EIvDORADO 275 



tember 25th, 1 readied the hnslliiii; town of Kedding 

 on time and found comfortable (quarters at tbe "head- 

 ing Hotel.' The smiling and accommodating landlord, 

 15. Conroy, makes all newcomers feel at home. With 

 clean beds, "square meals' and a homelike intluence 

 pervading the house, induced by the presence of a 

 pleasant, intelligent family, the weary and dusty trav- 

 eler is made to feel that his lot has indeed fallen in a 

 pleasant place. * * * ''' Being the present termi- 

 rius of the California and Oregon railroad, it is the dis- 

 tributing point of an immense trade. Loads of mer- 

 chandise are constantly leaving for various points in 

 tlie direction of Oregon, drawn by teams of six or 

 eight horses or nudes, not infrequently hauling twelve 

 thousand jiounds in a single load over rough mountain 

 roads. A good class of residences may be seen nestled 

 among the natural shrubbery, while an air of intelli- 

 gence and refinement far above the average is ob- 

 served among the citizens. A ride of an hour and a 

 half over a rough and dusty road brings us to the 

 antiquated town of Shasta. As one approaches the 

 town and sees evidences of old mining days, many 

 reminiscences of '49-'50 crowd upon the memory 

 Shasta was at one time the leading town in Northern 

 California, but its former greatness has, in a great 

 measure, departed. Many vacant buildings are now 

 seen that once resounded with the hum of business. 

 Much litigation in early times was had here, arising 

 mainlv from conflicting mining interests, and the 

 services of Milton S. Latham, Colonel Zabriska. Gov- 

 ernor Foot, Tom IMarshall. Colonel E. D. Baker, and 

 other old-time celebrities were frequently called in. and 

 as we write of these things we are ready to exclaim : 



