Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-22
OUR BOOK TABLE.
CAMPS IN THE ROCKIES VILLA DO
HEhIA-PHELPs' POEMS.
In the saddle-Floating Matter OF the Air
-Demosthepes -fhoreau - Commerce
and Industries Of the Pacific Coast

There is Just at hand from the publishers,
A L. Bancroft & Co., San Francisco, the
massive volume by John S. Hittell on the
Commerce and Industries of the Pacific
Us 80 much, as we stated in former notice,
with the Importance Of the work. An ex-
animation Of it in its completed form has not
iessened the favorable impression then
formed but we must confess to some dlsSp-
poiatment at the method that has been pur-
sued in the detail of the work, which leads to
the conclusion that the publishers, to insure
a financial success, lowered the standard of
Mr.. Hittells labors by making the work to
an extent an advertising medium for given
houses and trades and the lsudstion of certain
men in business, presumably because they
paid for the same. If in this respect We mis-
Judge, it Is only to be said that the publishers
will find it difficult to escape the verdict OF
the general public to that end, for the volume
certainly conveys the impression indicated.
We are fully aware that 1t Is next to
impossible to speak of men and Industries In
such volume, at this day, however dis
interestedly, and not be liable to the sus-
pieion that the men and the businesses named
have paid for their favorable presentation.
This may BE due to the suspicious character
Of our people, the most Of whom have had TO
pay roundly for any mention Of their affairs
in print, however worthy or however repre-
sentative of the industries and progress OF
the country. But if we throw all this kind
of matter out of the consideration in hand,
we still have book OF the most Important
character, one that fairly and correctly, so
far as it is possible now to judge, presents the
commerce and the industries Of this coast.
Certainly the gathering of the statistical mat
ter alone was great labor, to say nothing of
its intelligent arrangement, and the drawing
from the same of the true and legiti.
mate conclusions as to the prog
ress we have made upon these
Occidental shores. The book is a large
quarto, and has over 800 pages. 1t is admir-
ably printed. and certainly is a credit to the
publishers. But the chief credit belongs to
the accomplished editor, who has the skill and
the patience, together with the commercial
knowledge, to fit him for so laborious task
rs the compilation of such vast mass Of
matter. That he has done his work well
there can be no question. In a brief notice
it is not possible to present the full scope of
his important work, but an outline sketch Of
its salient points may be made. 1t is divided
into seven grand divisions. The first treats
of the divisions of the coast. climate, the
great valleys. the territories, the seasons and
Lne general ClaraCtcE Oh the prOQuCJS OF the
country; also of the business that most
largely engages attention, and the statistics
thereof the lands and their availability to
the intending settler; the lines Of
Transportation, and their relation to
the development of the country |
the labor supply and the wages question our
factories and their products, and our relation
to the competitive markets Of Europe and the
East in this regard. The second division
treats of banking, and gives sketches of the
leading banks and bankers, and presents the
extent Of the business done in this line on the
coast; the insurance business and some Of the
prominent men connected Herewith; the
railroads Of the coast, and the questions of
political character connected with them with
some sketches of railroad builders and owners
the express business; telegrsphy, shipping
and merchandising, and some of the leaders
in these enterprises. The third division treats
of agriculture, horticulture, the raising of do
mestic animals on the coast, farming proper
and some OF the great farmers of the coun-
try, The fourth division treats of mining in
ali its phases. The fifth division is de.
voted to the fisheries of the coast, both
bay, river aad ocean, and herein is
treated the canning business. Division six
embraces engineering, harbor and river i'm
movements water works, inventions, ETC.
The seventh division of the book is given up
to manufactures of all kinds, and to the spe
cial presentation of some of the leading man |
ufacturing enterprises of the coast. There is |
an appendix devoted to the presentation of |
sometables and some special notices. Through |
out all this mass of valuable matter the per-
souality OF men is much intruded, and this, |
II must be confessed, lowers the work at first |
glance In few cases the relation of the |
men to the business of the coast is such as to
make their personality matter of first i'm
portance, but in most cases a purely CONNER
cial work would avoid all such lines and con-
6ne itself to facts, figures and conclusions.
However, as we have already said, this is not
an iusuperable Objection, and the personality
may be treated as sue does the fly sheets In
guide.book. There are some very good
illustrations in the work, and a very
handsome map Of the State, and one of the
State of Nevada. Mr.. Hittell has occasion
alIy treated Of facts as they exist now, rather
than of possibilities and policies. Thus, on
the subject of irrigation, he is content to
speak of irrigation works in operation, and
has avoided the deep questions of water rights
and the best policy of the State in handling
this important subject. Perhaps it was as
we'll, for the whole matter is in state of
confusion, and the commonwealth Is In de-
plorsble dilemma with regard to the appropri-
alton of the waters of the State. But on the
question Of land monopoly, on the other
hand Mr., Hittell has an opinion, and does
not hesitate to express it freely, taking the
nosition that there is no real land monopoly
here, and that the cry is a demagogic one.
He holds that there is at least no such land
monopoly as at all obstructs the poor man In
his effort to obtain home, or to darken the
prospects of his posterity. So, too, on the
railroad question, Mr.. Hittell, after a |
Thorough examination of the whole matter |
and a presentation of all the facts and the |
Law. says that there can be no doubt in the |
nupreiudiced mind as to the private owner |
ship OF the transcontinental roads. the |
subsidies were given or loaned on condition |
shat the recipients should build road, to be |
owned and managed by them for their own |
individual profit. Nothing in the language |
of the statute conveys any other idea. The |
Central Pacific Railroad is as fully theirs in
law and in equity as if built exclusively with
their own money" He pays warm tribute
to the railroad builders, and says at the com
pletion of their task they might have retired
TO ease and the enjoyment OF wealth but in
stesd, they have remained in the harness,
completing and extending their system of
roads and devoting q large share Of their
profits to new enterprises that are beneficial
70 the State and all the people thereof. Yet
he says they have not been popular fsyorites,
although it is admitted that they have done
vast Work IN Tue VIC AoSatS dnu
thedevelopmentofitsr resources, and that was
far better that their company should have
built the road than that it should have been
constructed by several companies. He con.
cIudes that when the dust of controversy shall
have passed away, history will do them jus
fice as the most enterprising railroad builders
of their day, and as men OF remarkable adj
mipistratiye talent and of moral character,
a. least on par with that of average re-
spectable business men. On the labor ques-
ton Mr.. Hittell is very positive in his views,
and recises the facts of all our troubles COZ
reotly and draws legitimate conclusions, such
as will be drawn by the unprecedented student
of the times. n short, wherever the matter
treated is susceptible of being now judged,
the author has not Elssitated to Judge it; but
in those cases where the facts are as yet at
issue and the law is uncertain, he hesitatea to
express any positive views as to the true poll
lev of the State. He uses words, in the
-, 60 oil +hau ara Worth and dneS not