The record-union., 1897-06-19
PLACER COUNTY INDUSTRIES.
Something About a Thriving People in
the Sierra Foothills.
The Old Mining Town of Auburn and
Its Changes Fruit
Interests.

Especial Correspondence of Record Union)
The county of Placer is probably the
most favorably situated of any foot
hill county in California. The county
seat-Auburn-is thirty-six miles by
rail from Sacramento. 1t is town of
about ,, 500 inhabitants, and represents
every phase of California development
and progress The main, or old town,
is about a mile from the depot. The
new town lies between the old
town and the depot. In the
older section there is everything to
remind one of prosperous mining camp.
The streets are irregular, the buildings
compact, mostly built of brick
and are supposed to be fire
proof Prosperous business houses line
the main streets there, and the resi-
dents are typical Californians, both in
energy and enterprise.
From the old town a well-kept street
or driveway leads up to the depot. On
this thoroughfare are many business
houses, representing every line of trade.
and residences of modern construction.
To the northeast of the town is what
is known as Aeolian Park, on which
view is obtained there of the surround
ing country, seldom equaled in beauty
The county has erected Courthouse,
the equal Of any in the State. 1t has
already cost $3.50, 600. 1t is three stories
high The first story and foundation
is made of Rocklin granite, and the TWO
upper stories of terra Gotta brick, made
at Lincoln-all Placer County produc-
tons.
Auburn has commodious school build
ings and first class schools. The streets
are all macadamiZed, crushed syenlte
being the material used. The rock is
crushed by private parties on contract.
The streets are kept sprinkled and as
clean as any in any city The water
used is obtained from the South Yuba
Water Company, or from wells, and is
said to be pure and healthful.
With all these attractions, added to
a dry and pure air, Auburn has be-
come a health resort, and large num-
bers visit it for a few weeks sojourn
each year. Those who visit it once
usually return the following year. The
hotel accommodations are first-class.
Placer County is fertile in its re-
sources. Agriculture horticulture, min
ing, quarrying and brickmaking form
ing the leading industries to which resi-
dents devote themselves.
The mines are what / purpose to eX-
anime and report upon. but the tempta-
ton to introduce the county by speak
ing of it's other industries is too strong
to be resisted.
The growing of fruit is one of Placer's
chief industries next to mining. The
Central Pacific Railroad enters the
county at Antelope which is virtually
in the Sacramento Valley, and courses
through the county to the summit of
the Sierra Nevadas, a distance of III
miles.
The fruit belt extends from the rail-
road ten or twelve miles on either side,
thus giving growers easy access to a
market Wholesale dealers buy at the
different stations for cash, or growers
can ship to Eastern markets in car
load lots if they see fit, and do away
with middlemen, but as a rule they
find it more profitable to sell direct to
the wholesale dealers.
To show the Importance of the fruit
industry of the county, 1 took occasion
to glance over the County Assessors
reports for last year 1 found that
there are $50 acres of grapes in full
bearing, including table, wine and raj
sin grapes.
OF fruit trees, including apple, april
cot cherry, fig, olive, peach, pear,
prune, lemon, orange, almond, and wal
nut trees, there are altogether 65I, l3o.
The life of the fruit industry here
depends largely upon two factors.
Strange as it may seem, the first and
most potent is the railroad, and the
other the South Yuba Canal Company.
Without a railroad to transport its
products there would be little produced,
which is evidenced from the fact that
just as good soil for fruit production
lies in the same climatic belt in both
directions from the railroad, yet the
surface is covered with chaparral and
uncultivated beyond the ten or twelve
mile limit
The South Yuba Water Company has
at great expense extended its Nevada
County water system over into Placer,
and supplies power and water for irri-
cation from above Colfax down to
Rocklin.
lneTe Is one IlClle compensation the
county has as balm for the infections
imposed upon it by two great corpora
tons, and that consists of the fact that
the two companies have to pay forty
two and eightyfour hundredths of all
the taxes levied in the county
The total taxable property, as re-
turned by the Assessor, is $S,249, $40.
The canal company is assessed at S107,-
clio, and the railroad at $246, 800. or
their combined taxes amount to $40
40. The county tax rate was but
ST 65 per hundred last year. People
all appreciate the convenience and ne
cessity of both institutions, but they
complain of rates in some quarters.
Placer County enjoys facilities for
shipment of green fruits unsurpassed
by other counties, inasmuch as it is the
last county through which the rail-