Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-10-06
THE QUESTION OF REFRIGERATION.

The San Francisco Board of Trade has
been discussing the question of immigra-
tion. It is understood that the Southern
Pacific Railroad Company contemplates
arrangements by which cheap transporta.
ton fer immigrants can be secured, but
this cannot be done until the road is fin
ished. Mr.. Sumner Bugbee proposed to
the Board plan for inducing immigration
by means Of illustrated lectures; the Illus
trations to be enlarged photographs from
actual scenes in this State, and the whole
to show exactly what been done and can
be done here in various kinds of cultiva-
ton. We have no doubt that this propo-
sition can be made useful, but just now it
is necessary to settle another question, and
that is, whether the State is capable of
absorbing and retaining a large immigra-
ton. 1t is remarkable that whereas the
resources Of California are always admit
ted to be bopndless, whenever the ques-
ton OF their development is limited we
are told that there is really no opportunity
for doing anything. Thus it is said that
while we have enormous areas of unoc-
cupied land, it is either sterile, or
it is in the hands of monopolists. 1t is
admitted that we can produce won
derful fruits, etc., but then it is
said that irrigation is indispensa-
bic to most of our fruit lands,
on5 4boL ;,r;,o+;or :, a1-o.ns;,a o.
wheat production is marvellous, but then
it is said that we produce wheat at the
sacrifice of population, and that our cereal
regions are hostile to civilization. Per-
haps it is these contradictory and ulti-
mately depreciatory reports, quite as
much as the absence OF special effort,
which have kept immigration from US.
And it must also be conceded that these
reports are not wholly without foundation.
People have come here, have tried our
resources, have failed to develop them, and
have gone away disguised, and giving the
State bad name. Want of water is
real want, and formidable barrier to set
Element Indisposition to adopt the sys-
TEN OF minute husbandry required for
most irrigated crops is another drawback.
French, Belgians, Portuguese and italian
immigrants take kindly to this method Of
tillage. but the American settler does not
understand and does not like it. 1t is too
exactiug ana demands too much patience.
Then as to the lands already taken up. Are
they, or are they not, available for
settlement Who knows So far
no one has been able to speak
with authority upon the question.
The great landowners have in one or two
cases divided their estates and encouraged
colonization, some even making irrigation
canals and leading water upon all the land
before they sold it. That is thoroughly
practical course, and it has been well
compensated. Bat if we are to make
some great effort to secure immigration,
all these matters must first be considered.
1t will not do to bring people here and then
ind out that there is no land for them, or
hat the only land accessible is barren for
want of water. By the time the Southern
Pacific is finished all the necessary informa-
ton could easily be obtained, and some
definite understanding could be had with
the large landowners. But to undertake
any extensive schemeof immigration in the
absence o. preparation of this character
would, we fear, be to invite failure and
disappointment, and the State cannot af-
ford that.