Plumas National, Quincy, California - 16 February 1867 - Letter from Lake City, Surprise Valley, Jan. 18, 1867 Ed. National: - I write you a few lines, which you may publish if you consider them worthy of your columns. The crops last Fall in this valley were equal to the most sanguine expectations. Barley ranged from 30 to 60 bushels to the acre. Wheat from 45 to 74 bushels per acre, Oats as good as Barley, Rye yielded finely; there was however, but little raised. Barley is now, and has been selling at 5cts per pound cash, with an upward tendency. Wheat is worth $2 ½ to $3 per hundred pounds. The fact that we have no flouring mill in the valley accounts for the low price of wheat. The cultivation of corn is almost entirely neglected here except for use while green. Potatoes and all other roots for the kitchen or household use grow large and in abundance, are this year cheap; for the reason that our roads are so bad over the mountains that we cannot as yet get them to market. Farming will be carried on to a much greater extent the ensuing season, than the season past. The lands in the valley have not been surveyed and we are all able to tell where our land, that is to be, lies. I have been lucky enough to settle on the 36th Section or rather the 36th Section has been lucky enough to settle upon me. As far as the Indians are concerned they have behaved much better this Fall and Winter than was to be expected. So far as I now can think, there have been but two raids made by them in the valley since last October. So you perceive that Captain Munson, or his men, or some other cause unknown to your humble servant, has kept things all safe here. So far as business is directly concerned there is but little doing just now. But there are great calculations being made for the Spring. There will be two school houses built this coming Spring. One near Mill Creek, Lake City and the other on Goose Creek 4 ½ miles above. Mr. G.W. Gray intends building a large sawmill near Fort Bidwell. The water through a pen stock, and drive a wheel 6 feet in diameter 500 revolutions per minute. God only knows how many revolutions the saw will make. Mr. Gray is out of the valley at present after either a saw mill or a whiskey mill, the public hardly knows which. Mr. Gray has sold his entire interest in the saw mill and farm on Mill Creek to Fines Hickerson for the sum of three thousand dollars. I believe no better place could be found for a profitable investment of capital or labor than in this valley. Say a good flouring mill, a good shingle mill or a whiskey mill, if kept running would pay well. There have been some rich quartz ledges struck near Mill Creek, which prospect well. Mr. Kellogg has a nice silver brick containing $6 that was worked from the 49 ledge, 18 miles from Mill Creek. There are without a doubt a very rich silver mines within 20 miles of this valley. No marriages at present; but occasional separations which cause no small talk. Deaths are not frequent, although there are several buried in this valley. The first man that was buried here was from Canada, named Clark Wilson. The next death was of S.P. Reed, caused by a falling tree. The next was the wife olf N. Winn whose death was caused by being thrown from a horse. The next two were Mr. Bissell and Mr. Shortridge, both murdered by the Indians. The next was a solider named Williams-frozen to death. Cause-too much bad whiskey. The next two were A. Grimes and F. Boyd who shot each other. The next was James Tounson, killed by the Indians. The next was the wife of Martin Smith who died November 12, 1866. Accept my best wishes for the success of the National. Yours, H.