The record-union., 1893-02-13
SMILING FOOTHILLS.
What a vaIIejoite Encountered Up
in Ell Dorado.
Soft Sunshine, and Fruit Trees in
Blossom-On Beyond the Snow
Line-A Lumber Camp.

EDS. REcoRD-UN1oN: While the valley
people have been patiently endur-
ing the fog with the consolation that there
was nothing like it since the spring of
'52," the denizens OF the mountains nave
been enjoying sunshine and with pro-
voking jest and good humor invite all
less favored mortals to come up higher.
1t was my good fortune to have BUSH
ness at Placerville lately, and just when
patience ceased to be virtue, and L was
in the greatest danger of breaking one OF
the ten commandments, l LETT for the
mountain city. a few miles above La
trobe the train emerged from fog-ban
into the glorious sunshine.
THE TRANSITION
Was so sudden that it was like dropping
into new world. The warm and CRATE
full rays of the sun were warming into life
spring vegetation, and there was a general
awakening from the dormant siesta of a
short California winter. The grass looked
greener than in the valley, birds sang
louder, and all nature rejoiced in the
SUMS genial rays. The buds on the or
chard trees were swelling, and the pink
of the bloom of the almond was notice
able at many places.
AT Placerville l found had no occa-
sion to wear an overcoat. The average
citizen laid unusual stress on the remark,
''Irs very fine day" and assured me
with much pride that Placervllle was
above the fog line.
When l inquired how it was possible
for it to rain twenty-one inches in Pla-
cerville during one storm, they assured
me that it fell during the night and was
only trifiing shower.
On Sunday, through the courtesies of
James Mckiernan and Phil Mahan, 1
enjoyed a drive to the
HISTORIC VILLAGE OF CoLoMA.
With D. H. Haldredges spirited fillies,
Mollie and Maggie. we swept around the
curves in the tortuous road which as
cends and descends the high and rounded
hills, many of which are covered with
orchards and vineyards 1t is on these
hills where grow the famous Coloma
peaches, which have won reputation in
Eastern markets.
Upon turning a sharp rise Coloma
comes in full view. A most picturesque
place it is, nesting with its tumbled-
down houses in one of the most charm
ing spots on the American river. Gold
could not have been found in more
beautiful place. 1t is one which will as
sist the visitor to weave the most fanciful
romance and picture the gold discoverer
as he PANIED the first shining grains from
the old mill race.
But the town, long since gone into de-
cline, has not all tumbled down. There
is a strong, low but spacious building in
the center of the place, and here it is that
Charles Schultz, one of the most genial
and hospitable of landlords, receives the
traveller, who, nine times out of ten,
comes to see
MARsHALL's MONUMENT.
The monument is always an object of
interest, even to those who have visited it
before. If Placerville people have no
place else to visit they go out to the
monument. The grounds are being i'm
proved, under the hands of skillful
gardener, and in time the place will I'M
doubtedly be quite resort.
From Coloma we drove to Uniontown,
now known by the more classic name of
Lotus. James Turnbull, landlord and
miner, entertains visitors at this place in
manner in keeping with the spirit of the
palmy days of the placers.
Where the land has not been washed
away, orchards now flourish. J. S. Nor
ris gave us the liberties of his apple
house, where he has slowed away barrels
of the fragrant and wholesome fruit
On the following afternoon we had oc-
casion to turn our steeds mountainwards
The sun was hidden by lowering clouds,
and after few miles drive, rain began
to descend in torrents. Not deferred, we
kept on our course, crossing the Ameri-
can River and reaching
SUMMERFIELD's RANCH
at dusk. Here we enjoyed such enter
tainment as is only to be found in the
home of a well-to-do mountaineer. At
this elevation the rich granite soil pro-
duces almost everything grown in the
State, with, perhaps, the single exception
of citrus fruits.
In Mr.. Summerfield's spacious barn
were noted many tons of fine hay, cribs
OF corn, barley, oats and wheat. Some
four or five tons of flour ground from
wheat grown on the farm was carefully
stacked up in store-room. Another
contained a fine lot of apples, and in
another were stored 700 sacks of potatoes
grown on an acre and quarter of ground.
On overhead beams were piles of cow
hides and pelts, evidences Of profitable
industry in live stock.
On the following morning rain contin-
ued to fall, but an hours drive brought
us to
THE SNOW BELT,
And snap:of the whip and a tight rein
sent our horses with dash into the light
skitt of snow. Instead of moist drops
soft flakes tloated in the light atmos-
phere. In another hour our horses were
picking their way through several inches
of giistening snow along the mountain
road now almost obliterated.
The transformation was now complete
and most beautiful landscape presented
itself. Lofty pines, their branches bent
under load of snow, stood silent and
motionless. No whispering winds-not
even birds note broke the stiffness. At
noon we reached the
AMERICAN RIVER LAND AND LUMBER
CoMPANY's HEADQUARTERS,
Our destination. Few people realize the
enormous enterprise undertaken by this
company. Millions of feet of lum-
Der in sugar-pine logs are lying
ON the ground, peeled and trim
med, ready to be shot into the river
when seasoned. In many places the
logs lay so thick that it is impossible
for horseman to find his way through
them, and yet when the forest was stand
ing it did not appear to be heavy. The
company have undertaken a system of
dams and locks by which the heaviest
rapids are avoided. One of these dams.
now almost complete, has been in course
of construction since October. Some
four hundred men will be placed in the
different logging camps during the sum-
mer. 5. j. II.