Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-09
PLACER COUNTY.
ITS NATURAL RESOURCES AND
RAPID DEVELOPMENT.
Interesting Facts Stated at the
Opening of the Permanent
Exhibition Last Saturday.

ne lOllOWlnS ADDRESS was maze Dy L.
w. Butler, of Penryn, at the opening of
the permanent exhibition, Sacramento,
June I'd, and contains many interesting
facts concerning the resources and develop
ment of Placer county
1t was happy conception-the insti-
tuting Of this Exposition. What place
could be more fitting than the city of the
State Capital for its location? In itself
the center of county unsurpassed in
natural resources, which, aided bv capital
and industry properly directed, can soon
be made to support many times its present
population in a style unknown TO other
countries, when measured by expenditure
of effort
Other sections of our State have ad
vanced of late with almost phenomenal
rapidity. Has it been because those see
tions could support its people in greater
ease and in greater comfort than here?
Have they a better climate or more pro-
ductive soil? Where is there more beauty
than can be seen in this valley, nesting at
the base of the grand Sierra Nevadas and
connected with them by the foothills,
themselves being converted into the most
productive orchards of the world?
Themain and first established line of rail-
road travel passes through these foothills in
its entrance into the State, section until
late but little known except for its mines
of former years and the beauty of its I'M
dulating surface covered with trees, shrubs
and flowers as seen from passing trains.
Other railroads have since been built, one
Just completed to Placerville FL Dorado
county, opening up splendid fruit coun-
try, another leaving the main line of the
Central Pacific in Placer county and d.
verglng north through Yuba, in which is
Marysville, an already noted fruit section,
thence into Butte where many orchards
and orange groves have been recently
planted, and continuing northward into
Oregon.
Many fine places are being developed in
Placer county. Three fruit-deaiers. each
in his speciality the largest in the United
States, have recently planted orange or
chards near Rocklin, LOOMS and Penrvn.
and have also purchased several hundred
acres OF other lands for fruit-culture
These are practical business men, thor
oughly acquainted with the resources of
every part Of the State, and why should
they select Central California in which to
make their investments, but for the ad-
yantages of the location?
Another gentleman has planted 1000
orange trees in Penryn on spur project
ing from a side hill. This spur is skill
fully and beautifully terraced, with an
avenue running in zig-zag form UP
through Its center, connecting with other
lands OF the same owner and into park of
several thousands of acres that equal in
natural and varied scenery any of the
noted parks of England. In this, there are
twenty-five miles of finely graded drive
ways, so smooth that in riding over them
they seem to be carpeted.
At Auburn, within few rods of the
depot Is most romantically-located spot
on hill overlooking the town. The ever
snow-capped peaks of the Sierras are in
full view, and the American river flows
through deep gorge, so near that stone
car seemingly be cast into it, yet down,
down, so distant that it rivals in grandeur
the scene at Cape Horn, few miles on the
railroad above. This hill is laid out in
graded avenues and is being planted to
oranges, olives, palms and other orna-
mental trees. Several picturesque cottages
are already in process of construction, one
being built by leading business man of
Sacramento, IS particularly noticeable for
Its unique beauty. 1t is the design of the
owners OF this property to make it by en-
Enlistment, connected with its natural
beauty, one of the most attractive spots in
California, not excepting famous Pasadena.
At a higher altitude is located Colfax,
with climate that has yearly average
identical in temperature with Los An
geleS. \ few miles distant, on 4 branch
railroad, is established the enterprising
Chicago Park colony" With rainfall
of about forty-fye inches, irrigation by
many Is considered not necessary in the
successful growing of fruits There is a
value attached to beauty and climate.
But these alone will not attract immi-
grafton that will permanently develop a
country. Ii must be shown that there are
profitable industries in which to engage
before the man of average means can be
induced to buy land on which to make
home. To show that this can be done in
Placer and also in other Central Califor-
MIA counties, it is only necessary to men
ton few facts taken from the books of
the owners of orchards, showing their
profits. Cherries from orchards of New
castle and Penryn have sold this year at
the home depots, at an average price of
81 10 per box. The price last year was
about the same. The average price of
peaches (the leading fruit last year was
40 cents per box. In large peach orchard
in Penryn, planted to have continuous
picking from May to October, the first
were picked on Monday last, 80 boxes that
sold at 81 per box at depot There are
of this variety {the Alexander) only l40
trees. On Wednesday, 104 boxes were
sold at 81 IS per box. Yesterday, 13l
boxes at 81 so per box. Peaches here
have not failed TO making paving crop in
ten years. In the Eastern States, fruits
fail to produce more than half the time.
Can there be any risk in planting fruit
trees where such statistics can be shown
But however good the opportunity for
locating in any industry, the facts must be
made known to intending settlers. How
can this be done in any better way than in
showing in this building the products of
our own section? Sacramento is to Cali
fornia what Chicago is to the country east
OF the Missouri rivera railroad center
and has natural advantages as such over
any other interior city in the State 1t is |
here that visitors coming from the East |
make their first stop, except for few min
utes. All trains will stop for time suf- |
ficient for passengers to visit this exhibit |
ton, and, if it is properly KEEP; up, it will |
be to them most attractive place
VIII it not be well for each county ex- |
hibiting to be often, if not always, repre- |
sented here, in order to impart reliable in
formation to visitors? By comparing pro-
ducts and by comforting with others, it can
soon be learned where certain industries |
can be most proftabiy prosecuted. By this
method intending settlers can be properly |
advised. No mistakes need be made in !
their locating. Every county in Central
California has some industry in which no |
other county excels. Let the people who
exhibit here, looking to their own inter
ests as well as to the welfare of the entire
State, invite no one to engage in a calling
in any place when it is known they would |
do better elsewhere. The citizens Of Sac
are meeting us more than half
way in giving us this building in which to
show our county products, and let us show
that we apDreciate the onnort,1nitv ofTaro1