*** Source: History and Business Directory of Humboldt County, Lillie E. Hamm, November 1890, Eureka, Cal. *** ---page 033--- [ad] Oil Paintings and Engravings at J. E. Mathews [ad] HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY 33 [ex]ists only in California. In winter on the hills back of the timber belt snow falls, but in the valleys and within the distance influenced by the ocean, there is an absence of snow and frost seldom forms. The average temperature for the summer- months is about 65 degrees and in winter at 45 degrees. Here indeed is a healthy invigorating climate, free from miasma and all other kindred complaints. It adds tone to the system, and enables one to take an interest in work and gives a renewed impetus to the system, which is equivalent to a new lease of life. RESOURCES. We will give but passing mention of the resources of Humboldt county under this head as they are treated at length in other pages of this edition. Here lumber is king. The magnificent redwood is of the chiefest importance, but an inexhaustible supply of spruce, pine and cedar only await further development by the investment of capital in mills, to cut into lumber or wood, that has the world for a market. Laurel, oak and madrone are here to be found and offer the greatest of inducements to the enterprising manufacturer of furniture. Wool forms the next industry of importance and adds to the great wealth of the county. Stock raising, dairy products, fruit raising, agriculture and the salmon fisheries, besides mineral and other resources present attractions which cannot but magnificently reward those who interest themselves in their development. RIVERS, LAKES AND CREEKS.--EEL RIVER. Eel river has its source in Mendocino county. This beautiful, wild and ever flowing stream drains an immense area of country. It is over two hundred miles long, and has hundreds of miles of tributaries. Having its source in the Coast Range, with the snows of numerous high peaks to feed it, its waters are clear, cold and rapid, flowing freely all summer. It has a course of more than 125 miles in this county, and with its tributaries, each from fifty to one hundred miles in length, constitutes a prominent physical feature of Southern Humboldt. Its general course is northwest, flowing into the Pacific Ocean two hundred and twenty miles north of San Francisco. Some say the river takes its name from the circumstance of the Wood exploring party having traded old iron for eels with the Indians residing on the river's banks, whilst others claim that it derives its name from the Indian word "Wee-ot-lol-la," meaning many eels. From its mouth to Camp Grant, a distance of perhaps 55 miles by river's course, it is nearly a half-mile wide, tide-water ebbing and flowing up to a point about six miles from its mouth. For a distance of three miles or more up the river from its mouth the channel has an average depth of from twelve to fifteen feet. TRIBUTARIES OF EEL RIVER. The Van Duzen fork of Eel river has its source in Trinity county. It is about 100 miles in length and empties into Eel river some fourteen miles from its mouth. Yager creek, a tributary of the Van Duzen, has its source near the low gap or divide between the waters of Mad and Eel rivers, and with its tributaries drains and waters all that section of country between Mad river and the Van Duzen, [ad] Gibbard & Lever make a Specialty of Bedroom and Parlor Suits Cor. 3d and H Sts. Pioneer Bdg, Eureka [ad] ---end---