, 1853-12-10
Abuses in the laundering Busi-
ness--Proposed Remedy--what
our Farmers should do

rortion of the community of this Territory,
to enter into a short examination of one of
two miserable abuses praeiiced upon our
lumbermen and farmers, from which, ii not
checked and reformed, it is unnecessary TO
conceal the fact, mos: fearful and lamenta-
be consequences will inevitably ensuc in
the shap, of bankruptcy and ruin to many
engaged in tic, at present, two great inter-
ests of this Territory - LuNDERINc and
FARMING.
In the infant condition Of the fisheries
within our borders, as well as the tardy pro-
gress attending the development of our mag
ni6cent coal mines, and also from the fact
that our farmers neither produce bread
stuffs nor pork sufficient for home consump'
tion, we are rendered most emphalically an
IMPORTING community. Dry goods, gTo-
ceries-every luxury, and many necessarles
Of life-very many agricultural and me-
chanical implements - all are introduced
here and paid for from foreign MARKET
And what are we dependent upon for the
payment of all these things' What re-
sources have we for obtaining The MONEY
necessary for the purchase Of these import
ed articles, and at the same time have a
suficiency 10 answer the purposes Of every
day business transactions? We reply
LuMBERING-lumbering, almost exclusively
has, and, for the present, must be made to
foot the entire bill.
Are the people of this Territory, gener-
ally, advised as 10 the MANNER in which our
numbering interest is controlleda Are they
aware that, to a very undue extent, it is
controlled by irresponsible sHARrERs and
sPRcuLA TORS, resident in Sacramento, San
Francisco and elsewhere along the coast
Singular as such suggestion may seem, it
is nevertheless too true. .
To illustrate the manner in which this is
accomplished, we will suppose an individual
arriving here from San Francisco for the
purpose of procuring a certain amount Of
lumber. He advances a certain amount Of
money on the contract, and through PAPER
reputation, closes the engagement BY fur
nishing q draft on some house in that city.
He is then furnished with bills of lading x
hurries to San Francisco, and disposes Of
the cargo, to arrire-thus securing good
round ADVANCE on the Transaction. But
suppose on his arrival there, the price Of
lumber should be-below the figure at which
q profit is 10 be derived, and the house upon
which the draft had been given and accept.
ed should prove Irresponsible How is
our lumberman 10 be indemnifed ? He is
obliged to await the caprice Of the market
or tho individual contracting, or perhaps
suffer himself, without remedy, 10 be swim
died entirely out Of his honest dues +; and
this robbery is felt, not only by the persons
directly interested in thetlumber business
here, but by The operatives in its production,
as well as the entire community. We do
not pretend to say that the above supposed
case would truthfully apply to the trade
generally. But we do pretend 10 say, that
instead of our lumber and timber dealers
controlling that market themselves, it is
superintended loo much, and prejudieially,
by the class of persons referred to, and the
business is conducted entirely too exten-
sively on paper. To be sure, due proper
ton of drafts would prove advantageous to
our business men in their transactions with
California and elsewhere but specie and
not drafts should be the BASIS in all our
operations. A vessel arriving here for a
cargo Of lumber should be prepared TO fur
nish either MONEY or drafts, in payment, 10
suit the convenience Of both proprietor and
operator, and not require TIME at San
Francisco, 10 make sales, and enrich them
selves at the expense Of the labor of this
country; and above all, when drafts are
taken here on houses in that city, it should
be fully ascertained whether or not those
houses are solvent-ready and willing TO
pay on DEMAND. But If houses in Califor-
MIA really are good for all their liabilities,
why introduce the DRAFT system al all, fur
iher than the convenience of our business
men may require Why do not masters Of
vessels require their owners 10 furnish the
money at once for their cargocs = comply
with, and follow out the cash system adopt
ed BY few regular companies trading be-
tween the Sound and San Francisco, and
thus benefit all paitics conccrncd' BY