Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-13

: : zIE.zIzzIzzzz Z
The decline in the product of Nevada,
| with 1877, is mainly due to the decreased
product of the Comstock, which in 1880
yielded but So, 312, 500 as against S37, oil, 10
in 1877, falling off of S32 500, lis, but some
of the other districts have also declined, as
for instance the Eureka, which yielded
81, GAG, OPS in 1880 as against So, $40, 261 in
1879.
THE TENDENCY OF GOLD MINING
To assume stable character is shown by the
steadiness which the product of California
has maintained from year to year. The ex-
tremely rich deposits in which nature has
concentrated her treasures are hard to dis
cover and liable to give out. But the great
improvements which have taken place in
mining machinery and methods now enable
the working with profit of low grade ores, of
which there are regular and enormous de-
posits. How mining of this kind is develop
ing is shown by the fact that the founderies
of San Francisco during the past year have
turned out machinery for over thousand
stamps. Nor is the effect of this cheapening
of production confined to California alone
though owing to the abundance of low grade
ores on the western slope of the Sierra it
may prove of more Importance to her than to
any other of the gold-producing States. The
great increase in the bullion product of Da-
kota, noticeable in the previous table, is due
to the working of ore which few years ago
would have been considered improbable.
Whether any such bonanzas as those Of
California and Consolidated Virginia yet re-
main in the Comstock, is a question which
can only be determined by further explora-
ton. But, even should no such bonanzas be
found, the deposits of low-grade ore which
have heretofore been passed by, will, under
careful management, and with cheaper meth
DDS, yield steady and large returns-returns
which if less likely to stimulate speculation,
are more likely to add to solid wealth. The
injunctions which have this year suspended
the operations of some of the principal
HYDRAULIC MINES
Of California, may lessen by some millions
the gold harvest but the movement to re-
strain the hydraulic miners from washing
their tailings into the valleys, where they ELL
up the beds of the streams and destroy agri.
cultural land, is in itself an evidence of a
growing conservatism of feeling-of the in
creasing disposition to look upon California
as country in which permanent homes are
to be made. If the hydraulic miners still go
on washing down the hills, they will, at least,
be compelled to minimize the destructive
effect by damming up the tailiDgs. The
streams of California will in little while
flow as clear again as they did when the gold
seekers first sought their banks, and the
product of farm and orchard, and vineyard,
will more than make up for any diminution
in the gold obtained by washing away the
soil.
AGRICULTURE.
1t is already evident, that in the agricult-
ural capabilities of her soil lie the POSSIBLE
ties Of California's greatest wealth. Califor-
MIA is to-day not a mining, but an agricultural
State. Her wheat crop last year, after sup
plying all home demands. including that of
distillIng. gave surplus for export of no less
than l, 400, 900 tons-a surplus worth even at
the low rates that prevailed en- account of the
scarcity of tonnage, S37, 500, 600, or more than
twice the whole bullion product of the State.
Or to put it in another way, the wheat crop
of California for 1880 was worth more than
half as much as the bullion product of the
whole United States. But, great as are the
possibilities of grain-growing in California, it
is now becoming apparent that the most val
liable OF her industries in the future will be
that of the
VINEYARD AND ORCHARD.
California is by nature the France of Amer
lea; yet, in spite of the natural adaptation of
her soil and climate to the culture of the
grape, wine-making in California has had
many difficulties to contend with, arising
partly from want of experience as to soils,
varieties, modes of culture and manufacture,
partly from the necessity of developing the
proper organization aud machinery, and
partly from the time required to gain a repu-
tation and securs en- assured market. 1t is
only within the last few years that all these
difficulties, inseparabie from the naturalza-
ton Of new industry, may be said to have
been definitely overcome. But they have
been overcome. The grape-erowers of Cali
fornia can now sell their grapes as certainly
as the farmer can sell his wheat, and at far
more remunerative prices. There is an ap.
parently linitless demand for the purpose of
supplying you. gentlemen of the Eastern
States, with what you deem to be foreign
wines, while some California wines are already
beginning to make reputation which it does
not pay to disguise under foreign label.
California is now sending to the Atlantic
coast more wine than is imported from
France, and it is estimated that the wine
crop of last year yielded to the growers near
ly So. 800, O00 The curing and packing of
raisins has only recently commenced, but it
is already an assured industry. What Is true
of the product of the vine is also true of
THE PRODUCT OF THE ORCHARD.
For the finer qualities of fruit, such as will
bear long railroad transportation, or are pre-
ferred by the Gamers, there has been deyel.
oped market which seems impossible to
glut In San Francisco, in Alameda and San
Jose are fruit-canning establishments which,
during the busy season, employ over thou
sand hands apiece, and all over the State,
wherever there is an important fruit district,
this industry is rapidly developing. Orchards
of the finer varieties of peaches, plums, pears,
nectarines, ETC., are being set out in all parts
of the State, and in the southern section the
culture of semi-tropical fruit is attaining
large dimensions. Considerable quantities Of
fresh fruit, carefully selected and packed,
are forwarded by express to the Eastern
Cities even at the high rates of freight now
ruling, and with cheaper railroad communica-
ton, or q means of preserving fruit 80 as to
enable it to stand the slower carriage of regu-
ular freight trains (which, it is now said. has
been discovered), this business must enor-
mously increase.
GROWTH OF MANUFACTURES.
With the growth of these stable and profit
able industries there is also going on q vigor-
GUS growth Of manufactures. San Francisco
is becoming an important manufacturing
point, already producing manufactured goods
to an aggregate value of over S72, 000. 900 per
annum, and beginning has, during the past
deposits of fine iron ore which arr to be found
in the State, the smelling works recently
opened at Clipper Gap. a short distance from
Sacramento, on the line of the Central Pacific
Railroad, sending already TO the San Fran
cisco foundries quality of iron ore equal to
the very best Swedish iron imported.
Thus while the great falling off in the pro-
duction of the Nevada silver mines. and the
reaction from the imitation Of the mining stock
mania, brought depression which has not
yet entirely passed away, the less snowy but
more stable branches Of industry have been
steadily developing the permanent resources
of the country. until now solid starting
point has been gained for another period Of
great activity and rapid growth. The indus
trial and financial history of California is
illustrated in
THE BANKING BUSINESS,
The condition of which shows the gratifying
character of the changes that have gone on,
and the solidity of the basis now attained.
In the early days of California banking was
altogether in the hands of individuals or