The record-union., 1892-07-29
MEADOWS III THE MOUNTAINS.
Chaplin Writes About Those in PIumas
County.
Delightful Places for Summer Outings
"A Section of the State That
is Looking Up.
Correspondence of the REooRD-Ux1oN.l

Correspondence of the RECoRD-UNIoN.
SUsANvILLE, July 23.-As farmers in
this county depend entirely upon the
mines for market, it has done well to
hold its own for the past three years of
depression in hydraulic mines. Ameri-
can Valley is several hundred feet lower
than Sierra, and the people give more
attention to fruit and vegetables. These
show remarkable growth, and some
yields are SO phenomenal as to seem
apocryphal.
The advent of the expected railroad
will bring fine body of pine timber into
market, and will probably result in max
ing potatoes and cabbages leading pro-
ducts of American Valley.
"A. W. Keddie, who has made a more
thorough study of the topography of this
portion of the Sierras than any other, is
very enthusiastic over the advantages of
the Beckwith route. Although it will be
twenty-five miles greater distance by the
North than by the Middle Fork of the
1uba, the construction will be less ex-
penslve, the grade easier, and it will
make larger body of fine timber access
IDLE and reach valuable ouarries of mar
BILE and granite suitable for building pur-
poses.
Indian Valley is still lower than Amer
lean, and is the main source from which
the valleys about Quincy and Prattville
draw their supplies of grain. The prin-
clpal crop is hay, which is fed to the
dairy cows. These are generally driven
TO the higher pastures found III Genesee,
Clover and Last Chance Valleys.
All kinds of berries do remarkably
well in Indian Valley and apples are gen
orally good crop. This year has been
SO late and cold that there will be very
little fruit to spare, except berries. The
hay crop all through the mountains is
from % to 90 per cent. short.
At Crescent Mills the.old mine is work
ing as usual and there is quite revival
in the Green Mountain.
Greenville has been very dull for many
years, but recent developments lead citi-
zens to hope for a mark revival in min
| ing very soon. a drive of twelve miles
over an easy grade through excellent
saving timber takes one to
THE BIG MEADOWS.
AT Bidwel's Bridge the severe winter
| of 1S90-9l proved disastrous to large
bulkhead that was the main feature of an
extensive reclamation project. After the
bulkhead went out the current made
very heavy cut that mars the attractions
OF the place and prevents the control of
the waters, upon which depend the pro-
IOuCOINOAcSS VI IL large DOuy Oh meadow
land through which runs the streams that
form the headwaters of the Feather and
lrrigate these beautiful meadows that are
surrounded by pine-cla mountains.
Here is very interesting problem for
hydraulic engineers.
| There are more than ten thousand
| acres of very rich land, of which ONLY a
small portion is productive. Where there
| is too little water there is no grass and
where there is too much there are tules.
| The problem is to provide drainage that
will reclaim the tules, and canals or
| bitches that will irrigate the higher
| lands.
Appearances show that the meadows
are capable of rich development, and are
so well adapted to the growth of clover
and timothy that an average hay crop of
two tons per acre might reasonably be
expected. Dairying is the leading in
dustry Of the meadows, and at the north
end Mr.. A. p. Martin has cream sep
arator and improved dairy plant which
he rents to dairyman who buys milk
and returns the SKINNED milk to the
patrons. This is much more satisfactory
| than to make the butter at home.
| There are many very fine large barns,
| as the experience of the heavy winters
has led farmers to house all their stock.
| There are great many campers in the
valley and among them Sacramento is
well represented.
The attractions are good hotels, many
objects of interest within easy drive, a
cool climate, pure, cold water, fine horse
back riding and driving and some of the
best trout fishing in America.
At the Meadow View Mr.. Hudson is
about changing his business. At Pratt
vile the manager of the hotel lately died,
and the lease will be transferred before
another season. Bunnell is still increas-
ing his accommodations and improve
ments, and is SO crowded that he can
hardly find room for his guests. noticed
that several of the best-known families
in the State were represented and that
ladies were in a large majority.
From Prattville to Susanville is a very
easy days drive over a good grade and
through fine body of timber. Halfway
are Mountain Meadows, consisting of
fifteen or twenty thousand acres of rich
land, well watered and nearly level, at an
elevation of nearly six thousand feet.
Stock looks well, but hay is light, owing
| to the backward season.
There are three stopping places in the
meadows, and brook where saw a bow
haul out four fine trout in about five
minutes.
Settlers are locating many timber
claims near Susanville.
FRANK S. CHAPLIN.