USA > California > Yuba County > History of Yuba County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 37
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CHAPTER XLV.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
Shape, Area and Extent of California-Mountains- Rivers-Topography of Yuba County -- Boundaries-Soil-Average Value of Land-Rainfall-Seasons.
California has the form of an irregular parallelogram, and contains nearly one hundred and sixty thousand square miles, or nearly one hundred and three million acres. The extent along the coast from northwest to sontheast is about seven hundred miles, while the average hreadtb is about two hundred miles. Its surface is widely diversified, the mountains, plains and bodies of water affording abun- dant opportunities for the exercise of many branches of trade and agrienltnre. Abont sixty million acres can be utilized for grazing and agrienlture. The mountains with the coverings of timber oeeupy about twenty-three million acres; the arid plains and deserts, land of little valne, take up ten million aeres; the unreelaimed swamp and over- flowed lands contain about three million aeres; the remainder is covered by the waters of the bays, lakes, rivers and smaller streams. Two systems of mountains traverse the State in lines nearly parallel to the coast. The Coast Range as its name indieates is on the western border, and the Sierra Nevada mountains are on the eastern limit. They join in the north at Mt. Shasta and in the south near Fort Tejon, forming the great basin of tho Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. Through
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C.L.SMITH & CO LITH OAKLAND CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST.
CHALLENGE MILLS. RESIDENCE AND PROPERTY OF A.M. LEACH. NEW YORK TP. YUBA Co. CAL.
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PUBLISHED BY THOMAS ON & WTEST
WM M. CRANE.
SHARON VALLEY MILL CRANE AND BRO. PROPRIETORS. NEW YORK TP. YUBA Co. CAL.
LITH EL SMITH LO OLALINO
L.T. CRANE.
129
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY CALIFORNIA.
these flow the two large rivers of the same nantes. The first draining the land north of Suisun bay and the latter carrying off the surplus water from the region south of that body.
TOPOGRAPHY.
Yulmı county is situated on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains and in the valley at their base. The rich valleys of Yulm, Bear and Frather rivers, afford fertile soil for the pro- duction of cereals, fruits and vegetables; the foothills forming th. transition from plain to mountains furnish abundant space for the funding and rising of locks and herds; from the bosom of the Sierras are ilng and washed vast quantities of mineral wealth. In the little canyons and valleys among the mountains and hills considerable attention is paid to the cultivation of the soil. The conuty is bomled on the northwest by Butte county, separated by Honent creek; on the must by Sieren and Nevada counties, separated partly by the: Yal river und its forks; on the south by Nevada, Placer and Sutter counties, separated partly by Bour river und Yuha river and its forks; im tho west by Satter county, soparataal hy Feather river. Its grentest lengthi is from northeast to southwest. There are no noted peaks within its limits although the nvorage altitude is quite high.
"The soil on the river buttoms in the valley is deep black alluvial, well uduptod for the production of almost any kind of grain, vegetables or fruit. Back from the river aml extending oven up the slope of tho foothills, tho surface earth is of a rod color called the " real lands." While not us productive ns tho first mentioned, wheat can be raised to the extent of fifteen or twenty bushels to tho acro. Tho culture of the vine is car- ried on ltero to n great extent. The foothills are in some places quite rocky nnd are utilized principally for grazing; vineyards and orchards thrive in thesoil of the little mountain valleys. Finally even in the higher parts where the mountains separate to form a fow acros of lower and moro lovel laml, little ranches nro located. Ouv reason for the grenter fertility of the soil in the Sacramento valley over that of the San Jongnin is the nearness of the water to the surface of the ground. In the Sacramento valley water can be found nt a depth of about twenty fert, while in the San Joaquin it is not unusual for a well to be sunk one hundred aud twenty-tive feet. According to the Sonoma County Land Journal for 1878, the average price per acre of land in Yuba county was four dollars and sixty-tive cents, while in Sutter county it was soven dollars and thirty cents. The average for the whole State was ten dollars and eighty cents. The surface and soil of Yuba county is capable of sustaining a large population, and in the near future when the State has becomo more fully settled, when labor is cheaper and
when small farias are in order. this will become one of the densely populated counties.
The following extract from a volume published in 1546, ly " a New Englandor" (supposed to be. Rufus B. Sage ), and entidad . Some in the Rocky Mountains," will chaletles prove instructive, as it describes the condition of the country and the productivoness of the sil at an July
" Among the grains, grasses and fruits indigenous to the country are " wheat, rye, oats, flax and clover ( white and rrel), with a great variety " of grapes, all of which are said to grow spontanemisly. Wild oats " frequently cover immense spreads of bottom and prairie land. some "times to an extent of several thousand seres, which resemble in " appwarmer the species common to the United States. They usually " grow to a height of between two and the fort, though they often " reach a light of seven feet. The wild clover of those valleys is " much like the common ted, and, in some places, is afforded in great "abundance. It attains a nsnal height of two feet and a half, though " it often measures twice that height, standing as thick as it can well " grow."
The following reports of rainfall have been recorded by the Central Pacific Railroad and private individuals. From the season of 1849-50 tu 1869-70, the nearest point reported is Saermento.
From 1870-71, to IST6-17, the mainfall in Marysville was as fol- lows:
1870-71 6.55.
1871-72 . 21.60.
1872-73. .13.04.
1873-71 26.87.
1871-75. 13.>1.
17.36.
1875-76.
1876-77 12.16.
The following shows the fall during the winter of 1877-78 :- October, 1877 .50.
November, 4 1.68.
December. .. 1.55.
Jannary, 1878 .9.47.
5.32.
February,
.3.53.
March, ..
1.30.
April,
May, .39.
The winter seasons of the different years have widely differed. Claude Chana's recollection of the seasons on Bear river. is as fol- lows :-
1845-46. Dry.
1846-47. High water; flooded the land.
Isti- High water and timal, lagan to sain nichtober, and con- tomed until May. No damage was done, as the water was clear. The river luxtom was clean gravel.
1-1-49. Dr.
From Judge U. P. Stiger, the following information was obtained in regard to a few of the later seasons
1-19 50. Rain commenced first of November, and tell in torrents for two weeks. It enued hand at intervals until the mublle of Muy. 1×10 01. Rained a little in the der and November, but the miny season did not fairly commence until the last of November or list of Freuler, when it rained constantly until the list of May.
1:51-52 Rain commenced middle of November, It did not fall any amount till later part of January. From that time to May 20 it fell in torrents, and emsed a great flood.
1:52-53. No rain of any consequence till the latter part of Novem- ber, at which tuur it commencedto fall in great quantities, and another
18:3 1. Showed in October, and from the middle of November to the middle of May, it rained almost constantly.
1851-55. Rained hard from the middle of November to the first of May.
The general rainy season commences from the first to the last part of November, and ouds from the first to mille of Muy. The deserip- tion of the floods which have wenered sinco the weeupation of the county by the whites, will be found in another chapter. Dreember 3, 1873, snow fell to the depth of one foot on the streets of Marysville. Light show had fallen in 1851, 1853, 1858, 1868, and someother years, Int at no time so heavy as this.
CHAPTER XLVIL.
AGRICULTURE.
Character of the Soil In the Old Hiver Bottomas Early Efforts In Agriculture- Risul that Industry-The Fleet Crop in Yuba County Status of Agriculture In 1916 Primitivo Methods and Implements for Tilling the Soil and Harvesting the Proforte Later allompta at Farming-I. E. Brown's Hay Crop- Improvements In Farming Cumplenauto- Allorapty In Horticulture - The first orchard- Later Successful Fruit Growers.
Agriculture in Yuba county has undergone wonderful changes in the last quarter of a century. Before the bydraulic method of mining came into favor, the banky of the rivers and streams were entirely occupied by farms. The lowlands, and bottom lands along the streams and extending back from one-half to a whole wile, and up the stream to the lower hills were composed of deep alluvial soil. It was of the richest quality, and all kinds of vegetables, grasses and grains grew in
130
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
abondance and to enormous proportions. On the Yuba bottom in 1852 or 1853, a root of alfalfa way taken out which measured twenty fect in length. But now this vast agricultural field has ancenmbed to the effects of nuother industry, mining. Those who were persistent enough to follow farming have changed their locations to the higher Jandu, where the red soil, if not so rich, still yields bountiful harvests. Some quarter sections are nearly all adobe lands which have within a few years been proven to be valuable wheat land. On the red lands it seems that the most approved method of cultivating is by sminmer fallowing.
The effects of the mining debris first began to be seriously felt about 1860, and two years latter agriculture attained its maximum extent. The flood of 1862 left a sediment on Bear river about two feet thick, und crentud grent uların. The carly effort of A. W. Von Schmidt in constructing a leveo on Boar river, which at first appeared to be a foolish act, has proved the protection which saved Wheatland and the uljoining lund. The early population of the county consisted of people from all parts of the world, all coming with no intention of remaining. Their only object was to secure a fortune and then return to their homes and nativo lands, honco they chose the seemingly quickest way of securing wealth. Tho agricultural productions were exceedingly limited in amount and varioty. Flour was brought from Chili, Australia, or from the celebrated Gallego&. Haxhall Mills of Virginia ; barley and onts also cmino from Chili, vogotables were brought from the Sandwich Islands. Aftor the first rush to tho mines, somo found that they could not eudure tho Imrdships and exciting vicissitudes of a miner's life, so these naturally dropped into the agricultural class. In this county lands were taken up all along the Yuba, Feather, Bear and Honcut, by pro umption, squattor's title and under grouts. These individual efforts in the field gradually crystalized into an united effort to stop foreign im- portatiou of grains. Flouring mills were built in different parts of the country, and soon tho lands of the State were able to produce sufficient to supply the needs and demands of the consumers. Having now ac- complishod this, the farmers and grain dealers could see nothing further ahond and agricultural progress was at a stand still. The idea of ex- porting did not enter their minds for they thought it to he futile. The wheat would not stand the journey East or to Liverpool, twice through the tropics and around Capo Horn, The extremes of heat and cold would cause " sweating " and destruction. No attempt was made till about 1861, when some astute (not hazardous as most argued) gentle- man sont a cargo to Liverpool, taking tho chances of losing, but deter- mined to try tho oxperiment. The cargo arrived safely and in excellent condition: a second was sent, and that arrived in the best of order. This established the fact that wheat could be shipped from our State, and an immediate impetus was given to grain exportation and neces- surily to its production. The astonished people needed some reason
for the satisfactory results attained in these first exportations; inves- tigation and thought gave it. In the grain-producing valleys of the State, from April to October, there is hardly any rain and the heat is intense. From April to June the kernel is standing in the ear, ripen- ing and drying. When cut and threshed, it is placed where the sun or hot dry air has free access, and all extra moisture is removed. Nature thus accomplishes what had to be done by artificial means with Eastern grain. There in the celebrated Gallego & Haxhall Mills, the wheat was placed in large drying rooms and the moisture was removed by air heated to an even temperature. Then agriculture became the object of the feverish lesires of the population, as mining did in former days; all the State went into farming as fast as land could be located and titles cleared.
The first crop raised in Yuba county was a field of wheat put in by Cordua in 1845, between Marysville and Yuba City. This was only a small crop. The same year Sicard raised wheat on his ranch on the south bank of Bear river. Gutteirez, Johnson, Kyser and Smith were simply herding cattle on the plains, also Roder This was the state of agriculture in 1846. Sicard had a field of wheat of about fif- teen acres, which yielded him an average of sixty bushels to thic acre. Johnson and Kyser also had a small field of wheat, as did also Cor- dua. John Smith and Dutch Charlie had no grain. Grain was raised by Nicolaus, in Sutter county, but none was raised at Hock Farm. The method of cultivation at that time was exceedingly primitive, no agricultural implements having been brought by the foreign emigrants or by American settlers, they were obliged to use the character of tools, and resort to the same practices that obtained among the native Californians. The enterprising farmer who desired to raise a field of wheat, had first to manufacture a plow. He went into the forest and examined the trees carefully, and when one was found that had the proper shaped limbs it was cut down, its branhes hewn off, the limbs trimmed to the proper length and size, a triangular piece of iron about eight inches broad at thic base was fastened to the lower branch with the apex of the triangle downward. The other branch was used as a pole for the animals, and the main stem served as a handle. To this were hitched two oxen, attached to the plow by a rope fastencd around their horns, no yoke heing used ; an Indian boy walked ahead of the oxen who were trained to follow him, and a man camne behind to guide the plow. The furrow cut was eight inches wide and quite shallow; the dirt was not turned over but when the plow passed fell back into its old place, heing merely loosened by the operation. After the field had been prepared in this manner, the grain was scattered by hand and a brush was drawn over the field to harrow the seed and cover it. When the grain was ripe, then the services of the Indians were called into requisition to assist in the harvest. They were pro-
vided with sickles and butcher-knives with which they cut the yellow stalks. A large force of these assisstants was employed; Captain Sut- ter had over two hundred and fifty in his large field near Sacramente, diligently wielding the sickle and butcher knife, in 1847. The grain was then bound and carried to the place whore the threshing was done. It was there laid in a ring, and horses and cattle driven over it to shell tho wheat from the hond. The straw was then removed and the grain thrown up into the air that the wind might carry away the chaff and leave tho grain free. Home-made wooden forks and shovels were used for handling the grain and straw. These methods were gradually superseded by the implements brought by tho American Pioneers, whe caine here to settle, and came prepared. The first innovation was made by some American plows, brought in 1846 by Mr. Chana and others of his party. The last thing to change was the manner of threshing, the first machine for that purpose making its appearance in 1852. The grain, besides tho little necded for home consumption, was sold to Jehn A. Sutter, who had a contract to supply the Russian Colony in Alaska. To convey this supply the Russians sent a vessel from Sitka to Sacra- mento, where it received Sutter's large crop. Launches were sent up the river as far as Nicolaus, to which point the grain raised in this vicinity was carried for shipping. Snutter had been supplying the Russians with wheat for several years. In 1847, Rouelle, who settled near Sutter's Orchard, opposite Marysville, on the south bank of the Yuba river, raised some vegetables. Among other things there were some huge watermelons. Most of the settlers raised crops of wheat this year. The plowing for the crops of 1847 was done chiefly with American plows that the cmigrants of 1846 had brought with them. These cmigrants had also brought grain cradles and a largo portion of the whcat was cut with these. Sutter had several white men in his large field reap- ing with cradles at the same time that the two hundred and fifty Indians were atwork with sick les and butcher-knives. Johnson and Sicard used sickles. The Russians came for the wheat this year also, but it was the last they could get. Smith had been raising crops for some time past, but Nye put in his first crop in the winter of 1847-8. He raised peas, barley, wheat, water melons, musk melons, corn and lentile. The bar- ley was prepared and used in the place of coffee. The wheat was ground into flour by means of small hand mills. Most of the settlers had put in crops of grain in 1848, but crops, stock, orchards, etc., were all abandoned, and every one went to the mines. Sicard was the only man in this locality near Bear river who harvested his wheat. In 1849, Mr. Covilland, on his ranch on the Yuba river, was just outside of town on the old road leading to Simpson's Bridge or Crossing, had about one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation. On the Quintay Ranch, on the river, owned by J. M. Ramirez, one hundred acres were
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PLASKETT MILLS. RESIDENCE AND PROPERTY OF WILLIAM PLASKETT. NEW YORK TP. YUBA CO. CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST.
CL SMITH BLE LITH OAKLAND. CAL.
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY CALIFORNIA.
under cultivation. On land opposite to this, Mr. Sammen had about the same auront under cultivation. The principal products were vegeta. bles and hay. In 1850 Chana raised a small crop of Russian barley mu his place. Iu May of this year, I. E. Brown cut about fifteen or twenty tons of gruss hay, ou the bank of the Yulss river, ueur Marys. ville, and stacked it. He went to Sacramento nhont the first of the mouth, and there paid seventy - five dollers for scythes. Men were pid from twelve to sixteen dollars per day for cutting the hay. This way need to feed Mr. Brown's ox teams, which Loretofore hand subsisted mainly on hard tack, which wux obtainable in large quantities, and was the only substitute for the ordinary food of animals. It was dan- gerous to allow oxon to roum without being yoked together, as in the wild region they could ousily uscape, mint even if not stolen, the recor. ery would ho diffienh. Mr. Brown und his partner, J. Johnstou, had created in January a blacksmith shop in Marysville, one of the first thore, and it was ut this shop that he afterwards disposed of a large portion of his ly, selling it by "fonds" to persons who tied their burBon nour, receiving a high price. In the last of October or first of November, when about to depart for the East, Mr. Brown Hold the remainder of ilu ly in bulk to t), 11. Pierson. When he returned in March, 1851, it was boing retailud nt fiftern couts puer pourl. Hay was eut by Trimbley, Prosentt & Toby and Baxter & Status, in 1850. In .Inly, 1851, thero worn at Hoek Farin about two hundred acres Ining cultivator winter thur direction of Captain Sutter There was a large crop nf huy this year. It was hailed to the mountains, the wagons rotaruing with hunher to build up mul improve the ranches. The ly was mostly will timothy and rel clover. It grew naturally and in great alanulance. Omn to two and one-half tons of an excellent quality were ent. on euch nere. This was cut in May nin June. Whitcomb & Peake, brokors in San Francisco, ostimateil the consumption of barley and unts in the Stato for the year 1851 at four hundred and forty thonsmil sacks of one hundred pounds each, or equal to forty-four million pounds. This grain cost the consumer on an average fully soven cents per pound, amounting to three million and eighty thousand dollars. The produce of barley per nero varied from forty to one hundred bushels of fifty pounds weight. In 1852, a field of barley was raised by J. L. Burtis on Mr. Chana's place, and the same year Covillaud had a small tieldl of corn on his place, next to the Quintay Ranch. The same year another crop, about two hundred or three huu- dred acres of barley was raised on " the big tield " by Colonel Lewis. A large portion was sold to the California Stage Company for three and one-half cents per pound. In 1853 wheat and barley were raised by most of the settlers. John J. Lynn raised six hundred or seven Iindred acres of barley on " the big field." In 1854 squatters cut the volunteer crop of grain on the tield, no seed having been sown.
S. Anderson diesered a head of wheat which he plucked He plantel the west in his garden wurstvely for three years. But no care was taken and little was raised. When Mr. Proper laghi the place he dramed this wheat and cultivated it for these years before be put it on the market, having at that time about two thousand burluds. This is the origin of the celebrated Proper west. In Isi Mr. Chus muur a ditch from Mar tives and lanlt a null on it. Ile slow los a threshing machine which was run by the mill wheel. In the overflow of 1861-2, the ditch and wheel were filled and choked up with sediment und were never again used. Hop raising on a small scale was carried on in Yuba county in 1259. in Isi one man maised twenty four thousul pounds
The first thrashing machine ou Bear river was used to eat the crop raised by J. L. Burtis ou t'laude timun's place in 1852. It was a one horse power, endless chain machine, and belonged to John Here. ford who lived n few miles below Sheridan. Machine, for cutting grain were not usedl until 1854, in which year several of the farmers procured them. The first header was used in ISoff in t'harles Justis' farm below thamle Cham's, and on Riley's place on Dry creek. It belonged to Domigan who lived in Colusa county. In the spring of 1853, John J. Lyou bought fifty three pounds of wheat in Marysville, and after his little daughter lund fed five or six pounds to her chickens, he planted the balance in an obl cattle corral and reaped one hundred and eighty bushels. Of late years, owing to the deposit of the mining debris and decline of agriculture in this county, Sutter county has been the main reliance for the supply of grain. Mr. Chana who remained with Theodore Sicard for a short time after his arrival relates the fol. lowing story of the planting of the first orchard in this viciuity. He- fore he left St. Joseph his friends gave him a farewell dinner, and ou the table were some almond unts. He took a quantity of these and stowed them away iu his trunk, thinking he would eat them on his journey. After his arrival at Sicard's he dlise werel them in the bot- tom of his chest, and took them out, invit'ng Sieard to help him cat them. When they Ind eaten a quantity a bright thought struck Sicard, and he exclaimed. " Let us plant some of these." So they planten the balance of them, about a dozen mits. The trees that sprang from these begin to bear in 1854. and took the premium at the first State fair in 1858. The same year. 1-46, a family of emi- grants from Iowa stopped for a short time at Sicarl's. They had with them some peach stones which they gave to the children to play with. These were scattered by them about the yard, and Sicard and Chana gathered them up and planted them also. The trees from these stones began to bear in 1855, and Chaun sold the fruit in Grass Valley at the rate of three for one dollar for the best ones and seventy five cents per
ete, were brought from san die, and a time ochand started which was nearly remed an Island Sås la the cattle, while the vương wer away gold hunting. But after that with great care they were satel. and an rverdi gly tine eachand was the result The tud auchan in Yuls county was one set out by men in the anyday of Jedan 1. Satter. These men were sono who had cane with l'hosua. and Satter employed them to plant no suchard just month of Vulas river, where the (', ' R. R. ereses, tur the cabin which he lind constructed the year before. The trees for this oreband were addsmed at San Jose This orban was also atendomed om ists, during the gold form, and was ruined. It is now entuely covered with sediment from the urnes, and willows the growing on the site, In the winter of IS19 at, Change Briga settled on Parks Har and Foster Har road, almost four miles from Marysville, mul emmeivel jdonting water melon, from which the place derived the mme of " Water-wohn Ranch." With the money made ho set out fruit trees, and this tically became the most noted or chard in the State. After the inception of this orchard, Vossa, t'il Ismul, Buchman and others planted orchards mul conquered the culture of fruit
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