Yuba County 



INCLUDING every diversity of elevation within its borders, Yuba County 

 readies into the High Sierras on the east, is traversed by the foothill 

 region in its center, and falls in Its western portions to the bottom- 

 lands of the Sacramento Valley, along the Feather River. It has an 



annual rainfall of from eighteen to twenty inches, which is sufficient 

 for general agriculture. The drainage topography lends itself admirably 

 to the needs of irrigation, which is now coming more Into use, since water 

 is abundant, and heavier crops result. 



The thermal belt, which pushes far up the Sacramento Valley, traverses 

 the western half of this county, and oranges are grown to perfection. 

 Every family has its own orange and lemon trees, doing the double duty 

 of dooryard decoration and furnishing the table with an abundant supply 

 of fruit. The crops more extensively cultivated for the market, however, 

 are peaches, prunes, figs, walnuts, almonds, olives, pears, apricots, and 

 cherries. A related industry is fruit-canning, which is conducted on a 

 large scale and gives employment to hundreds of families in the western 

 part of the county during the summer. Dried fruit is also a considerable 

 product. 



The vineyards of the county are an important agricultural feature, the 

 "Thompson Seedless" and the "Flaming Tokay" being the grapes prin- 

 cipally grown. Great quantities of wine grapes are produced, whence the 

 winery at Marysville draws its supply. More recently sugar beets have be- 

 come a factor in the county's agricultural output. 



As in other of the Sacramento Valley counties, there has been a 

 marked tendency of late in Yuba to parcel the vast grain ranches hitherto 

 existing into smaller farms devoted to varied agriculture. Land is still 

 to be had at inviting prices, and the county may be said to be the oppor- 

 tunity of the investor of moderate means. At present greater attention is 

 being given to potatoes, tomatoes, beans, and berries. Strawberries in 

 particular are a profitable crop. Hop-raising is one of the important farm- 

 ing occupations here, and the beautiful hop vineyards along the Bear and 

 Feather rivers give employment to hundreds of people during the planting 

 and picking seasons. The largest hop-yards in the world are claimed for 

 this region. Alfalfa is also coming into prominence as a profitable crop. 



The mountain slopes of the eastern half of Yuba are clothed with a 

 magnificent growth of timber, and within recent years the lumber industry 

 has received a decided impetus. The logging-camps and sawmills are 

 operated on a large scale, sugar pine, fir, and spruce comprising the chief 

 output. 



The quartz mining of the county is experiencing a rejuvenation owing 

 to improved methods of handling the rock. Hundreds of prospectors are 

 making wages also while seeking ledges and gravel deposits. The main 

 output of Yuba's gold, however, is the product of the great river dredges. 

 Ten of these monster machines are now at work on the river silts, whence 

 the fine gold is saved by improved processes. 



The mountain streams of Yuba furnish light and power not only to 

 its cities, but those in distant parts of the State. At Colgate, on the Yuba 

 River, is located the largest of the Bay Counties Power Company's stations, 

 whence electric power is delivered to points over two hundred miles away, 

 propelling the trolley cars and lighting the streets of the Bay Shore cities. 

 Marysville, the county seat of Yuba, has a population of something 

 over five thousand, and is beautifully situated at the junction of the Yuba 

 and Feather rivers, about fifty miles north of the State capital. It is an 

 important railroad point in the Southern Pacific system. The Western 

 Pacific owns a franchise through the city, together with lands designated 

 for terminal and shop facilities, and is at present pushing its construction 

 work with great energy. Also the Northern Electric Road has now been 

 completed into the city and beyond, and will shortly reach Sacramento. 



