The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-05-27
California and Southern Imm;orants

Dr. Hotchkiss an old practicing physician of th
place. is in receipt Of letter from California write
os an old and intimate friend of his touching on th
: polcy of Southern emigration to California He ii
closes to the Doctor circular, giving description
Vic the price of land the cost of putting
crop, and much other valuable information to th
en'grans which we publish below. We give, first, Al
extract from the private letter:
. STOCKTON, CAL, April Is. 1853
Dear Docto,-Qn Yesterday, received from ou
mutual friend, Pat D-g, your esteemed letter, con
tanning request that would Immediately give yo,
the information desired. Fortunately, had in con
junction with few of your Southern friends, had th
inclosed circular published some time ago, which con
tains all the information I can give. To my owl
knowledge it is true, and it be fully relied on.
have been settled here since 1864. The Democrat
carried the State last year. and will do it again thi
fall There is no bad feeling here among the people
but we live in peace and harmony n / have
always teta deep interest in the welfare of my friends
in the South felt at first that the war was for moth
ing but abotonsm, and would result in the destruc
public addresses to the people; consequently was
very near being committed to Jail by the Lincoln par
ty. In this State the people have prospered all the
tlme This is the country for all friends if they
can get here; but it is not good country for man
VINO Is entirely destitute OF means unless he is willing
The following is extract from the circular spoken
of before:
| STOCKTON, CAL, December Is, 1867,
| John A. Stanly, Esq.-Dear Sir: In reply to your
inquiry take great pleasure in giving you, for the
information of friends in the South such facts in
relation to the farming interests of California as
| possess.
have been engaged in actual farming operations
in this State for the past sixteen yearhe facts and
figures shall give you are such as have been drawn
from my own experience, and wherever there may be
doubt upon any question, shall calculate as to
throw that doubt against the farmer.
Our friends in the South must remember, where not
otherwise stated, all figures may state represent so
much gold and silver con-the precious metals being
| the only currency we have in California.
The arabic lands Immediately around the city of San
Francisco, and within few hours travel of that me.
troplls are cut up into small farms and highly i'm
proved as orchards, vineyards, market gardens etc.
and command high price per acre-$2o to $780,
These lands are out of the question for immigrants
... SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
In the valley of San Joaquin, where reside, there
are now from 900 to 400 900 acres of rich prairie
lands uncultivated. These lands are situated on or
in the immediate vicinity of the San Joaquin river
This river is navgable to Stockton and for some dis
tance above at all of the year. and these lands
be reached from San Francisco by steamboat and
wagon, in from twelve to fourteen hours.
Part of these lands still the property of the gov
cAuAicAt auu PoIUVA uhfc Uctu Eeuuceu 10 private
ownership.
According to the locality and quality of SOIL these
lands can be bought from individual owners at prices
varying from 81 to IS per acre. Such still pub
lie lands can be preemped at 81 25 per acre in green
backs, or settled upon homestead and title gratu-
itously obtained after five years actual residence.
CLIMATE.
The climate of this valley is unsurpassed for comfort
and hesthfulness; we have cold weather. and but
little a what is known in the South weather.
The only change in our is from wet to dry
the former commencing generally in October or No
vember and continuing until April. During this Pc
riod we have no more rain than falls in North Caroi
ma III the same months. 1n the summer-that is from
May to November--we have no rain. Our friends in
the east will bear this fact in mind, it has mate
rial influence upon farming operations. In harvest
time we have no fear of damage to our crops from
shower, or its destruction by Storm lose no labor
on account Of rainy days; dispense with barns
and cribs; our crop remain in the field in sacks
until sold, and there many other advantages which
will readily suggest themselves to any practical far.
mer.
There is no country in the world where man can
live more exempt from disease than this there is
none where he can more nationally enjoy life, and I
hink can demonstrate that industry and energy can
'e and are as amply rewarded for their efforts here
IS IN any known part Of the habitable globe.
COST OF PUTTING IN A WHEAT CROP
The large tract of uncultivated land to which have
eferred is fertile, it produces wheat rye barley cats
,rapes, almonds, and all kinds of fruits and garden
vegetables in perfection and profuson upon the low
ands bordering upon the rivers and creeks Indian
orn is raised but wheat is the crop. q
To get at the principal farming operations we will
uppose an emgrant who has the means to purchase t
nd settle six hundred of these lands we will
xamine into his necessary outlay, the work he will
ave to do, and his probable receipts:
tx hundred acres of land will cost him. 1880 /
lis necessary building for a small family ~ 1000
TX horses, gang-plow and harness ........ 600
'agon ...".....'... ...................... $50
His total expenditures amount to ~ $1,000 O
With this he is ready to commence operations in g
ctober One man with six horses and gang plow can
reak up, SOW and harrow in 300 acres of wheat, If
lis labor is hired it will cost from $50 to $40 per
onth, total of $l2o. 1t will cost $lOo to feed
le horses while putting in the crop, and $40 for new
low points repairs to old and $3.50 for the seed
heat for 300 acres His wheat is seeded at an
kpense of $500; his horses turned into pasture
trifng cost, and they take care of themselves c
ntl they needed at harvest and the farmer has
0 further expense to incur to his farm until the Il
heat is ripe in June He can then, by furnishing t.
,c contractor with the of his the farmers .
orses and wagon, contract to have his wheat bar
ested and sacked at 81 per acre. and threshed 10
ents per bushel. Y
THE PROFIT OF A WHEAT CROP.
The grain has been worth less than 65 cents
er bushe as it comes from the thresher and if the |
rmer will sack it, and hold it during the summer 81
I'd fall he safely calculate upon 80 cents per is
lshe, besides enough that amount to pay for 81
e sacks. 81
In my sixteen years experience we have had one a
of total failure of crops. Leaving out this year
I'd counting for all partial failures, the land which
described will average for the past sixteen years
ON to 20 bushels of wheat to the acre, and in b.
any favored spots the average is more than double
ese figures We will take the average production a.
IA bushels to the acre. and the lowest price of 65
nts per bushel and how stands the farmers ac-
unt for his years operations m
expenses OF p4anting.. $39O o.
le harvesting OF 300 acres res............... 300 OF
lreshing $500 bushels. $50 tt
,ta disbursement on his crop account $1O5O n
arket value OF the crop p................. 2340 N
Net pront ....'.................... ........$lz9o m m
This is for the first years operations. '"
VOLUNTEER CROP. las
Now far for the first year, and the farmer has v
ly cultivated the onehalf of his 600 of land
e second year he will the othe: 300 acres and ~
rvest it at the expense for the first year ~
t in addition that, and without plowing seeding W
any other expense, except the dollar per acre s
harvesting and ten cents per bushel for threshing
will obtain full average crop 10y way of volunteer
I'm the 800 acres cultivated the first year; or in m
aer words it is not necessary to the seed upon n
land but in two years. sometimes once in of
rec years. The second year it seeds ITSELF This O'