Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-02
FRANKLIN AND VICINITY.
a Glance at the Town = Surrounding
Lands-Bradford Bros VINEYARD

Franklin, formerly known as George
town, is located on the Lower Stockton
road, fourteen miles from Sacramento. 1t
was settled in 1856 by Andrew George,
who opened hotel at that place, and for
many years it was one of the liveliest
points between Sacramento and Stockton.
But the building of the Western Pacific
| Railroad stopped teaming, and the town
soon became quiet but thriving supply
village for the farming community sur
rounding. In 1876 fine school building
was erected here, at cost of $780, and
the grounds are now finely shaded by rows
of trees. In 1881 p r. Becllley erected
two-stOry brick store, the upper part being
| furnished for and used by the Masonic
| fraternity and other fraternal organiza-
tions. This is one of the best business
structures in the county outside of Sacra-
mento. Within the past month Mr.. Beck
ley has completed Il new hotel on the adj
joining lots, which will furnish ample and
excellent accommodations to any extent
required by the travelling public.
There are at Franklin two stores of gem
eral merchandise, F. B. Houston carrying
on branch of his CORTLAND establishment
in the Beckley building, and Frank Luttig
carrying on another store in building of
his own Immediately across the street
The town is provided also with two black
smith shops, a harness and butcher shop
and two or three saloons
THE LANDS AROUND FRANKLIN
Are mostly cultivated by their owners, but
few tenants being found. The soil, about
one-third of which is red land and the
other portion adobe, is chiefly devoted to
wheat-growing, but is also unexcelled for
truit-growing except by the front lands
along the rivers. An ample supply of
water for irrigating, if desired in fruit
| growing, can be obtained at from eight to
ten feet below the surface. In this imme-
diate vicinity failure of crops is I'M
known, but with change of seasons the
| yield of grain ranges from seven to twenty
sacks. One year with another, the yield
will probably average ten sacks Of wheat,
OF 80 to l40 pounds to the sack, per acre.
Franklin township extends north and
! south distance of about seventeen miles,
Il and averages about five miles in width
| The Sacramento river is the western
boundary, a description of the lands being
subject for special mention. To the
south and west of the town is a vast area of
unclaimed tule lands, adjoining the cele-
brited Pierson district. These lands are
equal in quality to those reclaimed and a
| fortune awaits he who brings them under
cultivation. On these and adjoining lands
are pastured the diaries of Johnston and
Stephenson, the products of which have
gained a celebrity in the markets.
The lower Stockton road was for years
almost impossible in winter between Sac
ramento and Franklin, but now the road
has been graded the whole distance, and
in the adobe districts also graveled, so that
1t Is now excellent the entire year.
BRADFORD BROS. VINEYARD.
In this township, seven miles southeast
of Franklin, are the Bradford Brothers
vineyards. Some years ago, these three
brothers each bous hit 100 acres and settled
there with their families Discovering
the character of the soil to be specially
adapted to yine-growing, they planted
vineyards which have become famous
throughout the East The vines planted
were mostly the Muscat and Tokay, and
the average yield per acre from them is
between three and four tons The prices
received for them varies from S35 to $50
per ton, making very acceptable income
with small trouble and outlay per year
Every acre of the surrounding country is
equally adapted to vine-growing, and yet
the success of the Bradfords has not seemed
to stimulate any other farmer to engage in
raising fruit.
Unimproved lands can be had here
from S25 to $40 per acre, but this will not
long be the case when the capabilities of
these lands are made known and the
hot
lied from the vines. In fact, the enter
prising purchaser of these lands does not
need to confine himself to vineyarding. as
all kinds of fruit trees do equally well and
are as productive.
UNION HOUSE
Is postoffice on the lower Stockton
road, Gig hit miles south of this city. 1t
has tri-weekly mail by the Franklin
stage, but is merely an accommodation
station and an inn for farmers, and point
for receiving their mail.
CLAY STATION
Is situated Y miles east of Gait. on the
Amador branch railway. 1t is unimpor-
tant as commercial point, but has post
express and telegraph offices. and stock
of general merchandise, carried by Steele
" Raiphs. The surface of the country in
this region is rolling and grayelly. and
many pleasant homes lie snugIv embow-
cred IN the warm valleys '------
The Laguna is a sort of rayine coming
from the higher foothills and Joining the
Costumes river below Hicksville. In the
winter season it carries at times immense
volumes of water but in the late summer il
mostly dry. In the neighborhood of CLAW
Station this stream is bordered by alluvial
lands OF equal fertility as those of the
Costumes and Dry Creek. Embarrassing
IS the principal business with the farmers.
Land can be had for from SIS to S25 DER :.
acre, and while the land is not the highest
quality, an industrious man can make on
100 acres good family living. The bot
tom lands are rich, and command from $50
to 500 per acre. With water for irriea-
ton, and every natural advantage is here
Afforded, no section of the State possesses
superior advantages for vineyards and fruits
OF all kinds and no place affords better on
portunlties for profitable investment. The
day Is not far distant when every available
acre will be devoted to fruit and other
produets, and be under proper cultivation.
HICKsvILLE AND coNLEYs.
Hicksville is a postofiice station on the
uPPSi DloOhtOil Ioau, Il miles south OF
Sacramento, and receives its mail at rail-
road station one-half mile west, called Arno.
is six miles from Gait, and the
residents in the vicinity look to that town
for supplies. Besides the Postofice there
is blacksmith and wagon-shop, and a
new hotel recently completed.
Conley's is small station on the ANA
Tor branch, six miles northeast of Gait.
md consists of Postoffice and blacksmith
hop. Gait is the source from which the
armers in the vicinity draw their supplies.
ELK GROVE.
L Thriving Town in a Fertile and Pro-
ductive Section.
ELL Groro . ,,,:. =