Placer County CA Archives History - Books .....Historical Sketch Of Placer County 1861 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 23, 2005, 8:20 pm Book Title: Directory Of The County Of Placer HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PLACER COUNTY. The County of Placer was organized by act of the Legislature approved April 25th, 1851. Its boundaries are described in said act, as follows: "Beginning on the Sacramento River at the northwest corner of Sacramento County, and running thence up the middle of said, river, to a point ten miles below the junction of Sacramento and Feather rivers; thence in a northerly direction in a straight line to a point in the middle of Bear Creek, opposite Camp Far West; thence up the middle of said creek, to its source; thence due east to the State line; thence southerly on the State line to the north-easterly corner of El Dorado County; thence westerly on the northerly line of El Dorado County to the junction of the North and South Forks of the American River; thence westerly on the northerly line of Sacramento County to the place of beginning." The act of the Legislature also fixed the county seat at Auburn. The first election for county and township officers of Placer County took place on the 26th of May, 1851, which resulted in the choice of the following gentlemen to fill the various county offices: H. Fitzsimmons, County Judge; Samuel C. Astin, Sheriff; R. D. Hopkins, District Attorney; James T. Stewart, Clerk; Alfred Louis, Assessor; Douglas Bingham, Treasurer; A. Bronk, Public Administrator. Of the number of votes cast at this election, we can obtain no authentic account. The vote at some of the camps and towns, however, was surprisingly large; especially at precincts which had started one or two favored individuals who aspired to official honors. The election was contested by several of the defeated candidates, but by the death of one of the contestants, and compromises made between the remaining contestants and their more fortunate opponents, the incumbents were permitted to hold the positions to which they had received certificates of election, for the remainder of their terms in peace. The first settlements in Placer County were made at an early period of the golden era, and many places became famous for the rich gold deposits discovered in their vicinity. In the summer of 1S48, the principal tributaries of the American River were explored by a company of Oregonians, and rich prospects obtained upon almost every bar, as far up the Middle and North Forks as they proceeded. At this time the bars were generally explored as high up the Middle Fork as Rector's Bar, which, proving as rich as any diggings the explorers expected to find, and it being difficult to travel further up the river with horses, they ceased traveling, and worked the mines until the winter season sat in, or their provisions gave out, when they returned to the settlements in the valley, or to their homes in Oregon. Early in 1849, the system of washing the auriferous dirt with the common rocker was introduced upon the Middle Fork of the American River, and was regarded as a great improvement in gold mining. During this year, miners flocked to the bars upon the rivers in large numbers; from the "Old Dry Diggings" (Placerville), "Sutter's Mill" (Coloma), the settlements in the valleys, and elsewhere; wheresoever the news of the rich discoveries had reached, contributed laborers for the gold fields, and during the summer, settlements were formed in many parts of Placer County, including Auburn and Ophir, in the foot hills; Rector's Bar, Stony Bar, Oregon Bar, and Poverty Bar, on the Middle Fork; and Barnes' Bar, on the North Fork of the American. The population upon the rivers was quite sparse, and depredations were frequently committed by the untamed savages upon the stock and camps of the .whites. During the winter of 1S49-'50, the population of the now rich and populous townships 5 and 6, consisted of Dr. Todd and three or four companions, at "Todd's Ranch;" Yankee Jim and his companions, six in number, at Yankee Jim's Dry Diggings, near where Forest Hill is situated; six young men, one of whom was named Lewis, near the head of Mad Canon; two men at Bird's store; and about thirty persons at Stony and Rector's Bars. The whole white population in the two townships mentioned, amounted to not more than fifty persons. The hardships endured by the few individuals who remained upon the river at Stony and Rector's Bars during the memorable winter of 1849-'50, can never be half told. The writer of this sketch, being one of the unfortunate individuals whose reduced fortunes forced him to remain upon the river, at Stony Bar, in order that he might eke out a scanty subsistence by working in the banks and on the high bars, when a temporary cessation of the falling rain and snow permitted him to venture forth from the canvas tent which served him and his companions as a winter dwelling, cannot, at this day, after a lapse of more than ten years, repress a shudder, when revolving in his mind the many incidents attending his residence during that winter, upon the Middle Fork. The rains, which had set in towards the last of December, continued to fall almost constantly until the second week in February, covering the mountains on either side of the stream to the depth of four feet with snow, blocking up the trails, and so completely destroying every trace of them, that none, except in the last extremity, could be prevailed upon to venture to break a trail to Georgetown or Coloma, the nearest points at which supplies could be obtained. To add to the hardships of the little settlement of pioneer river, miners, they not only had not comfortable houses in which to live, but ere the winter was half gone, their supplies of flour, pork, coffee, sugar, salt, beans, etc., were totally exhausted, and they were reduced to the necessity of living upon fresh venison, without salt or bread. But starvation was not the foe most to be dreaded by the unprotected settlement. The temporary shanties, or huts of the men were scattered along the river for a distance of two miles; in each of which lived from two to five persons. No guard was kept at night, and in case of an attack by the Indians, the men, scattered and poorly armed, as they were, could have offered but a feeble resistance. The heavy snows, higher up in the mountains, had forced a band of Indians to venture down the canons to the vicinity of the camp of the whites, in search of horses, mules, cattle, or any thing else which could serve as food for their starving squaws and children. They were discovered by the whites, and a meeting was called of all white men known to be upon the river, in reach, for the purpose of ascertaining the number and condition of the guns, and the amount of ammunition in the hands of the miners. The number of guns on hand amounted to one to every three men, and among the whole number there were not more than three pounds of powder. An organization was immediately effected, and men were started out with directions to proceed down the Middle Fork of the American River, until they had reached a point where supplies could be purchased, and to procure all the arms and ammunition they could obtain, and bring into the camp. The relief party, after scrambling over the rocks for two days, reached the Big Bar, in El Dorado county, where they purchased some powder, lead, caps, salt, and tea, and one rifle gun, and returned to their companions. With these additions to the stock of arms and ammunition on hand, after making a show of strength by sending small parties out in search of the Indians, one of which came up with a party of the red skins, and attacked and killed some of their number, the whites felt quite secure from an attack, and remained quiet the balance of the winter. Toward the last of February, '50, the weather turning warm and the news of rich discoveries having been made the fall previous, between the head waters of the Middle and North Forks of the American, having been spread among the miners of Hangtown (Placerville), Weavertown, Coloma, Georgetown, Kelsy's, and other thickly settled places in El Dorado, a general stampede took place, and the men came in hundreds, making Bird's store (Bird's Valley) their place of rendezvous, until the number of men gathered at that point amounted to two or three thousand; Here they were compelled to remain until the snow settled sufficiently for them to penetrate the mountains and canons higher up on the slope of the Sierras. Early in the spring good prospects were obtained in El Dorado Canon, and companies were soon engaged in mining in the bed and banks of the creek from its junction with the North Fork to its head. During the spring of 1850 the whole country on the western slope of the mountains was explored by prospecting parties; some even crossing over the Sierras to Carson Valley. It was during this spring that the famous "Gold Lake stampede" took place, and thousands of men left good diggings, where they were quite certain of making an ounce of gold for each day's work, to join in the general stampede to the wonderful lake. Although these prospecting expeditions proved disastrous to nearly every individual engaged in them, yet the developments made caused the immediate and permanent settlement of the upper region of Placer County, where so many hundreds of rich tunnel claims are yielding their thousands of ounces of gold daily in the way of remuneration to the miners for the years of labor they have applied in penetrating through the. bed rock deep into the bowels of the .mountains. From the spring of 1850 may we date the beginning of permanent improvements and permanent settlements in Placer, for from that time men commenced to have settled habitations, and some even then commenced preparations for building permanent homes for themselves and families. During the summer and fall of that year the county became blessed with the presence of a number of families, some of whom came to the country overland from the States; others from the old States and foreign countries; and others, again, from El Dorado and other counties where they had become too thickly settled to thrive well, or at least where there were not as good inducements offered for permanent settlements as this county afforded. Each year since that period has marked a perceptible change, not only in the increase of the permanent population, but also in the manners and morals of the people, and of the agricultural, mineral and other products. The taxable property has also increased in a regular ratio, until there are few counties that can boast of surpassing it, either in the amount of property assessed for taxes, grain, hay, cattle, horses, etc., raised, or excel it in the number of ounces of gold dust shipped from its mines. Like all other localities in the State, it has not been exempt from losses by fire and flood, those great scourges of California, which have done more to retard the development of the vast resources of the State than all other causes combined. On June 4th, 1855, Auburn, the county seat, was almost totally destroyed by fire, the loss of property amounting, in the aggregate, to several hundred thousand dollars. In October, 1859, another fire broke out in the place, destroying all the buildings in the upper part of town, and entailing a loss upon its citizens of about $200,000. Yankee Jim's, Michigan Bluff, Todd's Valley and Iowa Hill have each suffered a like scourge, Yankee Jim's being destroyed in June, 1852; Iowa Hill on the 2d of February, 1857: Michigan Bluff in the summer of 1857; and Todd's Valley in the summer of 1859. The property destroyed by fires alone at the times mentioned amounted to more than $2,000,000. The census returns of 1852 show the whole amount of money then invested in mining enterprises of every kind, including ditches for conveying water from the rivers, canons, etc., to the flats, gulches, etc., to amount, in the aggregate, to $1,427,567, divided as follows: $858,037, classed as "Temporary Investments," which was in flumes, dams, canals, 'etc., on the rivers; $13,530 invested in quartz mines, and $556,000 in water ditches, classed as "Permanent Investments." It will be seen that these estimates of amount of capital invested in ditches and other classes of mining property were based upon calculations of absolute cost of enterprises then completed and in course of construction. At the present time there is no data from which the amount of money invested in all the various branches of industry can be ascertained, hence we make no attempt at an estimate, except upon a single class of mining investments, which, it will be seen, exceeds the aggregate investments in, every species of property in the county reported in the census return of 1852. By a pretty close canvass of the region of the county in which the tunnel mines are located, we find the number of feet of tunnel run to amount to 186,990 feet, which cost $2,716,200. This vast expenditure of tunnel mining is in a section of the country composed of townships five, six, seven and eight, and perhaps does not embrace more than one-fourth of the whole amount of money invested in other classes of mining enterprises and improvements subject to taxation. The increase of population, as shown by the census returns of 1852, and those of 1860, is less than three thousand. The number of votes cast in the county at the Presidential election in 1S52 was 5,144, and the number cast at the Presidential election in 1860, was 5,837, showing an increase of votes in eight years of only 693. The political history of Placer County, if given in. detail, could not fail of being interesting; but the limited space allowed for this sketch will not admit of our entering into minor particulars, hence we must be content with giving such facts as are deemed of most importance and necessary to show the political complexion of the public men of the past times, and the circumstances, as near as they can be ascertained, under which they were elected to the various offices which they filled. The vote of the people since the organization of the county to the present time shows the sympathy of the majority to have been uniformly with the Democracy, excepting only the year 1S54, when, there being a division in the Democratic party, the Whigs succeeded in electing their entire legislative and county ticket. The following is a list of the county officers and members of the Senate and Assembly elected each year from the organization of the county to the present time; At the election in 1851, Gen. Fry was chosen Senator, and P. Canney and _____ Assemblymen; County Judge, H. Fitz Simmons; Sheriff, S. C. Astin; District Attorney, S. D. Hopkins; Clerk, James T. Stewart; Assessor, Alfred Lewis; Treasurer, Douglas Bingham. In 1852, Joseph Walkup was chosen Senator, and P. Canney and B. F. Myres, Assemblymen. The county officers elected were: District Attorney, P. W. Thomas; Sheriff, S. C. Astin; Clerk, Wm. A. Johnson; Treasurer, E. G. Smith; Assessor, Gunn; Coroner, Pinkham: Surveyor, Hinnman; Public Administrator, Barnes. In 1853, C. A. Tuttle was elected Senator, [Joseph Walkup holding over,] and Myers, Fairfield, Van Cleft and O'Neill, Assemblymen; Surveyor, Finley; Assessor, McCarty; Public Administrator, Jordan. In 1854, Hawthorne was elected Senator, [Tuttle holding over,] T. Mooreland, H. Gregg, Wm. Corey and Moses Andrews, Assemblymen. All but the hold-over Senator, Whigs, and all the county officers Whigs, which were: Sheriff, Wm. T. Henson; Clerk, A. S. Grant; Treasurer, J. R. Crandall; District Attorney, M. E. Mills; Public Administrator, J. R. Gwynn. In 1855, Thos. Westmoreland was elected Senator, [Mr. Hawthorne holding over,] and Silas Selleck, Lansing Stout, T. H. Read and R. S. Williams, Assemblymen; all Americans. In 1856, Joseph Walkup was elected Senator, [Westmoreland holding over,], and Caperton, Safferd, Wyman and O'Neill, Assemblymen; Sheriff, Chas. King; Clerk, Tabb Mitchell; District Attorney, P. W. Thomas; Treasurer, Philip Stoner; Assessor, Spann; Public Administrator, Gaut: Surveyor, Phelps; Coroner, Hause; Superintendent Common Schools, P. C. Millette. In 1857, J. H. Baker was elected Senator for full term, and James Anderson to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Joseph Walkup; D. B. Curtis, A. P. K. Safford, N. Kabler and W. C. Stratton were elected Assemblymen; and P. C. Millette, Superintendent Common Schools; S. G. Elliott, County Surveyor; Thos. Coffey, Public Administrator; W. J Esmond, Coroner. In 1858, James Anderson was elected Senator, [J. H. Baker holding over,] Wm. C. Stratton, Wm. P. Barclay, Philip Lynch and W. P. Wing, were elected Assemblymen; County Judge, E. H. Van Decar; Sheriff, L. L. Bullock; Collector, M. Kimball; Treasurer, G. W. Applegate; Clerk, Henry Gooding; District Attorney, P. W. Thomas; Assessor, T. B. Harper; Surveyor, S. G. Elliott; Coroner, James M'Burney. In 1859, S.T. Leet was elected Senator, [James Anderson holding over,] and S. W. Lovell, D. S. Beach, J. N. Makins and J. W. Harville, Assemblymen; S. S. Greenwood, Superintendent of Common Schools; Recorder, Geo. L. Anderson, and M. P. H. Love, Public Administrator. In 1860, P. W. Thomas was elected Senator, [S. S. Leet holding over;] Assemblymen, W. J. Harrison; L. G. Smith, P. Munday and W. D. Harriman; Sheriff, L. L. Bullock; Clerk, Henry Gooding; Treasurer, E. M. Banvard; Recorder, W. A. Selkirk; District Attorney, Jo. Hamilton; Surveyor, S. G. Elliott; Coroner, Joseph Platt; Public Administrator, Rufus Smith. In 1854, in consequence of the division in the Democratic party upon the Senatorial question, there were three tickets—two Democratic and one Whig—run in Placer county, and the Whigs elected their county ticket by a small plurality. Upon the Senatorial question in 1854 the politicians of Placer occupied a position directly the reverse of those of any other county in the State. Although the same dissensions between Northern and Southern existed in Placer that divided the party in the balance of the State, yet they assumed a position in Placer which differed with those of every other locality in this respect:—-While the Southern men united upon Gwin and opposed the election of a United States Senator by, the Legislature of 1854 in every other county, and the Northern men united upon Mr. Broderick, and favored the election at that session, in Placer county; the Southern men favored Mr. Broderick, and the Northern men supported the Gwin faction. Thus we see the astute and far-seeing Southern Democrats of that day assisting Mr. Broderick in carrying out the "great Northern sentiment" which he professed to represent, and the Northern men opposing him and his party, and advocating and expressing the same sentiments and opinions that Southern men did in other counties. The causes which led to the .defeat of the Democratic party were numerous, yet the disaffection of the year previous had much to do with it, and perhaps we would not be far wrong should we assign that division in the party as the principal weak point in the party. Early in 1855, the Americans organized thoroughly by establishing secret councils in every town and mining camp in the country, where a suitable room could be procured in which to hold their meetings; and, by well directed efforts among the citizens "to the manor born," made fresh accessions to the party at every meeting. The members of the two wings of the Democratic party had, in the meantime, become so embittered against each other that it was late in the campaign ere a compromise could be made, and a union of the two wings effected. The consequence was, the election of the whole of the Know Nothing or American ticket. The success of the American party gave the leading members such encouragement, and the organization was so complete, that notwithstanding the members of the party knew they only held the balance of power, yet, at almost every election, by superior management, the party continued to elect one or two of its candidates to the best paying offices. Notwithstanding the many hard fought battles in which the Democratic party has proved victorious since its signal overthrow in 1855, yet the seeds of dissension sown the year previous have taken such deep root in the organization, that no efforts upon the part of the ever consistent men who stand by the party principles, and are guided by the platform, can eradicate the troublesome canker, or prevent its influence from occasionally causing the defeat of a part or the whole of the ticket. Closely connected with the political history of Placer County, and partaking greatly of the nature of the party which each affected to represent, and professed to be or was really the mouth-piece of, the various newspaper enterprises of the county claim some notice in this sketch; and, in fact, it would be incomplete without it. The Placer Herald is the oldest newspaper in the county. The first number was issued on the 11th of September, 1852, by T. Mitchell & Co., under the most favorable auspices, as we judge by the introductory remarks of the editor, and the liberal advertising patronage extended to it by business men and public officers from its first issue throughout the whole of its first volume. The following is an extract from the introductory of the editor, and is a declaration of principles, which, if they could be carried out-the paper at the same time being ably conducted—could not fail to secure the success of any newspaper enterprise in a community so appreciative as are the people of Placer. The editor introduces his paper "To the Citizens of Placer County," as follows: "Through the partiality of friends, we have been selected to the responsible position of publishing the first journal in Placer County. Although somewhat diffident of our abilities, the strong promptings of our inclinations urge us to the task. "In becoming a candidate for popular favor, a declaration of principles is due to the public. This time-honored usage we have no desire to disregard, but will state, briefly, the principles which will guide us in the* conduct of the Placer Herald. "In all matters of religious or political concernment the Herald will be FREE and INDEPENDENT. The peculiar advocate of no sect or party, we shall strive earnestly to do 'equal and exact justice' to all." Doubtless the editor of the Herald commenced his career with more than usually virtuous intentions, but perhaps the temptations held out by .the ever-changing fortunes of political parties and aspirants for political and official honors were greater than human nature was capable of withstanding, and hence a change of circumstances produced a corresponding change in the sentiments or policy of the conductor of the Herald. Through all its changes, however, the Herald has been a useful paper, and, as a newspaper enterprise, a success—profitable to its publishers and advantageous to its readers. The next newspaper started in Placer County of which we have any account was the Placer Democrat, which was born in Auburn, April 19th, 1854. The paper being started by the Broderick faction, and fostered by the kindness of that eminently liberal party (in promises), it survived the campaign, perhaps, not exceeding two weeks. The proprietor and editor of the Democrat was John Shannon, late of the Visalia Delta, and it is said that Philip Lynch, now editor of the Placer-Courier, also owned an interest and had much to do with its management. To give the reader some idea of the usefulness of the Democrat, the following article, copied from the Auburn Whig, which has very much the appearance of an obituary, is republished: "The Placer Democrat, a paper representing the so-called Broderick wing of the Democracy of this county, has been discontinued. Its publication commenced April 19th of the present year, and ended about two weeks since. It has had the effect of causing rather stormy times in the .Democratic party during the late political canvass; but whether or not the object which it had in view has been entirely accomplished we do not know. That portion of the party whose organ it was was badly beaten here by the Anti-Electionists, as well as throughout the State. The resignation of their County Central Committee, and the withdrawal of Milton S. Latham, one of their nominees for Congress, were undoubtedly serious drawbacks to their success, though, without these obstacles, the result might have been the same. The reasons given for the discontinuance of the Democrat is, that "it will not pay," which, unquestionably is quite a, satisfactory one to all interested. We wish Mr. Shannon better success in his private enterprise than has, in this instance, favored his political ones." . The next newspaper enterprise started in the county was the Auburn Whig, published by Chas. Winkley and A. L. Stinson, and edited by M. E. Mills, which, like its predecessor, was not destined to live forever. The political predilections of the Whig were what its name indicates; and to say that the paper was conducted, during the whole of the brief period of its existence, with marked ability, would but be doing justice to the gentlemen who had the management of it, and who prepared the matter which filled its columns. The Whig lived under the editorial conduct of Mr. Mills for three months, when he passed it over into the hands of H. R. Hawkins, who also continued it until it arrived at the age of thirty-one weeks; when the Whig, like its predecessor, the Democrat, without previous notice ceased to exist. Its demise occurred on May 19th, 1855: and on June 2d, of the same year, the Placer Press was started by H. R. Hawkins, A. L. Stinson, and C. Winkley; Hiram R. Hawkins, editor, as before. The Press, through all the changes of its proprietorship during the succeeding 29 months which it was under the editorial conduct of Mr. Hawkins, was a neatly printed and interesting paper, being looked anxiously for each recurring Saturday morning by its appreciative readers. On October 31st, 1857, Mr. Hawkins sold his interest to A. S. Smith, who became editor, and continued the paper, in connection with Jas. P. Bull, as a partner in the publication, until May, 1858, when Mr. Bull retired from the concern and "the editor (has) assumed, the entire control." The Press from this time until its demise was the organ of the Anti-Lecompton party, and was accused of being strongly tinctured with Abolitionism. The Press continued to make a regular weekly squeeze for a short time, under the direction of A. S. Smith; but eventually falling into the hands of J. W. Scoby, who assumed the editorship, was conducted by him until December 4, 1858, when he took "ANOTHER GLANCE AT THE FIELD" and incontinentally retired, the Press becoming, a defunct institution. In the latter part of .1855 or early part of 1856, the Iowa Hill News was started at Iowa Hill, by Olmstead & Miller. The News advocated a division of Placer county, which was one of the questions of the political canvass of 1856, but the advocates of the measure did not succeed in making sufficient converts to their cause to continue the struggle after the election, and the question became a dead issue. Sometime in the winter or spring of 1858 the News office was removed to San Juan, Nevada county, and the Hydraulic Press was started by the proprietors. Sometime during the winter of 1857, the 30th publication of the Mountain Courier was commenced at Yankee Jim's, by Messrs, Parker and Graves, who continued its publication for the space of three months precisely, when creditors becoming clamorous for numerous small amounts due from the concern, attachments were sued out, and levied upon the office, and its issue stopped. On the 4th day of July, of the same year, E. B. Boust, having purchased the press and printing materials of the Mountain Courier, published the first number of the Placer Courier, which was successfully conducted "by him until November, 1858, when he withdrew from the concern, and the paper was taken charge of by R. J. Steele, who published it at Yankee Jim's, until the following April, when the office was removed to Forest Hill. The Courier is now published by P. Lynch, who succeeded Mr. Steele as publisher in December, 1860. In January, 1859, the Iowa Hill Patriot was started in that town by E. B. Boust, and was continued there until May 1, 1860, when the materials were removed by him to Dutch Flat, and the Patriot was merged into the Dutch Flat Enquirer. Mr. Boust continues the publication of the Enquirer, and is doing an excellent business. The Democratic Signal was started as a Democratic campaign paper at Auburn, at the opening of the campaign of 1860, by S. T. Newell & Co., publishers, and edited by R. C. Poland. The paper espoused the cause of Stephen A. Douglas, and its publication was continued by Newell & Co. until the 10th of December of the same year, when it went into the hands of R. J. Steele, who continued its publication. Of the agricultural and grazing portion of Placer county, but little can be said in addition to the facts found in statistical tables in another part of this book. When we consider the small district of country embraced within the limits of the county susceptible of cultivation, we find by comparing its products with those of agricultural counties, that the lands under cultivation in Placer are unusually productive, yielding on an average better than the lands of some of the most famous agricultural counties in the State. We will take Napa county for an instance, and compare its products of wheat with that of Placer. We find that in Napa county there are 26,114 acres of land cultivated in wheat, which produced last year 652,850, or 25 bushels to the acre. In Placer the number of acres cultivated in wheat the same year was 5,000, producing 170,000 bushels, or an average yield of 54 bushels to the acre. In Alameda, another agricultural county, we find that there were last year 20,000 acres of land cultivated in wheat, which produced 440,500 bushels, or an average of 22 bushels to the acre. The above facts are sufficient to show that the soil of the agricultural portion of the county is not inferior to that of the best agricultural districts in the State, and that the land is in a high state of cultivation. A large portion of the county is well adapted to the raising of the various kinds of fruits, grapes, etc., and during the summer and fall oar, markets are abundantly supplied with every variety, at prices which defy competition by other •fruit districts. All that portion of Placer county, lying west of the foothills, between the American, Sacramento and Bear rivers, is rapidly being put under cultivation, or enclosed for grazing purposes. The prairies are dotted all over with the habitations of the settlers, and the public highways, for miles, in many instances, are ran through a continuation of lanes. Rich mineral discoveries were made at an early period of the county's history, far down in the foothills, bordering on the plains, which, during the winter and spring seasons, afford employment to a large number of men at from two to four dollars per day each; and in many places, in the gulches and ravines, miners are making double and even treble that amount, on an average. Of the towns in the lower part of the county, Gold Hill, Virginia, Rattlesnake, Pine Grove and Stewart's, are the most important, each of which are noticed separately in this work. Additional Comments: Extracted from DIRECTORY OF THE COUNTY OF PLACER, FOR THE YEAR 1861 CONTAINING A HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, AND OF THE DIFFERENT TOWNS IN THE COUNTY; WITH THE NAMES OF INHABITANTS, AND EYERY THING APPERTAINING TO A COMPLETE DIRECTORY. COMPILED BY R. J. STEELE, JAMES P. BULL, AND F. I. HOUSTON. PRINTED FOR THE PUBLISHERS, BY CHARLES F. ROBBINS, 413 TO 417 CLAY STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, 1861. File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ca/placer/history/1861/director/historic29gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 32.4 Kb