The San Francisco call., 1896-04-06
Magnificent Business Blocks and
Fine Homes That Reflect
Prosperity.
THE GOLD MINERS PARADISE.
Rich Resources and Attractions of the
LovelieSt Village of the
P aims.

AUBURN, CAL, April SIN the mid
die of Placer, the Gateway county, lies the
beautiful city of Auburn, which nature has
done so much for, and if the author of the
poem in which Sweet Auburn, loveliest
village of the plain, is referred to could
only have been translated to this pictur-
esque city he surely would have found the
ideal which be soughtto describe, and this
the loveliest city Of the "foothils."
Auburn is most emphatically anything
but a village of the plains; quite the con-
trary, it has rugged appearance. In this
particularly. however, is one of its chief
charms. The streets are laid ont with
utter disregard 10 the compass, winding
around through the natural grades, which
make pleasing feature TO the visitor. The
city is spread out, covering considerable
surface, being fully mile in length, but
is gradually creeping together, and few
years will see it as one large, condensed
city. Il can now boast of many handsome
residences, which would be credit to
any city on the coast.
Back in the sos the entire site of the
city of Auburn wss among the richest OF
the old placer regions, and immense quan.
titles OF gold were taken out here. In the
early days the settlement was always
made as near as possible TO the mines,
which 10 great extent accounts for the
irregularity OF the streets at the present
time. The peculiar shaped county, that
surrounds Auburn has an area OF 1929
square miles, and reaches from the Sacra-
mento Valley TO the boundary line OF the
State of Nevada, loo miles distant. The
western line of the county lies at a mean
elevation of l00 feet, while the eastern line
is at an altitude OF 5000 feet, containins
every variety of surface and climate. from
the low lying alluyial valleys 10 the peaks
of the Sierras so that the visitor must
meet with every conceivable quality OF
temperature suitable TO every taste.
The county resources are vast. In the
western portion grain-growing IS the chief
product; then you come 10 the rolling
land or foothills, where you find the home
OF the peach, pear, plum, fig and olive, as
well as great mining center. The east
ern portion IS one vast forest OF sugar pine
spruce, cedar and FIR timber, being very
valuable. Here is where hydraulic min
ing tiourished up to a few years ago, when
II was restrained by the Government
Auburn's interests are principally fruit
growing, although mining is carried on in
the immediate vicinity very extensively.
The most notable mines are probably the
Zantgratt, owned by the Chapman Bros.
the Hathaway and the marguerite, all
OF which are yielding handsome profits.
While there is some gravel mining being
done, quartz mining is paramount.
The cornerstone OF its beautiful granite
and yellow brick courthouse was laid
July 4, 1894, under appropriate cere-
monies by the Free Masons The structure
when completed viii cost probably $500
600, and will stand as credit to every tax
payer of Placer County. The Supervisors
have already let the last contract for the
completion OF the building, and they ex-
pect 70 have il in readiness for the county
officials TO occupy by the last OF the year.
The granite, brick and wood material are
al Placer County products. The nrst
story and massive steps are OF solid gran
lite; the second and third stories are built
OF pressed brick. The building is abso-
lutely fire proof. with marble floors.
The South Yuba Water Company, which
has its main Office al Auburn. is an i'm
mense consolidation OF water and mining
interests. the growth OF many years and
the fruit of sagscity and enterprise Its
property covers three counties-Placer.
Nevada and Sacramento-extending from
Summit station, on the crest OF the Sierras,
where it owns g most valuable reservoir
site, TO the Sacramento River, its present
terminal. Its prosperity is based upon