Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-02
THE AMERICAN VALLEY.
One of the Most Fertile Sections on tn,
Pacific Slope.


One of the Most Fertile Sections on the
Pacific Slope.
When Fremont crossed the Sierras sew
eral years before the discovery of gold in
California,it was in the month of February,
and his men suffered hardships innumer-
able, eating their dogs and mules
many of his men having their
limbs frozen, etc. When, however, they
passed the snow lines and came into
the pine, fir and cedar forests that skirt
the mountains on the upper waters of the
American river, they were enabled to pro-
cure fish and game, and after going few
miles farther westward they came into the
oak forests; the hills and dales were skirted
with blooming flowers, deer and antelope
everywhere to be seen, and when they
arrived on the plains of the American. in
the neighborhood of what is now the town
of Folsom, their admiration knew no
bounds. Here was a sight for the pic
turesque loveliness of which they had
never seen an equal. Widespreading oaks,
clear running streams, and although it was
the winter season, they found a magnificent
growth of green grass and blooming flowers,
for
DELICACY OF PERFUME
And variety of colors unsurpassed. Here
they found General Suffer at what was
called Suffers Fort. The General had his
pick of land in California, and had Sc
lected the very best portion of it. His
estate included the present site of the city
Of SaPrampnfn 1n1 ha g..
miles along the American Here he raised
his herds, titled his soil, employed his ma
tives, and was really king of this section of
the country. Here were raised the first
cereals on the coast, and here also were
raised the first peaches, the oldest orchard,
that of Smith Bros, being on the south
side of the American, two miles above its
mouth. In the early fifties Smith Bros.
cleared upwards of 100000 per annum.
The soil for some distance back from the
river, on what is called the lower bench. is
dark loan, sixteen feet Deep and has
fertility that rather improves than de-
teriorates by cultivation. This lower
bench covers large area, and is as pro-
ductive as any similar section in the
Union, and is thickly settled with prosper.
Gus
FRUIT AND HOP-GROWERs.
Who have well-improved farms, handsome
residences and are, altogether happy
people. This land is devoted to fruit
eSlture, hop growing, and in some places
alfalfa fields Its hop-growers are in the
business on the largest scale, and their
profits in the past years were so large that
to name them would cause those not ac-
quainted with the facts TO believe it an
exaggeration. That one man, on less than
800 acres, could clear in one season over
s200,00e would seem incredible. vet such
is the fact, The alfalfa grows luxuriantIy.
and so rapidly that from five to seven |
crops are cut annually, besides its giving I
green pasture to stock during the winter |
months. Back OF this lower bench is (
mall rise, say of from seven to ten feet. /
which is called the upper bench. and
which is composed of light loan. red
nd sandy soil, in some instances gravelIy.
This without question, for experiment has
'royen it, is tie finest grape section in the
tate, and the fruit from its vineyards has
n the last two years obtained national