Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-07
GLORIOUS SISKIYoU.
HER PRAISE SUNG BY ONE OF THE
NEW CeMERS.
A Land With Undeveloped Resourc.s
Equal to Those of ANY Country
Under the sun,
YREkA, September l. 1889

10 the true lovers OF Nature let mt
speak just one word of friendly advice, anC
If, perchance, the seed thus thrown ou-
falls in fertile soil and springs up in the
form of beautiful budding, blossoming
fruit-bearing plant, will feel well repaid
for the time which | now snatch from the
pleasures of any library in order to scatter
abroad the praises of my adopted "home
Extending along the northern boundary
of the Golden State for much more than
one-half of the distance across it from east
to west, and reaching down into the heart
of California for something like seventy
five miles, is one of the largest subdivisions
to be found in the last mentioned State.
This large territory is known as Siskiyou
county, and, within its confines there ex-
lists to-day an undeveloped wealth second
to the wealth of no county in California
second, indeed, to the wealth of no county
in any State in the Union.
The wealth alluded to is not that of
money alone, either, for Siskiyou is to-day
prouder of the stalwart sons who own and
operate her inexhaustible gold mines: of
the brawny farmer boys who till her fer
tile soil; of the graceful riders who keep
close watch over her large droves of we'll
bred stock; Of her thrifty merchants whose
trade extends from the fertile valleys
within easy reach of the markets of lie
world to the widest canyons on the Pacific
coast; of her advocates who WELD a power
at the bar of justice second to but few in
this great State; of the good qualities of
the citizens resident within her borders
than she is of all her other wealth. though
it be very great.
For many years Siskiyou county had to
p1 reached by stage-coach, and it was not
until the weary traveller had proven him
self worthy Of home In this favored spot.
by being tossed to and fro, now between
the seats of the old-time six-in-hand"
coaches that would have done England
credit, and then up against the top of the
vehicle, that he was permitted to see this
delightful mountain resort. In those days
a trip from Yreka to San Francisco was
luxury INDUCED in by the rich alone, and
right well were those trips enjoyed when
they were taken. Many '49er will tell
you to-day that those "zood old times"
were the paimiest days of his life; times
when he paid six cents a pound for salt
and then carried it for miles and miles
ever the mountain to retail it out to his
fellow miners at twenty-five and fifty cents
per pound. At that time the miners all
had money, and they paid it out without
looking very carefully what was returned
to them in place of II.
| don't speak of these things from my
own knowledge; it was not my privilege
to share those days with the hospitable
of this regicn--nor with any
other fer that matter thad | can now Ne
eall-bus' have been taught my lesson by
the '49er9 who still make this county
blessed as it were by their presence and
revelations~of former times. Times have
changed very materially since the old
days, and, althcugh there is
some complaint on the part of the old
stage-driVers Who were favoTites in those
days, | think after all the county has i'm
proved and even the old residents like
their new homes as well rs they used to
like their former "castles" BztiI do not
intend at this time to do more than glance
back sufficiently far to show by the con-
trast the advantage of the present situation
Of affairs here.
which had baked for so long before COM
ing over the mountains, got up courage
aud climbed the formidable precipices,
Jumped the deep canyons and made heir
sides fairly shake with terror, blowing his
shrill whistle from time to time az he
praneed along; on and on he came, until
he had climbed the Siskiyou mountains
and went tearing down on the other side
and once more reached his mates. The
ice was broken, the way had been made.
and ever since that time, as regular as the
sun rises and sets, the old iron-horse
prances by, always fresh and fiery. always
putting, but never tired-seemingly fond.
Of his new route and his new acduaint-
No sooner had the steam whistle become
familiar to the residents of this inland
country than change commenced. This
favored county, heretofore shut out from
the world by reason Of the almost impassa-
BILE barriers which surrounded it, was at
once visited by the enterprising business
men of this coast, and Eastern capital
gradually found its way across its bounda-
ries until there are to-day, perhaps, as
many residents in the section of the county
within reach of the railroad, who have
come in within the last two or three years,
as there are of those who have lived here
for many years.
Almost like magic, saw-mills have sprung
up in the forests, and the trees that have
stood safe and sound for centuries, are, with
out moments warning felled to the earth
tIror,,l / l.
of all shapes, sizes and speed the next, and
on the third day the giants of the forests
for ages are flying along to the busy port
of San Francisco as fast as steam power can
take them, to become masts in ships bound
for China, India, or Australia; to build
houses in South America; or to serve
useful purposes in different parts of our
own State.
Nor do the forests alone manifest the
change which has taken place. Go out
into the mountains, follow down that
golden stream, the Klamath river, 60 al
most anywhere, indeed, and see the Won
derful developments tha: have been made
in the mines, and you will be convinced at
once that the countyis laying foundation
now 20 become one of the most desirable
sections in this favored State.
Irrigation bitches have been extended;
new lands have been taken up; pre-empt-
ors, homesteaders, timber land entrymen,
school land applicants, timber culture in
vestors, desert land seekers, and many more
have been busy, and we find that lard has
been taken up so rapidly that it has been
said, by those well informed on such sub
jects, that more Government titles have
been initiated within the last year than
have been initiated in any five years be-
fore that time. What does this mean
Why is it that people are focking into
Siskiyou county so rapidly and investing
in her lands, in her timber, in her mines,