Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-08-16

Sisson and tits Surrounding
Beauties.

Oe9Ut1eS.
SIssON, CALIFORNIA, Aug. s, 1904.
To THE WOOD COUNTY REPORTER
SisSon is town of about 1900 popula.
ti0n and is maintained chiefly by
numbering and agricultural pursuits.
This is very good country for fruit,
such as: Apples, pears. plums andlall
kinds OF berries, especially straw
berries. The chief beauty lies in its
mountains and meadows. Sisson is
situated in the saddle of two great
mountaiDs-Mt. Shasta on the north
about twelve miles, with an elevation
of 14,444 feet and Mt. Eddy about
II, 900 foot elevation, lying to the
northwest about ten miles Both of
which show perpetual snow, Mt.
Shasta being nearly covered the en-
tire year, thereby giving the most
delightful evenings though the
temperature often reaches 105 degrees
during the day.
Some of the beauties of the country
in brief: Mt. Shasta with its ever
lasting snow appears so near one
would think they could walk to it in
fifteen minutes.
Mt. Eddy On the left with it's
granite formation is conceded by
geoloeists to be the oldest mountain
in the North American continent.
The Black Butte is barren noun
tain to the northwest about six miles,
and has an elevation of about 5000
feet. To the south is the coast range
which one never tires of looking at
and especially on moonlight night.
The Fish Hatchery maintained by
the state is located about one-half
mile from SisSOn and force of from
ten to twelve men are employed in
raising trout OF the different species,
ranging from the Eastern Speckled
Beauty 60 the "Alaskan Dolly
Warden" 1t is very interesting to
go through the grounds to see the
fish in every stage from spawn to
trout, twenty inches in length and
weighing as high as twelve pounds.
They are fed twice a day, their food
consisting of ground liver and shorts.
Next in interest in Shasta spring,
located eight miles south on the s. P.
r. r. This spring is natural soda
water and comes out of the earth as
cold as ice water. 1t is pleasant
drink and is sold far and near as
mineral water. This is a favorite
summer resort, having an excellent
hotel and cottages in connection with
the spring and one Of the prettiest
grounds its been my luck 10 see. The
hotel and cottages are at the top of
the mountain and they can be
reached by scenic railroad operated
by water power taken from stream
which flows down the mountain hav-
Ing fall of about 400 feet or by a
beautiful winding path which leads
between huge powders, beneath great
pines and fir trees and across rustic
bridges, the whole panorama being
lighted by electric lights at night
which makes it grand sight to see.
Next comes Ney spring, health
resort famous for the cure of rheuma-
tism. The medicinal properties OF
this spring are equal to those OF the
Hot Springs, Arkansas, and are fast
becoming popular. This spring is
situated on branch of the Sacre-
mento river, in deep pine forest
over hung by crags Of granite.
Located about three-quarterS of a
mile from here is the so called head
of the Sacramento river, flowing per-
hapS 1000 miners inches of water
which furnishes water to the Fish
Hatchery, electric light power and
for irrigating purposes through the
country.
Before closing must tell you that
several parties have lately tried to
climb Mt. Shasta but only about one
u6ll SuCCCCus LID 10 d fCly ululCOlU
trip as you go to timber line one day
on horseback, distance Of nine miles.
You rest there till two O'Clock next
morning when after having break
fast you commence the ascent. BY
going slowly, if one is successful you
reach the top somewhere near noon,
but persons with weak lungs or heart
trouble cannot stand the trip ON
account of the high altitude. Our
party OF ten, consisting of four ladies
and six gentlemen intend taking the
trip between the 10th and 18th inst.
In my next letter hope to be able
to give you an account of a successful
trip to this grand mountain.
Yours respectfully,
MINNIE GETS.