The Times Standard from Eureka, California • Page 16

Redwood Country By Andrew Genzoli The granite 'boom' No question about it, Humboldt County has many possibilities for a future along with its forest products industry, if there were ways of developing what is here. Way back in 1855, our great-grandfathers were looking around to sue what they cculd do with this new land of Humboldt County with its trees and natural resources of a wide variety. Those who came from Maine and Vermont saw a great opportunity in a ledge of granite, and felt sure this would be part of our future -the supplier of building materials. And, in a way the local quarries did contribute in a good measure, to the building of Seal liock Lighthouse off Crescent Cily, local business buildings, the old County Courthouse and the Bay jetties. While the Courthouse was torn down, Seal Rock Light has lasted through the most violent of storms, all attesting to the goodness of the material used, and the workmanship in putting the structure together.

The Humboldt Times, Jan. 20, 1855, went out to look at the granite, and it came back satisfied with a dream for the future, in these words: "We have specimens of Granite at this office taken from a ledge within two miles of this place (Union then, Arcata, now). The ledge is inexhaustible, covering an area of 160 acres of land and 'cropped out' 400 or 500 feet in height. The granite is of fine texture or grain pronounced by a geologist to be identical that of the celebrated Scotch and Finland granite. "We have subjected specimens to the severest tests by lire keeping up a white heat for hours, without affecting the stone in any manner.

The test was a hundred-fold greater than the stone will be subjected to, if in a building. The location of the ledge possesses unusual advantages, as it is several hundred feet above the sea, with a gradual declination thereto. A railroad track can be built to shipping at less expense than $2,000, as it would pass through the heaviest timbered land in California. There is a sufficient quantity shattered out to last for ages, without the expense of quarrying. In addition to the transportation of granite, an immense business can be carried on over the road in the shipment of Oregon Pine masts and spars, and Redwood square timber.

"The demand of the U.S. Government for stone for the Custom House and other public buildings as well as fortifications at San Francisco will alone afford a market for a'n immense amount; our home demand will also be considerable. The party owning the ledge has not sufficient capital to but hopes to attract the attention of capitalists to it. The amount necessary to conduct it successfully will not exceed ten or fifteen thousand dollars, which investment will' be permanent and will well repay; those embarking in it. Anyone an eye In it, would do well to visit this Bay and examine for liimsell the advantages! of an investment.

We arc satisfied that il would soon eclipse. it would commencement." Somehow, the "eclipse" never came. A good horse-track mnn With the recent death of Pacific Genzoli, a native of Humboldt County's Capetown, and who had made his home in Fortuna for a number of years, goes an era which figured prominently in Humboldt County horse-racing. On his farm he raised and trained his horses, raced them at the Humboldt County Fair, and at Bay Meadows and Tanforan. His horses were well known and popular and Humbpldters, if for no other reason, than out of a good feeling for Pacific, often bet on them.

Sometimes winnings were good. He stopped racing a number of years ago. Pacific never missed a Humboldt County Fair even the past season, and he was always at the Fortuna Rodeo; and a familiar figure at the auction yards where he met many of his friends. He was a warm, genial man, filled with kindness, I'm proud of being a cousin of his somewhere up in the "family tree." He was 83 at the time of death. To his sister Amelia Toroni, of Ferndale, and brother, Ernest of Oakland, goes our sympathy.

teak JVrcmU Over at Northtown Books, Arcata, there is a book authored by Vera Snlderl Teague of Cloverdale about John Snider, the last of the old-time teamsters and stage drivers. It is called, "From Buckskin to Team Bells." Snidcr's ancestors settled in Laytonville in Itlliti and he was born in Mendocino County and grew up in the hills ol his birthplace. In 1913 he came to Humholdl and worked in this area for many years. Nearly 50 years ago he helped build many of the cement sidewalks for the City of Arcata when the walks were replaced. Snider's life was active and interesting, the author says.

He began drivlngfour and six-horse teams at an early age and spent many years hauling freight, which at times even included dynamite, over the roughest road. Some were merely crude trails. He hauled supplies and equipment for the mines; hauled shingle bolts on sleds over skid roads, peeled and transported tanoak bark; drove stage coach; carried mail, hunted, trapped made roads, and was a farmer and rancher. He is still alive, at the age of 86 he lives in Ukiah. His sister, Vera Teague, has seen fit to write this account of John's experiences before "it is too late." This should have special interest to Arcata residents.

Story for today A group of women were talking together. One lady said: "Our congregation is sometimes down to 30 or 40 on Sunday night. "Another said: "That's nothing, sometimes our group is down to six or seven." An old maid added her bit: "It's so bad in our church on Sunday night that when the minister says, "Dearly beloved, it makes me blush." Jest-a-Minute Wheat needs warmth WASHINGTON I -Warmer weather and more moisture are needed to help development of the 1976 winter wheat crop which is still in below-normal condition in most southern portions of the Great Plains, the Agriculture Department says. The agency's weekly crop weather report said winter wheat, which was estimated on the basis of Dec. 1 conditions at 9 per cent below last year's record harvest, was also suffering from insect infestations in parts of Kansas and Oklahoma.

In Kansas, the leading winter wheat state, officials said there was no change in the condition of the crop during the week ending last Sunday. Topsoil moisture was reported generally adequate, i i remained short in the western part of the state. Texas wheat reportedly made only slow growth because of low moisture and cold weather. Recent rains and snows were helpful in most of the state but furnished only "light moisture" in the High Plains, officials said. In Oklahoma, the report added wheat continued in fair to good condition but growth was stopped by cold and dry soils.

In other parts of the country, the condition of wheat and other fall-planted small grains varied widely, officials said. -They were reported in fair to good condition in most of the south and southeast, in good to excellent condition in Illinois, and short of moisture in California.The weekly report said also that harvesting of the 1975 cotton and soybean crops was virtually complete by the end of last week. William Livingston, elected the first governor of New Jersey in 1776, was an effective propagandist for the patriot cause. To encourage greater popularity for the Revolution, Livingston wrote many articles and letters for publication under various pseudonyms. This close friend of Washington organized and commanded the New Jersey militia, represented the state a i a Congresses, and served as governor for 15 years, The World Almanac notes.

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