year round. 1t is con
sidered very cold by the climate-pampered
population when the thermometer in win
ter gets down as low as 22o above zero.
The temperature rarely goes below that
mark, and, indeed, seldom gets so low. In
hottest days IN summer, when the mercury
may get into the high nineties, the climate
is enjoyable for the reason that the nights
are always cool, 50 that refreshing sleep
can be had-sleep that recuperates. For
health the climate cannot be excelled any
where in the world. The odor of the pine
tree loads the air with healing to weak
lungs, and the natural purity of the atmos-
phere is not marred by deleterious exhala-
tions from ill-drained soils The State
Board Of Health gives the town tbs lowest
death rate of any in the State.
Mining is the great industry of Grass
Valley; and it is a prosperous and perma-
nent one. The mines yield gold to the
amount of many thousands of dollars
monthly, and hundreds of men are en-
ployed in the mines and mills. The own
ers and shareholders receive large returns.
The employees get good wages, live well
and are thrifty, intelligent citizens.
The mines make first-class home
market for the products of the
surrounding farms and .orchards,
and the excellent railroad facilities enable
producers to ship at profit what is not
needed for the home supply. For busi-
ness, health, or homes Grass Valley affords
most excellent advantages, and to the tour
ist from "the States" or foreign countries it
invariably proves pleasant and instruct
! i've place to visit, the ride to it over the
Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad
from Colfax, ON the Central Pacific, being
most delightful one, through picturesque
and striking scenery.