Year: 1870




little people of this county would have the
apathy and depression, that has existed for
some time PAST overcome, they must show a
spirit Of public enterprise. energy must be
displayed, life must be thrown into every
project that promises benefit for the future.
Few localities are as highly favored with natu-
raj resources as Toolumne County, if our
leading men will make an active determined
effort to push ahead and advance our general
interests and not be afraid to put little eapi-
tai in schemes which are for the general good,
we Will soon be blessed with prosperous days
again. It is contrary to all former experience
for saah rich, beautiful, lovely section of
God earth to long remain in the despondent
condition that we unhappily fell into after the
exhaustion Of our placer mines. We are
exceeding rich 10 the precious metals, rich
enough TO employ millions Of capital in min
ing. We have thousands upon thousands of
acres Of as coed agricultural lands as can be
found anywhere. We have almost inexhaus-
table forests of timber. What more can be
asked for upon which to base prosperous
and happy community. We have sufficient
natural means 70. sustaining an immense
population. We have not had, but always
have been, in need osactive publcspirited citi-
zens, heretofore those who have been the
most fortunate among us in pecuniary mat
ters, have shown the least interest in our
prosperity and our future. Our resources
have been accumulated and taken from us
to build up other localities, making us poorer
and causing our people to lose that confidence.
which it is necessary to enjoy to make
community prosperous. fwelose confidence
in ourselves how can it be expected that
others will have confidence in us. Those
who would succeed, must make an effcrt,
they must open up industries, they must show
that they have faith in the future of their
county. When our people prt forth the
spirit that it is their duty to show, they will
soon fnd we have more inducements to offer,
than in their disconsolate mood they dreamed
existed. We have suffered terribly from de-
crease of population for the last few wears,
the giving out of the placer mines ari the
inducements of farming on the plains. has
caused this, as our population became less our
taxes became higher until it seemed that
nothing but poverty was to be our lot. We
have reached the bottom of this downward
course we confidently believe. The necessi-
ii es of our condition have been poorly reali-
zed until within a short time suddenly it
has flashed on the minds of our citizens gem
orally that something must be done. A COM
mencementha been made bv organizing New
Stage line to enable travellers to reach us at
a reasonable rate, this has already started a
project for building a road from Sonora to
the Yosemite valley. which will enable tour
lists visiting the valley to reach the Big Tree
Grove by straight line with good accommc-
dations on the road.


Our lands have been surveyed and Sec
tionized and will soon be in market, they are
already being looked after, the exhaustion of
the valley lands and the uncertainty of the
one crop there raised, is bringing the noun
tain lands into high favor, for the reason tha.
varied crops can be raised here and total
failure is never known. Our business men
must no longer wait for business to como to
them, they must make it. they must let the
rest of the State see that they are live class
of men who have the elements for building
up happy and prosperous county. There
is now every incentive to induce all our citi-
zens to unite and determine to leave nothing
undone to advance the general interests of
the county. Enterprise and liberality is es-
sential to prosperity. Home industry end 10
cal business must be encouraged. 1t is in
the power of oar people to improve their eve-
ry condition. Let it not be said any longer
that they will go backward, show energy and
determined spirit to improve and success
will be the result.