Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-20
Ca,ifornia-Its Resources. Il

I4fnu 1noa1 = MEMPHIS, September los feos.
- EprroRs LEDGER From frequent con-
versations with the old citizens Of Mem
phis and Of the surrounding country,
iind that there prevails . general desire
to obtain reliable information in regard
to the resources of the great State of Cal
ifornia-especially its agricultural re-
sources; and having been for year past
IN correspondence with different friends
and relatives, who live in that State, l
think that / can embody in letter, Of
not unusual length, great deal OF inter
esting and valuable information upon this
subject. 2 z ~ ~
l will preface my remarks by stating
that farming has been my occupation
since 1858, until within the last three
years, during which was both unwilling
and afraid to continue it, because ! was
satisfied that it could be neither pleasant
nor profitable to dealwith the freed labor.
And when we look around US, in this
and the adjoining States, we see that
thousands have tried them 10 their sor-
row; and even yet I cannot believe that
the political copdition Of Tennessee JUS
tifies our expecting much immediate re-
form in the character or worth OF the
negro. From these facts feel that the
lat ,r of this section will not be reliable
for wears; hence l have beer looking out
for, some country more blessed inI this
regard, and one in which the crops woul ID
be more certain, less risky. than the cot
ton crop is here. 1 think / have found
such country in California, and one,
too. where the profits accrning to the
farmer are greater than they ever we're 10
the south-even including, as before the
war. the profits Of the increase of our
slaves. One item alone shows the i'm
mense advantage of the Californian over
The Uississippian, for instance in this:
! That to dear, fence and keep the same in
repair, ditch and circle place ip Mis-
Eaissippi through ten years, woad constr
tute at least 333 per cent. Of the labor an
making ten crops,-eyen more perhaps,
in the future. as The freedman generelly
charges extra for oil ss0h york. in Cat
| ifornia you have the prspie, Gpd hence
no clearing you have Legislative enact
lments TO prevent aoy stock running at
large during the crop season, hence no
fencing: you never have during the crop
season too much rain, hence no ditchinei
being level country. no need OF circling.
t7Another immense advantage Als that
ur,on these level plains you can use
all modern agricultural machinery 70
b,hs best advantage, snch as the steam
and gang g-plows, reapers, sewers, etc,
ali of which are labor saving, and hence
largely to the interest of the farmers. Ia
addition to all this, lands are TO be bad
from 81 to S., per acre. in amy oonceiy-
able quantity, and which will rapidly en-
hance in value, as the country hlls mp,
and the different projected railroads are
finished. = saal1afls 90 .rii .53e.a tsa
The climate is the finest in the world,
and the fruits, vegetables, meats and
general living Of the country is not to be
surpassed upon the hsbitsbls globe 10
excellence and eheapness; aud the health
Of the country is reported on oil hands
to be unexceptionably good. could
snend an hour in detailing all the points
al attraction presented by this State, bnt
'tis of the profits Of the farm that viii
sneak most. To begin, let ns compare
the profits Of iarmin this country with
one in that, each working Eve nsnds.
Here, on good land. they would 40
splenjidly 10 make seven bales 20 the
hand, but they could not hoe It or plek