424 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



in the north is gradual, and the country dry, timberless, and open. The 

 valley is about 40 miles in length, but very narrow, having an average 

 breadth of 1, 2, or 3 miles. Between Big and Honey Lake Valleys, lie 

 Grasshopper, Willow Creek, Eagle Lake, and Horse Lake Valleys, separated 

 from each other and from the main valleys by intervening ridges of various 

 heights. Each of the last named valleys are very small, containing but 

 few ranches, and mostly occupied by the bodies of water from which they 

 derive their names. In the eastern central part of Lassen lies the Made- 

 line Plains, a large, level tract of land, at an altitude of 5,300 feet. This 

 plain appears to have been at one time the bed of a lake, but in some of 

 the remarkable changes of nature, to have been transformed into its present 

 condition. It is about 35 by 15 miles, and is covered with a dense growth 

 of sagebrush. The only natural sources of irrigation appear to be the 

 springs about its edge, where there are excellent stock ranches, the sur- 

 rounding hills covered with bunch-grass affording abundant feed. Any 

 kind of grain will grow upon these plains if irrigated. 



SIERRA COUNTY. 



The chief industry of the county has been mining. Millions of dollars 

 have been taken from the hills and mountains in Sierra County, and there 

 are yet mines that yield well. As late as 1880 the annual gold product of 

 Sierra County was in round figures about $1,000,000. 



The county seat is Downieville, which was located as early as 1849, and 

 whose early history forms a very important part of the annals of California. 

 It was at one time the center of trade for the richest gravel mines. It is 

 situated on both sides of the Yuba River, and lies in a deep canon, pictur- 

 esquely inclosed on all sides by mountains fully 2,000 feet high. The pop- 

 ulation is about 675. It is reached by stage from Marysville, on the Oregon 

 Branch of the Central Pacific Railroad, distant 67 miles, or from Nevada 

 City, in Nevada County, the terminus of the Nevada Central Railroad, 

 distant 40 miles. There is a bank, good business houses, lodges, churches, 

 and fraternal societies. 



Sierra City is 12 miles east of Downieville and has a population of about 

 425. It is the center of an important mining section. Many rich gravel 

 mines are in this vicinity, which, with the several lumber camps and saw- 

 mills, give a lively appearance. 



Sierra Valley, an agricultural town, is 18 miles northeast of Sierra City, 

 and has a population of 400. 



Forest City is 7 miles south of Downieville, and 50 miles by stage from 

 Marysville, and has a population of 625. Altitude, 4,500 feet. The Bald 

 Mountain and Bald Mountain Extension Mines, located here, have yielded 

 over $2,000,000. 



