The record-union., 1899-11-08
'FOISOM'S BRIGHT FUTURE.
THE NEW METHOD OF MINING
ny DREDGERs.
Industrial 11ovements That VIII
Tend to Make Things
Lively.

Tend to Make Things
Lively.
Especial Correspondence
FOLSOM. Nov. Folsom, the second
largest city in the county, is enjoying
its share of the wave of prosperity
There is no boom or unwarranted rush,
but its business men are wearing
broader smiles these days. The vari-
GUS industries around Folsom this year
have been remunerative, and the future
bright.
Within the next couple of years there
! will be no less than five huge gold
dredgers at work in the vicinity OF
Folsom, and then the new" mining
camp will surpass the old-that is, the
| gold output in future will be greater
than that of the past This is a broad
assertion, but it will be remembered
that the early miner only SKINNED the
top, and the vast channels of auriferous
gravel received no attention from the
bronzed pioneer, for the very good rea-
son that he had not the appliances to
successfully work the same. But the
up-to-date gold dredge has solved the
problems.
One dredge already at work on Mis-
sissippi Bar is daily turning out gold in
very satisfactory manner. A much
larger one will be built on Sailor Bar
this coming winter, and it Is said that
| steam shovel will be used to mine
| Teet's Flat. Besides capitalists have
bought and have under bond two or
three thousand acres that they con-
template working with dredgers, con-
| siderable Of which has already been
thoroughly and Systematically pros
pected by shafts and by improved
steam drills. And the good work is
still going on.
| In the vicinity of Folsom a vast ter
ritory is capped with a flow of volcanic
mud and lava. If the stories of old
miners can be believed, there is a treas
ure under that Gaping that is richer
than the widest dream
| In early days some of these van
guards of civilization penetrated this
volcanic mantle and a key was given
them of the contents of natures store
house. But with primitive pumps the
flow of water could not be handled and
the miner had to abandon this work and
a fortune almost within his grasp.
| All that deep buried gold some day
will be formed into shining twenty dol
lar pieces and enter the field Of in
dustry. Folsom's business houses will
supply the necessities to the miner that
brings that gold into channels of use
| fulness.
There is another golden harvest
around Folsom; oranges. delicious,
sweet oranges and fancy fruit at that.
In fact, the top of the soil is as rich
as the golden bottom, and the old
mining camp is therefore doubly fav-
ored, and it's people have good reasons
for looking to a bright future.
Most of the citrus fruits shipped from
Folsom come from across the river, but
a few small orange groves on this side
demonstrate the fact that most of the
soil hereabouts is especially adapted to
the growing Of citrus fruits, and it will
not be long before the old and pictur-
esque mining town will be buried in the
deep green foliage of orange trees.
The Tokay grape also finds con-
genial climate and nourishing soil
around Folsom, and always command
top prices in the Eastern market. Some
prices realized by the growers this year
were away above all sales for Tokays
from other points sold the same day.
Then the wine industry is carried
on near Folsom on a large scale The
Natoma vineyard, distant about four
miles, is the second largest in the State,
and the vintage therefrom has world
wide reputation. Brandy distilling is
carried on extensively also, and the
cellars of the Red Bank and Stonewail
vineyards are full of brandy that con-
noisseurs pronounce equal to the best
distilled in the State.
The American River Land and Lum-
Der Company's fine sawmill is located
in Folsom. Unfortunately, last spring
the company lost its logs during the
freshet, but by another season the huge
band saws will be cutting thousands
of feet of the finest sugar pine lumber
| in the State.
The box factorS, owned by Scott &.
of material, will then be busy hive
Of industry.
It is said that when the lumber COM
pany again starts up the capacity Of
the mill will be more than doubled.
RumOr also mas II Cnat q SaSn dnO
door factory will quickly follow the
opening Of the mill.
! The town is in need of cannery
and dryer to assist the fruit-growers
to dispose Of their surplus crops, and
such an institution may be looked for
| in the near future.
| Another important industry around
Folsom is dairying. Vast herds Of COWS
during the winter months feed on the
succulent grass growing luxuriantly on
thousands of acres. In summer the
herds are taken to the mountain ranges,
returning in the fall sleek and fat
/ AT that point the: Sacramento Gas.
Electric and Railway Company re-
ceives it's power from the waters of the
American River, the plant being one
of the finest In the State.
The citizens of Folsom are a genial,
wfole-souled lot, and a stranger that
happens in that town will always find
the latch string out
The public school is presided over by
corps of efficient teachers. In fact.
the standing Of Folsom's graduates is
the highest in the county, and Pro-
fessor ]. E. Blanchard the Principal,
is yearly highly complimented.
The future of our neighboring town
49,