The Placer herald., 1860-03-17
Maine and California,


of Maine to make the decennial valuation of
all property owned within her limits, have
just returned their report for 1860. Their
valuation is $l66OOO,OO0 - 500, 100000
more than in 1850. The 'Star of the North
east" is vi sbly waxing both in strength and
lustre.
In the California papers we find variety
Of agricultural statistics. The wheat crop is
100000 bushels-a gain of above so per
cent. on any previous year. The less i'm
portant crop of barley has somewhat fallen
off, but the total product of cereals is largely
increased. 1t is clear that California, unless
under some extraordinary visitation, will al
ways more than supply herself with food.
This, with her gold crop, will make her, if
she choose SO to be- absolutely selfsupport-
ing. Gradually introducing, first the coarser
and then the finer manufacturers, she will
one day be world by herself Her live
stock of all kinds, horses, mules, cattle
sheep, hogs, are rapidly multiplying. APP
pies, peaches, pears, cherries and fruits Of all
descriptions she raises in great profusion
and is evidently destined to become one of
the greatest fruit growing countries in the
world. Already the eye of the stranger is
attracted at every turn by her pomological
richness and variety. Of grapes she is par
tcularly fertile; and even the mining coun-
ties, especially Ell Dorado, produce the finest
qualities California will soon manufacture
and export wine as one of her leading sta
pies, and she is sure, in this respect, to be
the France of America.
ba bo haor
of our confederacy, filled with active move
ment, and daily growing in population,
wealth and power. Between these two ex-
tremes, over stretch of nigh 5000 miles,
the whole land is one great field of industry,
and that industry, how vast and varied. The
coolest imagination kindles at the thought
Of the position which this country will fill
among the nations, if she shall guide herself
by wise, peaceful, kindly counsels.
The Maine Commissioners report the num-
ber of polls as l29,03l-a gain of 23,G20
since 1850. Some of the Maine papers, we
perceive, are computing the poll at for 80
inhabitants, figure out a gain Of $4,000 in
the last ten years, and pre- ent population
of 100000. This will prove we think, to
be an over-estimate. In the campaign of
1910, Maine cast one vote for less than every
"a inhabitants, and it is not a. all likely that
she cast as many votes as she had polls.
Except in the few cases of baretaced and
wholesale fraud, our elections Lave never
drawn out more than 95 to 90 per cent Of
the actual voters. Very seldom does it reach
even the lowest mark. We know, too, from
other sources, that the polls, generally, in
purely American population, number not
less than l in 5. But making the number
of polls, or the absolute voting strength,
only l2 per cent less than the proportion
of votes which Maine has been known ac-
tualIy to cast-that is making the polls in
5.25, when the vote has been l in $50
these 10000 poll will indicate a population
of 677,0oo. This is only 1000 different from
the result we arrive at by other processes.
The census itself will show who is nearest
the truth 1t is possible that in 1850 the
polls were erroneousl y taken.
Philadelphia North 41mrican.