The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1896-04-26
With EASTERN EYES.
An I0Tan Sees a Section Of Northern
California.
What He Saw In and About Oroville-
Frank, Sharp and Just Criticism
Bias of the Press.

F. Tillinghast, a conscientious journal
list who has been making studies of Cal
ifornia for the Davenport Qowa) Dem
ocrat." Under date of April 9Th in the
Democrat a letter appeared from
which we make these excerpts:
CALIFORNIA PRODUCTION.
During the past year, 1895, California
sent out Of the State nearly 100000
gallons of Wine S0,0C0,000 pounds of
vegetables, 96000,o00 pounds of dried
fruits, and more than 10000, 600 pounds
of beans. California produces more than
4G000,0 900 pounds of beet sugar, over
26.OOO,O0O bushels of wheat, fruit
pack of 1 $4,000 cases, over 10000. 600
bushels of barley, 100000 pounds of
raisins. 32,000000 pounds of wool, be-
tween 1000 and 5000 carloads of or
anges. In the way of minerals Califor-
MAS output of gold for a twelve-month
as Slo, 100000. This takes no account
OF borax, petroleum, quicksilver, prunes,
hops, butter, cheese, nuts, and many
ether leading products, because more
figures would be burdensome.
THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY.
There are in this garden valley by
close estimate 100000 acres of rich
arabic land, exclusive of that on the
coast above and below San Francisco.
From the north down to Sacramento
this valley is called the Sacramento
being watered by the Sacramento
River, flowing southwark. and its trib-
utaries. Below the capital the name
San Joaquin is given the valley from
the river whose course is to the north
No mention in detail is made of the ia
nous Yosemite; the wonderful lakes
like Tahoe, far above the sea-levei of
the gigantic waterfalls, of the hundreds
of mountain streams, because time and
space have limits, and California in
variety of resources and splendor of
scenery appears to be limitless.
ORANGE-OLIVE-L
In former letters some attempt has
been made to describe the orange.
olive and lemon groves below the Te-
hachapi Pass or in the San Bernardino
country. Most correspondents from the
East who visit the Pacific Coast are
content to see that corner of the State
and represent it as the whole or vital
part of California so far as citrus
fruit growing extends. This is due.
in some degree, to the booming pro-
clivities of the land agents down there
The truth is that more than 500 miles
north of San Bernardino, over 100 miles
due northeast of San Francisco, in
Butte County, are some of the most
prominent groves in the State. IT is to
that quarter that attention is now be-
ing directed
BUTTE COUNTY LANDS.
Butte County's best lands are in the
latitude of Denver, Springfield. Indian
apolis, Columbus and Philadelphia,
with climate less subject to extremes
than San Diego and Jacksonville. Fla.
The fruit grown there is nearer market,
west, north and east, than that coming
from Riverside and the Redlands. 1t
ripens all of four weeks earlier, and
therefore takes the cream of good
prices. Irrigation is depended upon
in all these districts, but water costs
less in Butte County than it does in
Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego
Counties, and the normal rainfall is
much heavier, so that without irriga-
ton there is a better chance of success
Suitable laid is cheaper and there are
thousands of acres of it at command
FABULOUS LAND.
Reports like these of that fabulous
land, semi-tropical, and always flower
ing, were heard in San Francisco. but
they were not accepted as bankable pa
per-the rather as raised checks The
trip was worth making, however, for
the very novelty of it. The run to Oro-
Vile takes seven hours, and it is in
itself diversion. It gives one a ferry
ride across the bay, and, what is more
rare, passenger train of twelve
coaches and two locomotives are taken
over the narrows at Benicia on a float
ing bridge, while the traveller, engaged
in his paper, is hardly conscious of the
transfer.
IN OROVILLE.
Oroville itself, the county seat. has
been a place of more than ordinary in
terest, as many as 600 seekers after
pay dirt having found it there at one
time. The country. round about is
now devoted to farming and fruit
growing with as much enthusiasm as
gold-digging ever attracted The first
surprise was met on going to the Court
house to look at a map. Instead of
the usual close-cut lawn on four sides
of it, there are orange trees, the tops of
which glisten with the golden apples
the last week in March, and they have
been picking the fruit since November.
The Sheriff said there were orange trees
near by that were over twenty years
old A little north Of Oroville two rivers
unite to make the Feather, flowing into
the Sacramento.
A DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY.
Ex-senator Jones escorted the cor
respondent throgh sections near Oro-
vile and through Thermalito. and he
thus reports the conversation en- route)
Here you see,' he said, "a navel tree
which has been in bloom every month
in the year" And the evidence was
present all the way from buds to ri
pened fruit. Look at that olive orch
ard on the left. Notice the color and
the cleanliness of the trees There is
no fog here by night and dust by day
tic make scale. Open the door to that
drying-house and take a handful Of
ripe, picked olives. / buy fifty gallons
of these every year and the supply falls
short. Why a ripe olive is as harmless
as a cherry and a hundred times more
nutritious. My children prefer the pure
oil to butter on bread" Then the Major
explained while workmen were giving
an object lesson how olives are picked
and picked, dried, crushed, pressed and
the oil clarified by natural processes.
Here he continued, sis my grove OF
125 acres of young orange trees. three
years old from the planting. Next No
vember l expect to take from 100 to 15c
boxes from the thirty acres budded last
season. They are all Washington ma
vels.'
RESULTS OF EXPERIMENT