Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-10-29
TIE 1mm1aRAr1on MOVEMENT.


gested by the RECORD UNION as to ac-
curate information in this connection, was
needed. Had the committee prepared
itself for its work by ascertaining what
had been done before in the way of incite-
ments to immigration, and had it taken
the pains to inform itself upon the real
causes of previous failures, it certainly
would not have committed the capital
blunder of setting out with precisely the
same loose and inaccurate statements
which have discredited every preceding
effort in this direction. If there is one
fact which experience has emphasized
above all others it is that to induce immi-
grafton which will stay with us it is nee
essary TO tell the truth and nothing but
the truth about the opportunities offered
here to settlers Now, when the Board of
Trade Committee gravely declares that
''our State has an area of ISIS, $50 square
"miles of rich, productive land" and
when it talks of "2O, 100000 acres of
Gland ''every acre of which may be
"made to yield good returns" and so
forth, it is impossible for those who know
the facts not to feel discouraged, for these
and all similar statements are widely at
variance with the truth, and any attempt
to persuade people to come here upon the
strength of them must prove abortive.
Whoever knows anything about the re-
sources of California is aware that very
large proportion of the area of the State is
worthless for purposes of cultivation.
The misrepresentation OF this truth has
been very mischievous in the past. BY
the reckless circulation of grossly mac
eurate statements about the wonderful
richness of the whole territorial area OF
the State, thousands of people have been
induced to come here, only to be disap-
pointed and Disseminated. They have seen
the facts with their own eyes, and they
have gone away indignant and Disguised,
and giving California bad name. This is
what must be expected from the equally
dishonest and shortsighted method of adj
vertising the State which has obtained
hitherto 1t has been the practice with
those who have engaged in this business to
represent rare and exceptional phenomena
as average instances. Nothing can be more
unfair and deceptive than this, and there
is no country which affords more frequent
opportunities for just this species of mis-
representation. If, therefore, the San
Francisco Board of Trade really wishes to
bring immigration here, it must begin by
cutting loose from all this kind of false
statements, and must resolve to de-
scribe the State as it is.
It is quite useless to bring people here by
misleading them as to the actual condition
of things. In such circumstances they do
not stay here if they are able to get away.
And to tell the world that industry is all
that is necessary to make California lands
" blossom like garden, is to misstate
the case, for as rule capital is even more
necessary than industry. A farmer can
not come here and make living for him.
self the first year, as he can in all the
Western States. He must have capital
enough to last him some time. And it is
not an easy matter for the newcomer to
find land that will pay for cultivation.
The committee say that they know of
plenty of such land. If they do, it should
be their business to diffuse that knowledge
abroad. And they must be prepared to
give full descriptions of the lands as to
whether they are wheat lands, or fruit and
vine lands; as to whether there is water
on or near them as to whether they need
irrigation as to their Average productive
capacity-not the productive capacity of
here and there an exceptionally fertile
patch. Nor must it be forgotten that few
immigrants who know anything of the
capacities of the Western States are likely
to be tempted by the proffer of land which
cannot be made to support them the first
year.
The truth is that this State has been
seriously injured by reckless and untruth-
full putting. 1t is not the Garden of
Eden it has been represented. It has many
drawbacks. But if the simple truth had
been told about it thousands who have
turned their backs upon it in disgust
would have settled here, because, not ex-
pecting impossibilities they would have
been contented with the actual situation.
Of course we are all alike interested in
settling up the State. The only room
for difference of opinion is as to the methods
to be used. We take the position that the
reckless puffery of the past has distinctly
failed in doing what it was meant to do,
aad that to achieve success this method
will have to be abandoned. For instance,
the foolish stories which have been told SO
profusely have constantly brought here
men without any capital, who could not
afford to wait, and who either joined the
floating population of unemployed and dis
contented proletaires, or returned to the
East or West. This class has done US harm
and no good, and we do not want any more
of it. We want men with some capital
and some patience. If they know really
what they have to expect they will be will
ing to wait, and they will find their reward
in it. But it is only by telling them all
the truth that we can enlist them on
our side.
The projected Bureau of immigration
will doubtless have plenty of offers of aid
in the shape of glowing statements and
carefully cooked accounts of our marvel
"ous resources. If they take our advice
they will eschew all instrumentalities of
this kind, and conine themselves to setting