Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-09

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adaptations of her soils, so that the newcomer
y may enter upon his labors with an intelligent
confidence in the result.
A progressive step has been taken during
the past year at the University in the estab-
lishnent of a garden of economic plants, IN
which a large number of growths proposed
for culture in this State are being tested
Still the science of agriculture in our State
is yet in its infancy. The peculiarly OF our
soils, seasons and climate makes the ripe eX-
perience of other countries unavailable to US
in our methods of agriculture. An unskllllul
and unscientifc agriculture will lmpoVerlsn
our soil and eventually convert our ter1lle
valleys into desolate wastes. The careluily
collected experience of the older States
which constitute the literature of the science
of agriculture, being unavailable to u.s. we
are dependent upon self-instruction Tor what
we now know or have yet to learn OF the
most scientific methods of field and orch'lu
cultivation. The Bureau Of Agriculture
at the National Capital is a most valuable
aid in the dissemination of intelligence Oh 'ie
subject of scientific agriculture, as thaV SCI
ence NAV relate to the laws of production
under the conditions existing IN the great
body of States in this Union. But the pecu-
Garities of condition existing in this state
call for the evolution of special science OF
agriculture, and as means to that end
most respectfully recommend that through
our Congressional delegation in Washington
the Congress of the United States be memo
rallied to establish a branch of the National
! Bureau of Agriculture on the Paclhc coast.
Further, and appropriately in this connec-
ton, your attention is respectfully directed
20 the wise encouragement heretofore given
by this State in the way of promoting
higher agriculture by stimulating annual ex-
hibitions of the highest results of industry.
This announcement should be continued I'M
der the guarded restrictions of the Constltu-
ton Of our State.
Mining, for long time the principal pur-
suit of our people, is still one OF the most
active and profitable industries. Its I'M
portance to the State and to the nation can
not be overestimated or gainsaid; and 1t is
not without pride that We point to the fact
that, since the discovery of gold here, Cali
| fornia alone has produced over sol, OOO,OOU,
a sum that exceeds the aggregate productions
of all the rest of the United States. AS re-
suits are the measure of success, these many
millions prove the importance-State and ma
tional-of the mining industry and ought to
relieve it of its supposed speculative charac-
ter. There is a broad and well-defned dis
tinction between the legitimate California
miner-the producer of these vast sumS-and
the stock speculator who deals in paper EVIL
dences of titles to supposed mining proper
ties. While legitimate mining has accom-
plished so much for the State, it must be ad-
mitted that the State has not done all 1t
ought to have done for mining. We provided
for a State Geological Survey, which was
barren of any useful results, aud before It's
completion School of Mines was founded at
the University, the outfit of which has never
been furnished, and its chair is vacant.
Is it not due to the mining interest that the
results of the geological survey already paid
for, compiled and collected-such as are prac-
teal in their nature-be' made public prop
ertv. when no expense is entailed, except that
of their publication What has been done
we should have the benefit of.
DEBRIS.
In several sections of the State a conflict
has arisen between the mining and agricultural
interests in relation to the debris washed
down by the rivers. The best interests Of
the State require that this most important and
most delicate question should be settled upon
some broad and comprehensive basis. The
report of the Board of Engineers provided
for by the last Legislature will doubtless
furnish you with information in this con-
nection.
IRRIGATION.
The important subject of irrigation, with
special reference to the San Joaquin valley,
has been the topic of investigation by the
State Engineer and his able corps, and it is
expected that his report to the Legislature
this session will present some data upon
which may be based wise legislation.
FREIGHrs AND FARES.
The progress made in the construction of
railroads during the past half century, the
convenient facilities they furnish for travel
and for the rapid interchange of commodities,
have brought their relations to the State into
a prominence that cannot be ignored by those
occupying. or who would occupy, official
stations.
Transportation companies move the agri.
cultural and manufactured productions of the
world. Their growth has been so overshad-
owing that the earnest attention of the wisest
statesmen of both hemispheres has been di-
rected to the subject of governmental super
vision. In some of the older States such
supervision has been tried and abandoned.
In others the experiment has met with APP
proval, and has resulted in better under
standing between the public and the rail-
way companies. In this State we have had
two Commissions created by statutory en-
actments and clothed with limited supervisory
authority.
The railroad companies disputed the right
of the State to interfere in their affairs, and
this attitude undoubtedly tended to the adop-
ton of the far-reaching provisions in the new
Constitution intended to regulate and control
transportation companies.
A Commission authorized by that instru-
ment has been chosen by the people. Its
powers are almost unlimited, and partake of
the legislative executive and judicial. The
wisdom of delegating such extraordinary
powers to such limited numbers is not open
to discussion or challenge in this place. The
people, with whom the power rested, have SO
decreed, and it remains for their servants to
obey. Yet trust that the Transportation
Commissioners will not consider me as ex-
ceeding official courtesy if 1 give expression
to the hope that they will be able to effect
more harmonious relation between the trans
portation companies and the people whom
they serve Some of the constitutional pro-
visions governing this subject are probably
not self-executing, and viii need legislation
to give them the effect designed by their
trainers. respectfully invite the attention
of the Legislature to this subject, and recon-
mend the passage of s-lch laws as shall meet
the requirements of the case.
REVENUE AND TAXATION.