The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-08-12
Oyerdone CaIifornia.

The ST. Paul Pioneer and Press of the 23d saws:
Many State papers have chronicled the return to
their former homes Of persons who were induced
by the glowing accounts sent out by the railroad
companies and real estate agents to emigrate
from Minnesota to California. Every locality
possesses one or more of the victims who have
gone to the Pacific coast, aud who, after acquir-
ing the usual experience of disappointment and
blasted hopes, have sadly returned to their old
localities to commence life anew. Too many, un-
happily, are unable to return at all, while others
have halted by the way in other States where
they are struggling to make up the losses incur
red in the i'll advised removal to the "golden
shores of the Pacific. But notwithstanding
these numerous examples of the misfartuues
which have befallen the victims of the Califor-
MIA fever snnhe people still refuse to learn by the
experience of athers, and prefer TO try the exper
iment for themSeiyes.
Mr. Justus Ramsey has Just returned from
several months visit to California, and he corrob-
CRATES the statement that everything is grossly
exaggerated about that State; that all sorts of
business is overdone; and that an immense num-
Der of people all over the State are totally with
ont employment. A San Francisco German
newspaper in an earnest editorial, urgently ap-
peals to the Germans to stay away from there,
as large numbers of their cOuntrymen are already
in Distress owing to the absence of remunerative
occupations. Mechanics by the thousand are out
Of work. aud having exhausted their resources,
are without the the means of removing their
families to more favored regions. Mr.. Ramsey
met with On estimable man, formerly from
Anoka, q skillful mechanic who was ont of work
and had been for many months, and who could
not even get an opportunity to labor for his
board.
Farmers who have removed to California are
even worse of than mechanics and labOrers, for
the quantity of arabic land in the State is out of
all proportion to the area Of the State, and the
best land is limited 10 the valleys and cOnse-
quentiy its pf5esi Is fa5alous and totally beyond
the reach of men in ordinary circumstances.
Land brings $40 to $50 an acre in localities 200
miles from San Francisco, and that, too, in re-
giOns where transportation facilities and local
markets are none of the best.
Much has been said about the wonderful ca
pocity of California for the production of fruit,
but this, like all the rest, consists of modicum
of truth, upon which is based an immense amount
Of humbug. California oranges and lemons are
failure even when produced as far south as the
Mexican boundary line, and few of them are fit
for consumption. Grapes, to be sure, can be rails
ed in some of the valleys in abundance, just as
they can be profitably raised in Minnesota; but
the vintage business is only successful when car
ried on by the largest dealers, who, with an i'm
mense capital, are able to raise the fruit and
manufacture it into wine and brandy, or ship
tho same IN large quantities to the centres of
consumption.
Another imposture is the statement so largely
circulated, that several crops year can be gath
cred. This is declared to be n humbug by those
who have lived there, and who are disposed to
tell the truth. Everybody has heard about
Strawberries in California all the year round"
but when on the 18th of March the newspapers
announced that straw berries had appeared in the
San Francisco markets, Mr.. Ramsey went ont to
get some, but they were not to be had. It subse
quently appeared that about two pounds of ber-
ries had been produced, which was two or three
weeks earlier than was ever before known, and
hence these two pounds sold at the extravagant
figure OF $3.50 pound No more strawberries
then appeared until the 10th of March, when two