The record-union., 1899-03-26
The AMERICAN RIVER GORGE.
THAT STREAM rs NOW IN ITS
GRANDEsT MOOD.
A Wild and Mighty Torrent That is
Worth Going Miles to
Gaze Upon.

Yesterday was lovely spring day,
following nearly a week of rain and
clustering March weather. The sun
rose in a clear sky, though later in the
day fieecy, harmless clouds were plenti-
full Apparently the storm had spent
itself, but during this month there is
no telling how soon one storm may
follow another.
The good effects of the rain that fell
during the week are manifest every
where in the country. Grain is grow
ing rapidly, the grass is high, and the
fields and hills never presented a more
inviting or thrifty appearance.
A Record Union" reporter yesterday
made the trip up along the American
River from this city to Folsom, and
found the face of Nature-as we'll as
the faces of the farmers = smiling.
In many places the grain is a
foot high, pasturage is luxuriant
everywhere, and the broad fields
are here and there dotted with
great beds of bright yellow pop
pies and numerous other varieties Of
wild flowers, strongly suggestive of the
approach of the picnic season.
The American River was very high
|
was falling slowly. The back-water
caused by the heavy volume in the
Sacramento was rising over the flats
between the city and Mayhem Station,
however, and all the low lands from
Brighton Junction eastward to Mayhem
are submerged, the water in some
places covering the wagon road and ex-
tending out as far as the railroad track
oil oil 70 &alI
orchards are under water but unless
they remain covered for several days
the result will be beneficial rather than
otherwise. In seasons of average rain
fall these low lands are always sub
merg ed. and that is why the soil is so
fertile.
The sight along the great rocky gorge
between Folsom and the State Prison
was a grand and beautiful one The
river was still about thirty feet above
low-water mark, having fallen few
feet since Friday, and was tearing its
way down over the great bouiders and
between its granite walls with fearful
velocity Striking the solid masses of
rock that rise twenty to forty feet from
the bottom of the channel, great sheets
of spray are sent flying into the air,
pools and angry looking eddies in
which no animate thing Except f1sh)
could live for a moment.
Now and then immense pine logs,
representing the expenditure of a vast
sum of money by the American River
Land and Lumber Company, came
shooting down the rocky canyon with
awful force. Some were shot high onto
rocks projecting from the channel and
left poised in air, while others were
whirled out upon the rocky shores OF
the turbulent stream. Scores OF men
and boys We're down under the hgh
bluffs risking their lives to secure these
logs and other driftwood.
But the grandest sight of all was at
the great dam beyond the prison. on
Friday the hight of the water over the
crest of the dam was about eighteen
feet. and yesterday from twelve TO
fifteen feet. The roar of the waters as
they plunged over the solid masonry
in such immense volume and upon the
rocks below could be heard nearly
mile away.
When one of the big pine logs that
were escaping from the boom hlgher
up the stream reached the dam 1t nrst
shot upward, then turned and plunged
down out of sight into the boiling, hiss
ing cauldron beneath. There the under
tow seized it. and when it next bobbed
up on the surface of the stream 1t was
far down the gorge ready for COILS
on with some projecting ledge.
The hills on both sides of the river
are green with verdure and bright with
wild flowers. and in whatever direction
ones eyes may wander they will rest
on beautiful landscapes, varying at al
most every step. Tt is an ideal LOCALITY
for the painter or photographer, and IN
the last two days the camera has been
very much in evidence there, IL the
sketch book has not. 1t is doubtful II
there is a rock or tree in that vicinity
that has not been transferred to plate
or 6I,,, in that time