San Andreas independent., 1857-10-10
San Andreas Independent
Ex I R A!
A D d r F. s s
delivered before the 4th Animal yree,.
Va 'he state Agricultural Society of
Caiiiornia, September so, 1857.
BY HENRY EMO.

The occasion which has called together this
great assembly from every part OF California,
is aloyous one; and DO more fitting time could
be selected than this, when the harvest is gath
cred, and the fruits of the teeming earth are
ripened. Independent of the qualification which
oil must naturally feel in viewing the rich pro
ductions of the fertile soil of California, so
lavishly scattered around US, there is a prac.
teal utility in meeting together, in comparing
observations, and interchanging opinions, one
with another. The intellect of that man must
be obtuse indeed, and his mind most sadly
warped, who can spend few days here in com
muniou with his fellow man, and with these
evidences before him, Of what can be accom-
plished by well directed industry, who can
leave, and not be wiser and a better man.
1t is the peculiar province of Agriculture to
minister to the immediate wants of man. and
it is a subject which has been dwelt upon by
the Poet and the Philosopher, in all ages. The
one has thrown around it, all the gorgeous
coors of a glowing and excited imagination,
the other has shown how necessary and aim-
portant 1t is that to the labor of the husband
man should be added the rich treasures of sci
ence and art No country has ever risen to
any great and commanding eminence and for
any length of time sustained itself without the
solid basis OF an agricultural population. But
1t Is unnecessary for me at this time to dilate
upon this subject, or attempt to show the int-
mate connexlon which exists between the great
interests OF Agriculture and the highest degree
OF civilization and refinement, and also the
perpetuity of our free institutions, for it must
be apparent to all who cast a thought upon
the subject. Although Agriculture occupies
prominent position among the industrial pur-
suits OF man, still it is intimately connected
with the Mechanic Arts Commerce, and Manu-
factures; they are all like the timbers in well
constructed arch, mutually dependent upon
each other; whatever benefits and supports the
one, assists the other.
The late Industrial Exhibition at San Fran
cisco, has shown to the most skeptical that the
Mechanic Arts are already in q high state
advancement; 1t has conferred the highest de-
gree OF credit upon its projectors, ana reflected
honor on the State. Each successive year will
add new interest to the Exhibition and by
exciting noble emulation to excel, the utmost
perfection will be attained. We, too, have met
together In spirit of generous rivalry, to con-
tend for the prizes offered for the productions
OF the soil, and of art, and our bosoms beat
with an honest pride, when we point to these
triumphs of peaceful industry, and show to the
world how mnch more they are to be valued
than the triumphs of war. At this time too,
we have every occasion to be thankful to the
Oliver OF all Good, that although he has decreed
that man should learn bis bread by the sweat
OF his brow" He has also given the promise
that seed time and harvest should never fail ~
1t is not uninteresting or unimportant on
this day to look back on the past. In 1869 and
10, the first settlements were made in Upper
California TAT San Diego and Monterrey by the
Mexicans. They held possession ofthe country
for nearly eighty years, until by the treaty OF
Guadaoupe Hidalgo, it was annexed to the
United States. The progress of the Mexicans
IN the arts OF life was slow, and the increase
of population was but trifing. The agriculture
of the country was in the lowest state possible;
there was no commerce of any amount, and no
manufactures; the cattle it is true, roamed over
a thousand hills, but were valued only for their
hides and tallow. This state of things continued
until the whole Pacific Coast woke up to new
life, by the advent of the Americans, in the
memorable year of l649. Not ten years has
passed away, scarcely a day in the History of
Nations, and there has been added to the popu-
lation of the country more than four hundred
thousand inhabitants, who have added to the
wealth of the world, more than five hundred
millions of gold, taken from her rivers, and
dug from her hills and mountains.
This is something to be accomplished in
less than ten years but we have accomplished
more than that, for we have, in the mean time,
been engaged in building up cities, improving
farms, making roads and bridges, and have
constructed canals for the purpose of bringing
water to mineral ground for mining purposes,
%bo Of Wh Ia
than the distance from San Francisco to Bos-
ton, measured by the way of the Eden of the
Mormons-Salt Lake. For the first three or
four years but little attention was paid to Ag-
rculture The whole country ran riot in its
thirst for gold. No one came here for any
other purpose than to make :" his pile =" and re-
turn. We were dependent upon other coun-
tries for all the necessares and luxures of life,
and with a reckless prodigality, which was
never equaled, millions upon millions of dollars
were squaDdered in worse than folly. 1t was,
however, soon discovered that we had other
mines of wealth than those of gold-that the
soil vas of wondrous richness and fertility, and
the attention of thousands was directed to it.
And what has been the result? The answer
to that question is, that California now does,
what is not done in the old settled States of
fcImOut, NCH 1shOoO
Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts New Jer-
sey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee,
Florida, and even the Empire State. New York.
We raise wheat enough for our own consump-
ton, and some to spare. In 1856 there was
raised 1887 1886 bushels of wheat; 3,229,23O
bushels of barley; 364,42O bushels of oats ;
l65 AGA bushels of corn; 72l ,0l0 bushels OF
potatoes 24e, ,982 lbs.o of wool 452,l73 lbs.
of butter 246l1 lbs. of cheese. We had
sl,703 horses 17,7l3 mules 520,276 head OF
cattle; 1921 sheep; l38,9l0 swine. OF
fruit trees we had 1071,7l of grape vines,
l,3l7,957. Previous to l849 there was scarce
ly grist or saw-mill in the land-now we have
III grist mills and 373 saw-mills; II tanner
les 10 iron founderies paper-mill. with the
capacity OF turning out six tons of paper per
week sugar refinery that can manufacture
400 tons of sugar and 10000 gallons of syrup
per month and cordage and oakum manu-
factory in successful operation and l33 quartz
mills propelled either by water or steam power.
May we not modestly ask-what State of not
more than ten years existence can show par
allel to IL