Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-09-14
CALIFORNIA.

Ane SURFING events of the war, and since
have so absorbed the public attention on this
eide Of the Rocky Mountains that the progress
OF affairs on the Pacific slope has been COM
parauyely overlooked. A reeen. and very, ex-
cellent work on California entitled The
National Wealth of California by T. b. Cro-
mise, published by III. II. Bancro.. & Co., san
Francisco, serves 10 show, in a very striking
waythe growth of that State and the extent OF its
resources developed. fits gold produets have
fallen from S65,OcOOOO per annum TO S25,0OO.OOO
per annum, its agricultural products have
increased TO an amount equal TO half the largest
gold yield ever known. The wheat crop. alone
for 1867. was worth nearly as much as the gold
and the surplus of this staple freiohtcd 9l3
ships, and reached a value of SI3O0C co: while
the total exports of home products, incl uding
aoout nifty different articles for which the
state was formerly dependent on other lands
was ABOUT slI,OOo,COo. The VINTAGE of 1867 ex-
ceeded 3,5OO,oOO gallons of wine and 100000 GAL
Ions OF brandy; the number of vines now grow
ing IN the State being about 25,O01,OJO. The
wool-clip was 9,5O0,OOO pounds, showing a gain
OF more than thirty per cent over 1s,6 SILK,
tobacco, hops, fax, and cotton, may now b :,
ranked among the minor products that prom
Ise TO be hereafter sources of profit. A silk
factory and sugar-beet factory are two of the
new Industries being established. The manu.
lectures Of the State are already estimated at
sSO,OCO.OcO per annum. The assessed value OF
real and personal property increased in 1867
about S2l,0OC,0C1, running up the total taxable
values Of the State 10 some s22I, 100000, and
showing gain OF twenty per cent in two
years the most prosperous years ever expe.
renced in the State.
IL may be said that the genuine prosperity OF
California has only Just begun. So long as the
greater part of Its population was engaged in
surface mining, there was little substantial gain
either materially or morally. The transition
period to more regular and diversified industry
was one OF trial and discouragement; but it is
nearly over, as shown by the signs of improve
ment in commerce, manufactures, agriculture.
and society Mining itself has become a fixed
pursuit, regulated by science, skill, and capi-
tai One-third OF the gold product is now
obtained from quartz veins worked by
machinery, and this proportion is steadily
increasing Railroads are rapidly Multiplying
IN the State. Within twelve months San Fran
cisco will be connected by rail with all the
principal towns of the interior, at distances
from nfty TO two hundred miles, north, south
or east, and with the Great Basin of Nevada.
otah and the eastern States by the Pacific rail-
road. The running of two lines of steamers 10
Panama, and others TO Mexico, British Column
j
CHINA. have greatly increased the com nerce of
California and quickened immigration.
Ihe state funds for educational purposes now
aggregate nearly Sl.0JO,OOO, and the interest
upon this, with the aid OF school taxes, sup
ports an admirable system of tree instruction
claimed to be the best Of any State in the Union
The means and the measures are also ready for
establishing State University on broad and
permanent basis.
The picture OF California is very bright, and
those who have been faithful TO her througb
twenty years Of yicissitudes and hardshlps
may well rejoice in the prospect. Yet there
are some evils and disadvantage which ne d
10 be frankly considered. Habits OF lavish ex
penditure, recklessness IN business, want of
restraint over the young, too great Indifference
10 the solid essentials of character in public
and private, a hard materialism; these are traits
which Californians, with all their spasmodic
though hearty generosity, exhibit too frequent
iy- But a ste@dy Improvement is noted in these
respects, and such asperities remain Will be
toned down by the lapse of time and the growth
of the home influence with domestic pleasures
and moral restraints.