The hydraulic press., 1860-03-10
We Need an Industrial Society.

iASAto thS ShhiLotiOuj III 4NSfoNo
county, of society devoted to the various,
but intimately connected interests, of agri-
culture, mining and mechanics. Thinking
that another season would be more propi-
tious for the advocacy of stch an important
project, further allusion was withheld until
the present time; and now-whiie hundreds
of our citizens are plowing virgin soil,
grain and luscious fruits to grow
where none grew before, and erecting civil
lied abodes where late the bark or earthen
huts of Indians were the only residences
We venture another effort to fix public atten-
ton upon plan for promoting the welfare
of our county.
There is no necessity to dilate upon the
general advantages of industrial societies
The useful influence they exert by publishing
the resources and productive capacity of
particular localities, as we'll as of whole
country, and the propulsion they give to ev-
cry branch OF industry by educating the pub
lie mind and exciting wholesome emulation,
are too well appreciated, even in California,
to require elaborate statement. The only
question for us, as citizens of Nevada coun-
ty, is this; Do we need such society in
our midst2 Is there here field sufficiently
wide for its operations? Have we resources
or capacities which, by such an agency,
could be made better known and be more
quickly developed? In shorts there in a
mining county any great interest, besides
mining, which should be fostered, and which,
if fostered, would make such county more
prosperous and its people more happy? We
answer-there is. The day has gone by for
doubling the permanence Of the settlements
in mining counties. The notion originally
advanced, that the mineral regions were fit
for mining purposes alone, and would never
be occupied by other than rowing tribes of
gold hunters, has become virtually obsolete.
Just in proportion to the decrease of the IA
cility with which mineral wealth conld be
acquired by labor without capital, has been
the increase in the number of industrial pur-
suits in these regions, and the multiplication
of land-cutivators and home builders
Thousands who are weary of the precarous
pursuit of gold seeking, as we'll as thousands
whe still follow it with more or less success,
have found in the soil treasures once unsus-
pected to exist there They have discovered
that while Nature was busy strcwing through
the mountains of California, more plentifully
than elsewhere, the metallic representative
of riches, she also cunningly difused through
the red and black loam of hillside and val
ley those wonderful salts which the alchemy
of the cultivator transmutes into real wealth,
and hangs upon the tree in blushing spheres,
and upon the vine in purple clusters, or
spreads over the ground in carpet of bloom
and yerdure. In more sober language
everybody now knows that the mountain
soil is exceedingly valuable for tillage; that
it will "pay" for that when it does not pay
for running through sluices; that the noun
tain climate is admirably adapted to fruit
and vegetable culture and sheep raising, no
less than to the healthy growth and con-
slant physical enjoyment of man; and that
where soil and climate are thus favorable to
permanent settlement, other avocations than
those of mining and griculture-though
these will take the iead-must inevitably
spring into vigorous existence, and noun
tain communities become self-sus tanning.
On the score of attention to these lately
appreciated resources and capacities, Ne-
vada is in advance of most mining counties
While she has been surpassed by no other
county in liberal and intelligent efforts
to explore the mineral deposits aud improve
the appliances for their extraction, she has
taken a prominent part in the Inauguration
of more legitimate industry. Her half a
thousand square miles of agricultural, graz
ing and timber lands are largely occupied
by people who are planting orchards vine
yards and gardens, building mills, shops, |
school houses and churches, and laying the
corner stones Of stable homes and good So
ciety So far, well. We desire now to see
her zeal assume the form of association for
systematic action. An industrial society,
devoted impartially to agriculture, mining
and mechanics, will serve to quicken the
public interest; will collect information for
the guidance and encouragement of those
who need both will afford palpable proofs
of what is not now fully believed abroad, |
because asserted only by sanguine journal |
lists; will show our eastern kindred that we I
are not discontented nomads, encamped but
for season; will make our county sharef |
in the desirable repute enjoyed by the strictly |
agricultural counties, and thus attract to
our midst portion of the immigration which /
yearly reaches the State in search of home
steads. Regions where industry is multi
piled in its forms and stimulated by immense
production of the precious metals, thrive
more rapidly and yield greater amount of
wealth to the individual than regions ten
anted exclusively by tiilers OF the soil and /
the few tradesmen necessary to supply the /
simplest wants of such a population. We +
believe that Nevada county can be made to I