The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-24
T II Il R i P u BLIC,
California IlnmigratiOn.
MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR RiGLER.
Executive DEPARTMENT.,
SACRA ntEsro City, AprIl 3, ISdl

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
SAcRAnlEsro CRY, April 3, 1903
10 he Senate and 1ssembly Of Me
State 81 California:
| am persuaded that The interests Of the country
and the obligations OF humanity make il my duty
to invoke your carly attention 10 the difficulties
and dangers which have hitherto attended the i'm
migration 10 California by the overland route; and
in view OF the probable increased Immigration hy
that route during the present year, 10 recommend
that provision bc made for the rciicl and succor oi
Immigrants whnm the hazards incidents 10 the Jour-
nfy may place III need Of your aid.
1t is presumed that the tide of Immigration has
already commenced 10 flow, and tba. before the
meeting OF the next Legislature the bulk OF IT viii
have arrived within the limits of our noble state
Whatever, therefore, it would be wise and proper
to do on the part Of the State should be decided
now.
Information III my possession lends me to believe
that the overland Immigration rom the Atlantic
States to California during the present will be
larger than in any former year. The impressions
which prevail among our ieilow-ciiizcns III the
older States in relation to the climate the agrcuI-
turai and mineral resources Of our country, are
much more favorable than they have been hitherto
Welcome tidings have been sent by our citizens to
hoir friends at home. Public tranquility has
here succeeded public tumult and, under the favor
Of benehcent Providence, health and plenty shed
their genial influence around US These arc tho
blessings which have given such an impulse to
immigration.
To our mild and salubrious climate wo have
found added soil far productive tina wac
icipated-equalling any now cultivated IN the
richest portions Of the older States. The mineral
RESOURCES OF our country are generally believed TO
be inexhaustbe, and our miners are obtaining "A
fair if not rich, reward for their privation5 and
toll. This Information has been diffuscd through
| out the Union; and the apprcbensions which once
existed that our soil would be speedily drained o
its precious deposits, has given place to settled
conviction that we possess here legacy incsuna-
bic and exhausless.
These impressions have created a general de-
sire among the people Of he Atlantic States TO I'm
migrate to California, with view, too, OF locatlng e
permanently among us and ] feel authorized to
express the opinion thatthc immigration overland,
during the present year, will comprise not lcss than
ten thousand families, averaging probably hve
persons TO each proportion oil the5e lnlinl grants
will be women and children, little used 10 the pri-
yations and porils which they must encounter.
Neither the terrible character OF the suiiermg5 on
dured by the immigrants OF 1919 and 1880, nor the
heroic iurtitude with which they endured them,
can be exaggerated The conc usion, then, is ire
sistiblc, that unless We extend the arm OF welcome
| and benevolencc, the Immigration OF the present
year must encounter the samc perils.
The causes which have conspired, and which
will cunspire 10 produce distrcss, may be briefly
enumerated: Every family brings its quota Of val
uabc stock, consisting OF horses mules, cattle, and
| other property to swell our aggregate wealth The
contri button which will be made 10 the wealth Of
the State, through this great artery, during the
present year. IL is believed, may be safely computed
nj 1--we millions OF dollars. The forward trains VIII
|
passing over the highway, will make it loss,
| As the means for the subsistence Uf the animals
composing the trains arc thus reduced, the means
of transportation arc necessarily diminished, and
| the progress Of the immigrants impcdcd or ar
rested La THE manner, storos which were believed
! to be ample when The train started nrc often en-
urcly exhausted before three iourths Ui the Jour
\ ncy Is performed.
1 Ia review of such u stnto of facts. deem il my
duty 20 recommend that you appropriate not Ices
fthsn hiiccn thousand dollars ior The humane pur
lpcsc OF amcEorainr thc suffering OF immigrants
such fund to be applied, specifically, 70 tire object
| Tor which IL il appropriated. In making this re-
! cOnmendatiOn, permit me 90 remark that aln
| fully aware ol the cmharrnrscd condition oi The
/ treasury, and dcplore u IN common with your
! selves. BOT cNtraordinary occasions dCinnd cor
responding sacrifices Ii l. diihcult in view oi the
financial condition 81 the State, o. reconcile tie ap
preparation proposed with the cold calculations 81
! pccuniafy GJPodioicy, but every generous heart
must ardcntiy approve, and indulge the hope That
hc public voice viii sustain u a. niece sfaTy and
/ judici3us exercise oi State bcncyulrnce.
IL - the welfare Ui the country and the stake oi
human lite IN war which givtr solcinn sanction 90
the alts OF that Government which contributes lE
treasure 60 promote the cause Of nations. The i'm
migrants, ricIr flmliies- the women and children
WHO will cvnc ho should bc, aud are, as dear To-
us VA the soldiers who hsht cur bltilc'. They
have, indeed, the highCst elaine upon our syupa-
| thy aud regard. la dscharging ildS duty, tIrfc.
lJrc, TO tCtu, We will be- accomplishing the ends OF
COod government; aud that which NC do, like
bread cast upon the waters, oicr many dHye, viii
! return "
| ia THE exercise n your philanthropy you will
! probably prcscrvc many valuable liy,s, and m0st
certainly save hundreds itum inteusc suffering;
and you viii nlso have the pleading asBurancc tbat
many " ho would have found graves in Tho wilder
uess bot for your timely md, will become thr pos
I Ecasors Of pleasant hcu"s and luxurtHt h,lds IN
California exercising y hoit0Wc ard lu@,iul
influence in Use iuiutc action - our State govern
ncnt, vo!i a. IN oil tlip-c amenities whirh rccu-
late society in peaceful and prosperous cotninuni
ti,s. JOHN BiGLER