The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-02

THE development of our Pacific coast is
subject of great interest in itself, and derives
additional importance from the more intimate
relations which the completion of the Pacific
Railroad bids iair to establish between the
East and that far-distant region. California,
which was Mexican province down to our
conquest of the country about twenty years
ago. has gone on increasing steadily in popu-
lation. production, and commerce, until she
begins to occupy a commanding position.
Her exports during the year just past foot up
the handsome sum OF over seventy-three mil
hons OF dollars, of which nearly twelve mill
lions were domestic produce and merchan-
dise-not including treasure, which amounted
to over flty-six millions. In her early years
she imported everything from the Atlantic
coast, but last year she raised twelve mil
lions of bushels of wheat, and is to-day ex-
porting -four to Philadelphia and New York,
while the vast bulk of her arabic lands has
not yet been touched by the cultivator. The
mining of the precious metals will undoubt-
edIy form leading branch OF the industrial
pursuits of her people for an indefinite period,
but it is evident that in the agricultural
resources of the State she has a source of
wealth as eXhaustless and more abundant
than in her mines.
But the vision which now particularly
inspires the hopes of Californians is that of
Oriental commerce-that prize for which all
maritime nations have contended for centu-
ries. The establishment of a mail steamship
line, under a subsidy of 100000 per annum,
iOr ten years TO come, from the Government,
and the actual departure from San Francisco
of the first vessel, the new steamship Colorado,
for Yokohama and Hong Kong, has caused
this great matter of the "trade of the East"
to loom up into new Importance. The con-
tract of the Government with the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company calls for first-class
steamships of 5000 tons burden; but the
Company, with comprehensive prescience
of the demands of the future of this great
trade, are building six steamships OF 1000
tons burden, two of which are already
launched, at cost of one million dollars each.
The current ideas in regard to the Chinese,
that they are people who make everything
for themselves, and will do nothing but sell
foreigners their supplies of teas and silks, and
take specie in return, are altogether errone-
GUS. Great Britain exported in 1860 fifteen
millions of dollars worth OF cotton goods
alone to China, and has continued to export
largely of cotton and woollen goods ever
since. The exports of produce, ETC., from
California to China have increased from
$288,O75 in 1856 to $1,465,63O in 1866. The
exports of wheat have run up from 2100
sacks in 1851 to 2O3, ,764 sacks in 1866; and of
-four from 10000 barrels in 1851, to 100000
barrels in 1896; and the people of California
estimate that in China they will find market
for all the surplus wheat and flour they can
produce in the future.
Ifsuch results as these have been obtained
by the prosecution of trade with China
under the disadvantages of meagre, slow,
and uncertain communication, it is easy to
see that with the establishment of regular
steamship line, making frequent, sure, and
rapid trips, vast increase of business may
be expected. The population of China
alone numbers four hundred millions. 1t is
evident that even limited use OF the gene
raj manufactures OF other nations by such a
mass of people would result in the establish
ment OF commerce of great Importance.
The success which has attended the effort to
introduce cheap cotton goods in the face of
Chinese manufactures of the same article, is
proof that the traditional immobilty of that
singular people cannot hold out against the
well-directed efforts of modern commerce.
The establishment of this steamship line
must also exert a powerful influence upon
California, in the way of keeping her con-
stantly supplied with cheap labor. The
Chinese are the great laboring force of the
Pacific coast. They furnish cheap and
efficient workers for the mines. Thousands
of them are laboring on the Pacific Railroad
and tens of thousands more will be needed il
that and other works of public and privatt
industry. The completion of the Pacific
Railroad will lead to a great influx of capita
to California, Nevada, and Oregon, for tn
development of their wonderful resource:
An unfalling supply of cheap labor will the
constitute an element of powerful infuenc
in the growth of those States.
On the whole, then the prospects OF ou
States and Territories upon and in the neigl
borhood of the Pacific, are such as may we
Justify the buoyant and almost exultant tor
of their inhabitants. The national growth
that part of the republic is gratifying to a
who believe in the future greatness and glOl
of the country.
PASSAGE OF THE TARIFF BILL BY tn