The Delta independent., 1925-01-02
George H. Merchant
Writes From West

letter written along the way, will be
welcomed by Mr.. Merchants many
friends here.
Feather River Sunday.
The first stop in California since
daylight, at Z a. m Pacific time 1t
is showing A small stream trickles
along, lodging in and out from under
the snow. The country here is rath-
er level for mountain district, all
covered with pine trees.
The canon is growing deeper and
the river grows larger. Many points
of interest, including numerous short
tunnels, are pointed out by the ad-
vertising agent. Every feature that
will attract attention to California is
stressed to the limit
The river has now grown into an
ideal fishing stream The canon is
getting deeper; pine trees are crawl
ing higher and higher to the top of
the mountains. We are passing an
immense water power plant where
the water drops 45O feet, and the
electric current is transmitted to San
Francisco.
The old pioneer trail of the gold |
days of 40 is quite plain on the 9TH
er side of the river. The snow has
turned to rain. The boughs of the |
pine trees bended low with the wet
snow have disappeared. The lower
base of the mountains is covered
with live oak, and the foliage is
fresh and green. The pines still
hold sway on the mountain tops The
placid stiffness of the river has Civ
en- way to a somewhat terrific cur
rent but nothing like the Gunnison
in the Black Canon.
Now come the grape vines. AS
far as one can see, though that is
not a great distance, as it is still
raining. The landscape is covered
with a carpet Of green grass every
where except where it is covered
with water.
The road bed is getting smoother
as you will note by my writing This
Western Pacific seems to be an extra
tail to the Southern Pacific railroad
The way from Salt Lake City to
San Francisco parallels the Southern
Pacific practically all the way except
at Feather river
The mountains are being left be-
hind. At Orvorville, at one time the
most famous placer mining district
in California, l can see hundreds of
acres of land where the. gravel and
sand has been worked over for
gold. There is quite city here built
on the old placer diggings. There is
unf Ir.fal l,lt,, |
The first orange and lemon trees
have made their appearance
The train has the canon all to it.
self; not an automobile road to in
terfere but it has very much the
gait and swing of its parent, the D.
& r. G. w.
The green fields and meadows and
wheat lands are growing more ex-
elusive, with many spotted COWS
feeding on the green grass
We are now passing a beautiful
cemetery. More vineyards and farm
improvements are numerous. They
are not elaborate, but very good: not
many trees surrounding them Two
kinds of roads are showing up, paved
and mud. A Ford car stalled after
getting off the pavement.
The horizon widens. The fields
are more extensive and farm Improve
ments are farther apart. The fields
are not so green; the live oaks seem
to be killed by the drouth as they
are bare Of leaves, and look as though
they are dead.
The catalpas are still green, but
not many of these. Another grave
yard, somewhat mounded Evidently
people die here as well as other
places. We are now passing exten-
sive pear and prune orchards.
Sacramento City, the capital of the Il
state, seems very much as it was
eighteen years ago. This road goes
in one OF the main streets. We pass
where there used to be a long row of
hitching rocks when horses were in
use. When horses weren't tied to
them the Cinnamon roasted on them
They have been taken away and ] |
wonder where the poor fellows rooF |
now.
Now passing through the San |
Joaquin Valley, which is intensively |
cultivated. Vineyards on either side |
OF the road as far as the eye can
see.
Now at Stack, quite city at one
time, a great distributing center.
being at the head of heavy river
transportation. The landscape is
broadening Farm holdings seem to
be very extensive, improvements are
firstclass; there are good houses,
large barns and silos. see many
spotted cattle, and few sheep.
Passing through a section of hills