Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-17
THE CONVENTION.
LARGE ATTENDANCE OF PR0HU-
NEGT CITIZENS.
n Northern California Immigration
Association Full Pro-
ceedings-Director

uISudllL 10 4 call, heretofore DuDlicHtu
q large meeting Of prominent citizens from
the various counties of northern and cen
tral California was held at Pioneer Hall a
II o'clock yesterday morning.
The meeting was called to order by n
D. Rideout, who said ain requested
by the committee, heretofore appointed tC
arrange for this Convention, to call thi.
body to order and state its objects and pur
poses have written out a short Statement
on behalf of the committee, giving the
reasons for the calling of the Convention
and l will now read that statement TO you
Mr.. Rideout then read the following
OPENING ADDRESS.
Feilolo- Citizens | am requested by the
committee appointed to open this Conven-
ton to call it TO order, and state its purposes
ana objects. | assume that the general
purpose of the Convention is known to the
most of you. But the citizens who have
left their private affairs To assemble here
for the common veal are entitled to a state
ment from the committee opening this
meeting of the immediate circumstances
that led to this occasion, and why | assume
10 call this assemblage to order 1t is not
an extended task, nor a difficult one.
1t has long been the conviction OF
thoughtful citizens of the northern and CEN
tral sections of the State, that that publicity
has not been given TO their claims as pro-
ducing regions that is deserved. We have
all felt that the tide of immigration which
las swept into this State, has not left suffi-
cient of its volume with us and that we
have not protited as we should have done,
by the efforts heretofore put forth to induce
the occupation Of our territory by emf
grants of a desirable class. That this is,
and has been, due very largely to our own
inaCtiOn, is the sincere conviction of most
of us who have given the subject thought.
While other sections of our common
country have reaped large rewards from
the incoming people and capital we
have received benefit out of all disprO-
portion to our merit, in the comparatively
meager immigration into the north, central
and fOOthiIl regions 1t is not necessary to
call your attention to the fact that on fair
and unexaggerated comparison Of our soil
climatic and geographical advantages with
the claims that may be made for any other
section Of our State, the Sacramento valley
and foothill territory will commend itself
to every wise inquirer, over any and all
others We all know that this claim IS
capable Of demonstration, and that it does
not contain solitary element Of eXaggela a
ton Probably because we have felt that
the merits Of our soil, the certainty of rain
fall, the advantages afforded by a great free
highway. the favor Of all equabe climate to
which total drought is unknown, and the
remarkable Yield OF our agricultural,
fruit, vine and other lands, are patent, in
disputable and notorious, therefore no spe-
cial need has existed for an advocacy Of our
claims to invite to Our section the immigra-
ton that we all admit We should have. But
the conviction has been forced upon US all
that he who asks alone viii receive Ma
tural advantages viii in time win their
reward but it may not be until after such a
passage Of time that commerce and trade
viii have become fixed in channels diff
cult Of diversion, or when we shall have
passed wholly from this scene OF action.
The strength Of a State, it has been said, is
in its homes. We want more homes in our
valley and on our hills. There is room for
them the land cries out for them, and the
men and women to rear these domestic
altars are to be had, and viii come 10 us il
we but make ourselves known to them as
our brethren in the south have done.
urpopulation per square mile in 1870 was
only little over two and one-qtarter, and
in 1850 it had advanced to but little over
four ana oue-half, an increase, ! submit Ia
YOU. not III keeping with the boasting in
which CaifOrnians have felt themselves
justified to indulge. We should have had
by this time fully eight to the square mile
if not ten and some statisticians 90 so far
rs to say that our growth under proper
stimulus might easily have reached fifteen
or twenty. The most of us have children
who will enjoy their heritages, we hope, in
the region where they have had our care.
Whether we shall live to reap the reward
of the efforts 1t IS proposed TO now put for
ward OF not, we have the welfare of those
We shall leave to consider. If we would
stimulate trade, and bring it up to its
highest Development; people our valleys
vi Il 4 desirable class and dot our plain,
and hjlisides with happy homes and build
up our market towns and villages if We
would reduce the burdens OF taxation, en-
hance the values of land, elevate our socia
system. and relieve Il of some of the toi
and anxiety now attaching we must divid,
tie country with new blood, encourage the
incoming of new men and women 10 con
sumo our products, and in turn, by then
labor, increase the volumes and vary The
character of our productions. | assum,
that there viii be none to gainsay thes;
general statements. To take steps to accom-
plish such ends is the purpose Of thi,
meeting The task, ! take it, is no smal
one We cannot accomplish much in anl
short time. II We put our hands to this
plough we must make up our minds not Il
turn back. 1t is TO be a labor O
some years; but feel convinced
from all that can learn con
cerniug the tide Of immigration, anC
the attention that is being directed to thl
coast. that if we act ConCertedly, and witt
yigor, we may reasonably expect practica
results almost Immediately, and can achieve
our full purpose within The next half de
cade Of time. | feel privileged to say righ
here, that my observation and thought con
firm in the opinion that we should &C
independently Of all other agencies rciatin.
to immigration and development but il
harmony with them all We should have
a single purpose, and that should b
summed up in the words Our section
and that before all others" If in eacl
natural division Of The State our brethrcl
Will do likewise, the whole commonwealth
will feel a common benefit This Con
ventiOn was called at the sugges
ton Of journal published in this CITY
and ! am convinced solely from a warn
impulse, Of a wholly unseliish nature. Til
idea was adopted and indorsed by the peo
pie and press and the movers of it Wer
thus encouraged TO suggest a time ant
place for this meeting, and TO invite variou
communities to send delegates and TO in
vitc citizens feeling an interest in the move
mcnt 10 attend, Independent of the selec
ton. Convinced OF the wisdom and hon
esty of the call, consented to act in con
ucction with Messrs Parks, Bidwell, Gree
and Filcher, constituting a committee t
open this Convention, and to nominate t
YOU, for consideration, temporary officers
that there might be no loss of time in get
| ting this body into working order In ad
dressing you as l have | have sought t
| discharge the duty that by solicitation
| assumed.) | am thoroughly in sympath
with this movement and trust it viii b
! entirely successful, as it certainly will b
if you allot to it a hundredth part of th
| energy, wisdom and discretion that you de
vote TO your private business. Your wor
| is of too great importance, has before it to
| broad field, and there is dependent upo
ittoo great and fruitful interests, to be az
| complished in an hour or day. 1t vii
! therefore, ! doubt not, be proceeded wit
1 Idol l,.,-. t.,I,- 4