USA > California > Placer County > History of Placer county, California > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
" How oft our fate from momentous things May rise like rivers out of little springs."
Mr. Nickerson on a certain night encamped with his family on the very ground now occupied by the town of Lincoln, and getting up in the following morning discovered that his cattle had strayed, and immediately set out in search of them. While thus wandering, he stumbled on a grassy glade bordering on Doty's Ravine, the waters of which were then pure and transparent as crystal; a dense forest of oak and pine trees with matted underbrush stretched away in front of him, but his eye took in at a glance the adaptability of the region for a splendid home in the future. He at once abandoned the previous
.
244
HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
intention of going to Tulare, and moved his family to a spot on the left bank of Doty's Ravine, where they still reside. Without one dollar in money, he commenced to raise vegetables, which when matured commanded a very high price, for there were then hundreds of miners in the surrounding region. Every spare hour from the vegetable garden was industri- ously devoted to the clearing of the forest and under- brush, and now we behold, instead of a silent wilderness, one of the most magnificent and extensive vineyards, with a truly splendid orchard of several thousand fruit trees of every species and choicest selection we have yet beheld in California, from the southern portion of Los Angeles County to Siskiyou, in the northern portion of the State. Mr. Nickerson hasrepeatedly received premiums in money, diplomas in silverware and gold medals from varions exhibi- tions, at the State Fair and elsewhere, at different times, and is now an opulent man and an honor to the State. Proverbial for hospitality, he is unas- suming and unostentatious, frank and with generous impulses. Not having had the benefit of mneh scholastie education, he is nevertheless a gentleman of sound practical knowledge, of varied information -in a word, of high intelligence, and with all his possession of an abundance of the world's goods, we can say of him in truth as the immortal bard, Robbie Burns, said of Lord Dace,
" The faent a pride na pride has he Mair than an honest ploughman."
Should be live for a few years longer his aspirations will be realized in being the owner of one grand vine- yard of 500 acres.
Let us try to describe his new wine cellar just about completed. This elegant structure is 100 feet long, 50 feet wide and 3 stories high. The walls of the first story are of granite, 12 teet in height and three feet thick. This granite rock was quarried from an excavation made in a gently sloping bill, and where the building now stands. Sufficient rock was also quarried for the erection of a still-house very soon to be commenced, and which in dimensions will be 35x23 feet. The first story of the building first referred to is supported by five sets of massive stringers, each 10x12 inches, these stringers sup- ported by columns 12x12 inches, and standing on brick piers built in eement, the piers resting on a bed-rock of solid granite. The columns occur every 9 feet; then come the joists fx12, and only 1 foot apart; then a floor of sugar-pine boards, each 1} inches thick; over this floor was spread a layer of pulver- ized, decomposed granite, 19 inches deep, and well pounded down; and to " cap the climacteric," as it were, over all is a bed of cement, 22 inches thick, completely impervious to water and fire-proof also. On the top of that occurs another set of stringers, precisely alike to that already mentioned as in the cellar below, each stringer supported by a brick column running up 3 feet, 9 inches, and resting on the stringers first mentioned immediately over
the first column. On the top of these stringers come the posts, 4x12 inches and only 8 inches apart, and strong enough to uphold the largest train of cars that ever thundered over a railroad. On these joists is another floor, from which springs the same number of columns, half in dimension of those already spoken of; then another set of joists and floor; from the later springs another set of columns one-third the size of those first referred to. These columns rise to massive stringers that support the roof. The stud- ding in the second story is 6x6 inches, heavily braced, mortised and pinned-the corner posts being 12x12 inches, all framed and mortised into a sill 10x12 inches. The balance of the studding inter- vening to that we have spoken of is 4x6 inches. The siding is of clear sugar-pine, dressed and painted with three coats of paint. The main body is of straw finishing of white, while the doors are of slate color. In front of this fine structure is a porch 50 feet long by 13 wide, constructed of 14-inch red- wood, tongued and grooved in artistic style. Every- thing that modern science has devised for proper ventilation has been applied in the erection of the building. In front are three openings, well guarded with iron grates. At the back part are two fines, or perhaps more properly speaking, chimneys, running up or through the granite wall on the outside and above for 12 feet, constructed of brick. There are forty windows in the building. Running around the base outside is a flume (should you choose to call it such) three feet wide, covered with cement and bordered with a parapet of granite. This is to carry away water which might come from adjacent portions of the grounds and from the roof of the building. The second story is the fermenting room, and as every one knows that when the grape juice is in process of fermentation it will overflow, pipes are ingeniously laid, which emerge from the walls of the building, and thus convey the liquid to the flume beneath. The two upper stories are ceiled. The space (6 inches) between the ceiling and weather boarding being filled with saw-dust. The ceiling, of clear sugar-pine, is washed with some kind of material which will resist the action of fire. Paint would not. The front portion of the building is on level ground, then extends backward 100 feet its entire length. In this 100 feet an elevation was gained on the bill of 17 feet. It is evident, therefore, when the ground was excavated and graded for the recep- tion of the building, the ascent to the third story by an inclined plane from the rear of the structure would be very easy. This third story is the fruit and crushing room, veiled and furnished in every similar respect to the fermentation room below. The grapes are hurled with velocity up the gentle incline and crushed. Instead of conveying the jnice in buckets to the fermentation room, a hose is applied, through which it passes through the floor to the barrels or other receptacles below for fermenta- tion. Again, in front of the second story is a hand-
RESIDENCE OF JOHN WOODWARD. NEWCASTLE PLACER GO. GAL
DRY GOODS & CLOTHING BOOTS SHOES & STATIONERY
OFFICE
RESIDENCE & STORE OF E.W.CULVER NEWCASTLE PLACER CO CAL
245
AGRICULTURE.
some veranda, 13 feet wide. The casks are rolled out here from the fermentation room to be prepared for the reception of the wine, which is done by thor- oughly cleansing by pure soft water from a never- failing well, through a hose by a foree pump outside. From the fermenting room to the cellar underneath the wine is conveyed by a hose through the floor, in the same way that the juice is sent from the crush- ing room above. Again, all the material in the fer- menting room for the manufacture of brandy will be conveyed by troughs or flumes to the still-house, just about to be built; so that everything that wealth could command, and art and ingenuity devise, have been lavished here to facilitate his business by Mr. Nickerson. All doors are furnished with burglar- proof loeks and windows, also. The whole edifice stands on a bed of granite everlasting as the hills. The doors and windows of the cellar have iron shut- ters, fire and burglar-proof. This grand structure was commenced about the first of June, last year, and on an average fifteen men were employed daily in its construction-the whole being superintended and directed by Mr. Nickerson in person; and in coneluding our discursive, rapid description of the building, permit us to say, that in all our peregrin- ations through California for more than twenty-two years, we have not seen anything of its kind erected by one man that manifested to our mind so forcibly the results of persevering energy and go-a-headative- ness. Although we had frequently heard and read of the gentleman we had never had the pleasure of see- ing him until at the request of several friends we were induced to visit his splendid domain of 800 acres, where we met with a cordial and disinterested recep- tion. His splendid orchard and vineyard now cover an arca of 225 acres; the air, while vocal with the song of many tiny warblers, is fragrant with wel- come odors; the heavens are tranquil and serene, and good old Sol shines brightly over all on God's footstool-the poor and the rich alike. We desire that you bear in mind always that when the proprietor settled here in the fall of 1852, the whole surrounding region was a wild forest of oaks and pines, whose stalwart arms stretched far and wide, and between whose trunks was an almost impassable brake, and the courageous pioneer himself settled there with- out a dollar, to combat with and " make the wilder- ness bloom and blossom as the rose."
Mr. Nickerson does not irrigate his vineyard but has an abundance of water throughout the year to fruetify his grand orchard. The water of the Bear River Canal flows through the entire length of his ranch, thus affording every facility for irrigating his fruit trees. Ile has no less than 90,000 good bear- ing vines now, besides 75,000 more planted a short time ago, the greater number of which will bear next year. There are no less than 276 varieties of grape- bearing vines. Forty other varieties will bear this and next year, and those of the choicest selections. At the State Fair of 1869 Mr. Nickerson exhibited no
less than 1,200 varieties of fruits, including 216 of grapes. He will have this fall the large number of 2,000,000 rooted vines for sale of careful and choice selection. Ilis orchard contains no less than 6,000 fruit trees, including 1,000 planted this year. He has, in all, 1,400 varieties of fruit, including grapes. The orchard presents a magnificent sight, truly, laid out in broad avenues; the branches of every tree being laden with foliage and blossoms of wondrous beauty, emitting a delightful fragrance on the circum- ambient air. The soil is simply composed of granite. Berries of great variety flourish there, and the almond, black and English walnuts, and a great vari- ety of other nut trees yield abundantly. Everything that flourishes in this climate, except the orange and lemon, may be found at Nickerson's - but there eannot be a doubt but that those will grow there luxuriantly. He will experiment very soon. HIe bas wondrous avennes bordered by grand fig trees, and even down to the persimmon. He has had two depots-one at Reno and another at Truckee, both east of the Sierra Nevada. In 1869 he paid to the Central Pacific Railroad Company $3,500, exclusive of a large amount paid to Wells, Fargo & Co., for fruit sent by express. Of wines he has the Muscat, Hamburg, Peru, Palestine, St. Peters, Traminier, (champagne grape), Angelica, Catawba, Isabella, and others too numerous to mention. Of brandies he has from the grape, pear, apple, peach, and other fruits. Mr. Nickerson's opinion is that the Malaga is the best raisin grape. He puts up tons and tons of dried fruits, which are sent to all portions of the country. Mr. Nickerson has received three gold medals for his displays of fruit, and the walls of his parlor are adorned by the many diplomas awarded to him by the various fairs. Ile is a constant ex- hibitor at the State Fair; often at the Mechanics' Institute Fairs, in San Francisco, and District Fairs, at Chico, Marysville, and elsewhere, and has never failed in carrying off the highest prizes and diplomas for his fruit, also winning prizes for his display of hams, bacon, lard and other products. The region is healthy, the water excellent, and any amount of timber contiguous to the rancho, while the facilities for the transportatin of produce by railroad are all that could be desired."
At the State Fair in September, 1871, the follow- ing awards were made to exhibitors from Placer County. On wines J. R. Nickerson received $10.00 for the best white still wine, two years old; also, $10.00 for the best red still wine, two years old; also, $10.00 for the best claret wine at the fair; also, $10.00 for the best grape brandy, one year old; also, $100 for the best general display of fruits, embracing the best and greatest varieties of any exhibitor at the fair. Joshua Reeves, of Lincoln, was awarded the first premium, 840.00, for the best stallion, Vibrator, for horses of all work. For first-class thoroughbred cattle, R. M. Sparks, of Lincoln, received the first premium, 830.00, for the best Durham cow, Maggie,
246
HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
two years old or over. Mrs. Lee Chamberlain, of Lincoln, also received a premium of $5.00 for the best eone work on exhibition, rare skill and taste being displayed on the work. James R. Nickerson was also awarded a gold medal for the largest and best display of varieties of fruit.
At every State Fair while Mr. Nickerson re" mained the owner of the ranch he surpassed all com- petitors in displays of fruit, and it is doubtful if his exhibit could have been surpassed by any one person in the world.
Of Mr. Nickerson and his ranch, Mr. Thomas S. Myrick writes in February, 1881: "Thirty years ago the veteran pioneer in fruit culture in Placer County, Mr. James R. Nickerson planted an orchard and vineyard on Doty's Ravine, three miles north of the thriving village of Lincoln. He sold his fruits at fabulous prices in the mining camps of Yuba, Nevada and Placer Counties. In the process of time he ex- tended his grounds until he had over one hundred acres in fruit and vineyard cultivation. The present owner of the celebrated Nickerson Vineyard is Mr. Herndon Barrett, of Marysville, who puts upon the market tons of superior raisins annually, besides large quantities of wine. Mr. Nickerson now owns a large ranch on Wolf Creek, in Nevada County; and one of his sons, Mr. James Nickerson, is the enterprising manager of the California Raisin Company's vine- yard in Clover Valley, near the village of Rocklin. In the early history of the cultivation of the grape in California, vineyards were very generally located on the deep and rich soil of the valleys, or on the ex- tended adobe land of the plains, but subsequent ex- perience has demonstrated the problem that the ridges and slopes of the foot-hill lands are especially adapted to the successful and profitable cultivation of the grape, both for raisins and for wine. The phylloxera has become the incurable pest of the vineyards which are located in the alluvial valley of the Coast Range, and mildew blights the crops of those which are planted on the deep and moist soil of the plains."
SPRING VALLEY RANCH.
This tract comprises about 20,000 acres; is situated in the southern part of Placer County, twenty miles north of Sacramento, and between the towns of Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln, and is the property of Mr. J. P. Whitney.
The western part of the property is intersected for a distance of four miles and a half by the Oregon Division of the Central Pacific Railroad in its route from Lincoln to Roseville, while the eastern boundary extends to the Central Pacific Railroad at Rocklin.
The property occupies in Placer County that par- ticular locality where the lower foot-hills of the Sierra Nevada range of mountains mingle and glide almost imperceptibly into the long reaches of the Sacramento Valley; diversified here and there by ridges and little streams of water and the most
graceful and picturesque valleys imaginable. As one descends from the pine region of the mountains through the manzanita and chaparral growth of the upper foot-hills, his vision is surprised and gratified by the graceful contour of the lower foot-hills, and their luxuriant growth of oaks and buckeye groups, resembling more in appearance the cultivated parks of England than a stranger would suppose the foot- hills of the lofty Sierra.
Here is the region most favored in the State for the cultivation of vineyards and fruit, yearly more appreciated for the peculiar flavor of its products, and destined ultimately to be the most valuable in the State for grapes and the delicate varieties of fruit.
Here has been demonstrated also the most suc- cessful growing of fine wool sheep on the Pacifie Coast.
This was commenced in the year 1855 by Mr. George Whitney, father of the present owner, now residing in San Francisco, at an advanced age, who may be accounted one of the earliest pioneers of an industry which has of late years assumed such large proportions.
Mr. Whitney imported into the State from Aus- tralia, a small flock of pure Saxony sheep, 120 in number, at a cost of over $50.00 each, which for years were carefully bred in with pure-blooded Spanish Merino Bucks, brought from the State of Vermont.
At the period when Mr. Whitney engaged in this pursuit, the total wool product of the State was esti- mated at 300.000 pounds, which steadily increased until the maximum of State production was reached in 1876 of 56,550,000 pounds. Sinec that year, owing to a more extensive cultivation annually of grain lands, a moderate decrease has occurred.
In 1868 Mr. Whitney, senior, retired from the bus- iness, disposing of his interests to his sons, J. P. and F. L. Whitney, who carried on the business together until 1872, when Mr. F. L. Whitney disposed of his interests to his brother, J. P. Whitney, the present owner, retiring to go into the wool business in San Francisco, where he is at present engaged.
When Mr. George Whitney engaged in the enter- prise, and even up to 1868, the whole region was unfenced, and open to settlement and the grazing of predatory stock.
Upon the building of the Central Pacific and Ore- gon Railroads, from Sacramento through this region, a marked change occurred: Towns sprung up along the railroads; settlers came in rapidly, and a new era of prosperity was inaugurated for the lower agricultural portion of Placer County, as well as for the mining regions in the upper part of the county.
It was the habit in early days to believe that the agricultural possibilities of California were limited, an opinion now happily dispelled by the immense products of the State. This belief was generally held by the wool and cattle men of Placer County in common with others, and farming was carried on in
247
AGRICULTURE.
a very limited manner until 1872, when Mr. J. P. Whitney ploughed up and put 1,200 acres in grain of his land lying below Lincoln, adjacent to the Ore- gon Division of the Central Pacific Railroad.
This land and additional large tracts have been regularly cultivated since. The total of land under cultivation upon the Spring Valley Ranch at the present time exceeding 4,000 acres, although the system of summer-fallowing pursued, preeludes the putting in of grain upon over one-half of the culti- vated land in one year, the other half lying dormant and resting until the following year.
By the system of summer-fallowing, and of late fall dry sowing upon land which has been well ploughed up and harrowed in the spring, good crops have been secured, and since this system has been pursued, no entire failure has occurred any year.
In addition to grain growing, large quantities of hay are ent and baled at the ranch every year, which is mainly disposed of to the lumber men and mining companies in the towns above on the line of railroad. The property is under the direct management of Mr. John T. Whitney, cousin of Mr. J. P. Whitney, well- known in Placer County as one of the most prudent and experienced of managers.
In 1877, Mr. Whitney laid out and planted on one of his foot-hill valleys, a vineyard of 250 acres in Muscat of Alexandria vines, which is the second largest bearing vineyard in the State. This vineyard was noticed in the Grass Valley Foot-Hill Tidings of December 31, 1881, as follows :-
More attention has been given in California this year than in any other, to the curing of raisins, and the shipments East have exceeded the amount of last year by many hundred tons. In Spain, the curing of raisins is confined almost exclusively to the Malaga district, while we find in California a long stretch of country, from north to south, favorably adapted to cultivation.
The industry is a comparatively recent one here, but is making rapid progress, and it is quite within the bounds of reason to say, that the State possesses a capability to supply the whole country with this choice fruit.
While the flat lands and irrigable tracts in the State are capable of producing a good and superior quality, as evinced by the products from the Briggs, Blower and other vineyards, and the irrigated colonies in different parts of the State; we have repeatedly drawn attention to the superior advan- tages of our foot-hill lands, for grape and raisin cultivation, as well as for most kinds of fruits.
Our attention is particularly drawn to the adapt- ability of the foot-hill region, by the result of this year of the California Raisin Company, near Rock- lin, in Placer County.
The vineyard of this company ocenpies a valley of 250 aeres, two and one-half miles west of Rocklin, which five years ago was in its indigenous state, considered appropriate for sheep grazing, and its growth was of buckeyes and scrub oaks.
This valley, now under deep plowing and high cultivation, and without any irrigation, may be con- sidered one of the most successful in California, yielding this year nearly seventy tons of superior
raisins, while its product may be expected to annually increase until the vines have reached maturity.
The vineyard is inclosed by about four miles of fence, and is laid out in blocks of vines, of an acre each, intersected with roads and avenues, and in its regularity and apportionments of drying grounds and buildings, may be presented as a model vineyard.
The vineyard was laid out by Mr. J. P. Whitney, prominently known for his extensive land reclama- tion and irrigating works in the State, and who is extensively engaged in wool and grain growing in Placer County.
The whole product of the vineyard this year was shipped to Chicago, excepting the first selections, which, tastefully packed in four-pound boxes, have been disposed of in the home market at prices con- siderably in advance of those asked for the best of foreign layers, and have been mainly purehased by Californians for presents, and to send East as a sample of what the State can do in the raisin line, and for size, bloom and exquisite flavor certainly equal, if not surpass any foreign production.
The Spring Valley Raneb is entirely inclosed with substantial walls and fence, with many subdivisions, aggregating nearly 100 miles in length, and carries now with several thousand acres belonging to the estate in Sutter County, 14,000 head of sheep, all derived from the original stock, while many thousand head have been sold from the ranch, the annual increase now being from 4,000 to 5,000.
These sheep having been carefully bred and culled, are unequaled by any large flock in the State, produeing annually over six pounds of superior wool per head, which is well known in the Boston wool market, where it has been exclusively sold for the last thirteen years.
The fine quality is indicated by the prices the wool has sold for, the spring clips for the whole period of thirteen years averaging in its unwashed condition thirty-five cents per pound. The spring clip of 1880 was sold for forty cents per pound, and the spring elip of 1881 for thirty-eight cents per pound.
Mr. Whitney has also been prominently engaged in other parts of the State in land enterprises; a few years ago he owned the larger part of 120,000 aeres of' the swamp or tide lands on the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, and in 1876-77 reclaimed by substantial levees or embankments of thirty-six miles in length, the upper part of Roberts' Island, near Stockton, on the San Joaquin River, a traet of 20,000 aeres which is now under high eultivation. and one of the most snecessful reclamation distriets in the State.
In 1878, Mr. Whitney having disposed of his tide lands, gave his attention to the irrigation of lands in the San Joaquin Valley, where the annual rain- falls are insufficient to insure cultivation.
Seleeting a traet of eleven square miles near Fresno, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, known now as the Washington Irrigated Colony, he con- structed about seventy miles of canals and ditches, and laid out the tract in ten and twenty-acre lots, carrying the water over the entire tract, and appli-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.