The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-09-15
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER Is, 1916,

received small revenue, by imposing
trifing per centage on the value OF the
goods sold. The same practise contln-
ned I'LL 1923, when Don Jose Marie de
Eachandia was named commandant-gen-
eral, who placed collector at the port of
San Diego, and other subordinate officers
at Monterey and Santa Barbara. The
Mexican tariff was now introduced, and
the general government, to encourage the
settlement of the CALIFORNIA;, awarded
that two-ffths of the duties established,
should be deducted OH all goods landed in
that country of foreign importation. This
regulation however, has ceased to exist,
aud the importer is now obliged to pay
the full extent of the tariff rate, which on
some articles amounts TO over one hum
dred and fifty per cent. on their first cost
The nett amount of revenue seldom ex-
ceeded, in any year, over eighty thousand
dollars, so that when a deficiency took
place, to supply the expenditures of gov
ernment. it had been usual to call upon
the missions for aid. Mexico would have
had to have RENTED annually, if it had
paid its debts and its soldiers, over one
hundred thousand dollars, of which the
exchequer fell short, TO defray the actual
expenses of the country. This may be
quite sufficient to show the important
standing which the missions held towards
sustaining the government, and how en-
feebled it must have become since their
ruin.
Since 1886, when the Californians
drove out the Mexicans, the country has
undergone many changes. Numbers OF
new farms have been erected by the di-
vision of the mission estates, and hun
dreds of Englishmcn and Americans are
scattered over the extent of their domains.
There were very few farmers previous TO
1880, whose actual possessions of horned
cattle did not exceed one hundred thou
sand. In 1912, there were no less than
ninety-two ranchOres located between the
ports of San Diego and San Luis Obispo.
These persons possessing, on an average
one thousand bullocks each, making an
aggregate of nineiytwo thousand. From
San Luis Obispo towards the north, the
farmers are more numerous, and may
be supposed to contain treble the number
of cattle contained southward Of that point;
so we NAV safely estimate the whole
number of horned cattle held by individu-
ais in the whole country, at four hundred
! thousand.
The yearly number of cattle slaughter
ed seldom exceeded fifty thousand, which
left large increase; so that, with care
and attention, in very short time the
number must overreach that ever held by
the missions even in their most fourishing
condition. The value of the hides and
I tallow derived from these annual slaugh-
} tcrs, may be estimated at three hundred
and seventy two thousand dollars. These
two commodities, with the exception oI
some beaver, sea otter, and other furs
comprise the most important part of then
explorations, which in addition, would
augment the value of exports to four hun
! dred thousand dollars per annum. The
/ greater portion Of these items find thelI
way to the United States, either direct OF
via the Sandwich Islands or Lima; the
Yankees being the principal participants
in the trade with California.
No mercantile houses of any import
ance are yet established in the country
owing to the ilnpolitic advantages given
to foreign navigation, which permit the
coasting trade, and give license for the
/ disposal OF merchandise without restric
ton as TO quantity. Hence each vesse
becomes a moving warehouse, which Is
despatched about, from port to port, ac
cording to the demand for their merchan
disc; and no one thinks of buying any
thing on shore, while these floating con
veuiences are at hand. As it may bt
supposed, this method of non-protectioi
10 home trade, is of serious injury to th'
country, inasmuch as it prevents the IN
PRODUCTION OF capitalists, and the establish
ment of them on shore. This detrimen
to tn prosperity of California, however
is not unknown to its government, and
has made several unsuccessful attempts
TO regulate and reform the system. Veal
and unstable in their government, TIT
CalilornIans have ever wavered from
their DEGREES, and though certain rcstric
tions have been levied again and again up
on foreign commence, they seldom con
tinued long enough to give any encour
agement. This has been owing to tn
poverty Of the treasury, and the lack o
means possessed by government to sup
port itself without the aid of foreign com
merce, which is the only source of reve
nue. whereby it is sustained. A reform
can only be effected by shutting the ports
and imposing direct tax upon indiyldu
al property, which to accomplish the gov
ernment has not sufficient force; and 10
the reason California must remain as IT Is
subject to a thousand changes, until som
other and more elevated power shall rul
its destiny. In the small villages almos