Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-06-25
AGRICULTURAL.
MATTER PREPARED SPECIALLY FOR
TIE "RECoRD UNION
High Wheat Freights Another Year
Bright Prospects for the Future
Cotton Exposition-Etc.

oAAGAe 14OoHcSbo lO4 tAC
Cotton Exposition Etc.
Want of cheap and ample tonnage to carry
our wheat to market has been one of the
greatest drawbacks to general prosperity IL
this State for the last year. In consequence
of this condition of things the wheat crop OF
the year of 1SSa-S1, though the largest and
best ever produced in the State, has brought
but very little profit TO our farmers ana
added but very little general wealth 10 lne
State. The ocean carriers are about the only
classes that have been materially oenenteo-
notwithstanding It is well known in CONNER
cial channels the world over that there are
large ouantitities Of old wheat still in the
State waiting facilities to reach market,
and notwithstanding it is equally well known
that another medium harvest st least is being
gathered. we see it announced that there is
NOT an available wheat.carrying vessel
in the port of San Francisco This is Ger.
tainlv not a very encouraging outlook for
California wheat-gFowers, but 1t brings for
ward IN q most foroible manner the necessity
for opening up new and shorter commercial
roads between the Pacific coast of the west
ern and Atlantic coast of the eastern CONT
nent Commercially, the world is interested
In the censunnation of this object, but here
the general or common interest ends. The
agricultural producers of the Pacific coast
are the only agriculturists on either continent
whose interests will be directly or indirectly
subserved by 2 more speedy and cheaper
freight route for their produce to market.
Thu farmers OF all Europe, and especially
the farmers OF Great Britain, are already sui
feriac from competition with the farmers of
the United S5ates, aud when the agricultural
products of the Pacific coast are brought as
near their doors, as are now the farm pro-
ducts OF Ohio and Illinois, by ship canal
or ship railway across the Isthmus of
Darien or Tehnantepec, or both, and the
completion and equipment of the Southern
Pacific Railroad FOR carrying wheat in bulk
to the Gulf Of Mexico. their real suffering
will but just have commenced. Could Cali
fornia have enjoyed the same advantages
that Illinois has Tor the Last ten years, as TO
time In transit ard cheapness OF putting her
wheat crop into the European markets, what
would have been the financial benefits to our
farmers. and what the corresponding depres-
sion on British agriculture no man can de-
termiue. but we can plainly see that it would
have been bonanza to the former, and pretty
near DEATH so far as profits Of wheat culture
are concerned, to the latter. Wheat culture
in our State would have been greatly stimu-
lated, the area cultivated would have
been greatly advanced, and the amount pro.
duced very much increased, AID all our other
resources would have been developed in pro-
portion The completion OF the overland
railroad By she Central Pacific route made
the connection OF commercial road around
the world aud placed US on the line Of that
road, end thus brought us so much nearer
the cen5srs OF commerce and population; but
by opening up a new route for the import and
export Of light and costly goods 1t actually
worked disadvantage to bur Wneat-gro9lng
interests by rendering 1t more difficult fer
wheat-csrrying vessels to get freight towards
California and nnaking Il necessary for them
so charge higher freights from our ports.
For the arst substantial relief from this I'M
favorable position our wheat-grOwers must
lock to the Southern Pacific Railroad
and shipping from its terminus on the Gulf
of Mexico to Europe. If in addition to
shortaning the distance to msrke5 for our
wheat, facilities shall be afforded for convey
ing grain IL bplk by this route, even though
the acbusl freight charges are not reduced be-
low the present average freight 5V ses, great
gain TO our farmers viii haye been Effected.
The cost Of sacks and the expense OF handling
and reshipElen5 from cars to vessel here, and
the unnecessary tirae consumed In voyage
around the Horn, are Of themselves burden
some tax upon cur wheat-groxing interests,
the removal Of which Of itself will be
a long step IN the right direction 4
ship canal or ship railway across the
Isthmas, by means OF which ships loaded
with our wheat can be set down IN the Gull
of Mexico ii less time than they would con-
sumo il reaching the equator on their way
around the Horn, will be such 4 saving in cost
and time as will practically place US nearer
to Liverpool than Is Chicago, aud viii give
us the advantage of the wheat growers OF
the Mississippi valley. But. while we are
looking forward to the contamination of
these vast enterprises and 70 the enjoyment
of the advantages they will afford US, the
great West Is turning its eyes down the
Mississippi IS thu natural outlet for its vast
grain CROPS, and anticipating great benefits
from the improved navigation of that river.
The wheat fields Of America are thus
moving nearer aud nearer to market, while
laborers ara docking over from Europe to in-
crease the ares Of these fields and enhance
their production. Anticipation OF these great
changes tends TO make US chafe under our
present crampsd and costly modes OF getting
our wheat 20 market; but it must be admitted
that while the present. is dark and discourage
ing, the future IS bright and cheering TO all
our q AGRICULTURAL interests.