392 Transactions of the 



RUSSIAN RIVER. 



The principal stream in the county is Eussian Eiver — not navigable. 

 It enters the county on the north, flows southeasterly for twenty miles, 

 and then turns to the west, enters the timber belt, and forces its way 

 through the coast hills to the ocean. The timber along the Eussian 

 River bottom is not surpassed on this coast. Half a million feet of 

 clear lumber has been cut from a single acre in this section; from mills 

 along the eastern slope of the coast hills our local supply of lumber is 

 obtained, while that upon the sea face of the hills is exported to the 

 San Francisco market. 



THE GREAT VALLEYS. 



We will now leave the coast country. The chief topographical 

 features of Sonoma County are a number of magnificent valleys, which 

 include in their boundaries every variety of soil, climate, and product 

 known to the Pacific Coast, from the great staples of the Mississippi 

 Valley to the semi-tropical products of Florida. These principal val- 

 leys are (in order southward to San Pablo Bay, across which it is but 

 thirty miles to San Francisco), Eussian River, Santa Eosa, Sonoma, and 

 Petaluma. There are a number of small valleys which are feeders to 

 the large districts. In each section named there is a considerable town, 

 of which more will be said. 



RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY. 



Russian Eiver Valley, the first in order, includes the rich bottom lands 

 along which the river flows, between the Mayaeamas range of moun- 

 tains on the east, and the coast hills, which we have described, on the 

 west. The valley is but a few miles wide where the river enters the 

 county. It extends with the river- for twenty miles in a southeasterly 

 direction, widening gradually. The river then turns west to the sea, 

 and the valley opens on the broad and fertile plains of Santa Eosa, 

 which extend southward some twenty miles further. The watershed 

 from these plains is northward to Eussian Eiver, and the rise is so 

 gradual that it is imperceptible to the eye. The bottom lands of Eus- 

 sian Eiver are as fertile as the delta of the Nile. The soil is alluvial, 

 of great depth, almost annually fertilized by the overflow of the river. 

 Corn, wheat, beans, and vegetables grow with extraordinary vigor. The 

 bottoms are especially adapted to the growth of hops, though they are 

 not generally grown. The lands back of the river bottoms produce 

 grain, grapes, and fruit. The higher hills are used as pastures. 



Healdsburg is the largest town in the valley. It is situated on the 

 line of the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad; has many advan- 

 tages for manufacturing, and commands a considerable trade with the 

 neighboring mines and rich farming land in its vicinity. The popula- 

 tion is about one thousand four hundred. For beauty of surroundings 

 and salubrity of climate, it cannot be surpassed. It needs only popu- 

 lation and capital. 



Dry Creek Valley, west of Eussian Eiver, embraces a tract of very 

 fertile land. It is one of the feeders of Healdsburg. East of the town 

 lies Alexander Valley, which also contains considerable farming jiopu- 

 lation. Cloverdale, in the head of the valley, is the northern terminus 



