Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-01
CALIFORNIA IN 1ss4-RETRosPEcT

llClllOH VI luc ltSClNlouc tCotlIioH' - 49,.
Sharon-Hill case, which among filthy
things ranks as cdusuS cetebre.
The execution of Wheeler, the thug, was
accomplished after long delay, and was fol-
lowed by the more prompt hanging OF
Hutchings, second stranger Of women.
Vigilantes created considerable excite
ment in Stanislaus county by their vigor
Gus assault upon characters obnoxious to
them, and by defiance of the constituted
authorities.
More congenial is the record of personal
and social events. Early in the year must
cal circles were set agog by the advent of
Patti and Gerster, the princesses Of song,
who for time absorbed attention.
The natal day of the State was celebrated
with more than usual enthusiasm, and was
made the occasion for demonstration at
the Capital by the Native Sons of the
Golden West, of marked brilliancv, and
which called together from all over the
tive people.
In San Francisco the Odd Fellows ofthe
State were very largely gathered or one
occasion, and participated in a brilliant
display and celebration.
The assembling in San Francisco of the
supreme body of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers was an event of no small
Importance, and brought to the coast Il
large body of representative mechanics
The calling of a Northern and Central
California Immigration Convention in Sac
ramento met with great favor, and per-
manent central organization resulted, with
the formation of many auxiliary societies.
The work of the associations has just been
entered upon, and bids fair to bring about
most important results in the settlement of
the country and the development of its
resources.
The "outing" season, despite depressed
business conditions, was very largely in
dulged in, and the watering places and
summer resorts were as largely patronized
as in any previous year; there were, how
ever, fewer Eastern visitors than in 1888
during the summer, the tourists distri-
buting their visits throughout the year
more than ever before and not u small
number making California a winter
abiding place.
The yield of the soil in 1884 was
bountiful, and neither California farmers,
horticulturists nor viticuturists had reason
for complaint as to the quantity grown
but for cereals markets were uniformly
fat, wheat reaching the lowest quotations
known in twenty years, and the great bulk
of it remaining in store. Fruit lacked
adequate market Also and grapes were
grown very much in excess of the demand.
The Convention of Horticulturists held in
December was of great importance and de-
voted itself to economic propositions and
questions Of transportation that promise
important and beneficial results
In mining circles very little activity has
prevailed, but numerous quartz discoveries
have been made, and the promise is that
a new era of quartz mining is about to
open up from Calayeras to the northern
most line of Shasta. The perpetual iniunc-
ton issued against hydraulic mining was
not unanticipated, and while greatly
elating valley residents, correspondingly
depressed the people of mining sections.
Business early in the year gave signs of
depression, which increased and became
more serious as the year advanced, and at
this writing has reduced trade to a state of
partial stagnation. This is felt, however,
more keenly in San Francisco than in any
other section. 1t is due most largely 10
the failure Of the market for cereals, the
cutting OF Of trade in the north by the
completion of the Northern Pacific Rail
road, the complete independence of the
southern section Of the State Of the San
Francisco market, that region receiving
supplies direct from Eastern markets,
while the central and northern regions
have traded with the metropolis only as
choice dictated, the interior markets being
under 10 coercion by the San Francisco
dealers, since the cities Of the interior have
equal facilities for importation from the
East. \ prominent factor in the trade de-
preston was the unwarranted assaults
made by political demaeogues upon rail
road interests and the consequent Gripping
Of the rail transportation companies, re-
sulting in economies on their part that
have visited hardships upon the employed
class. Money, during all this stagnation,
has been in good supply, at reasonable
rates, and building has not been materially
checked. Capital has sought realty invest
ments, and the sales of land have never
tcen larger OF at more satisfactory prices,
nor has investment ever been more general
in outside property The southern portion
Of the State has experienced very little Of
business depression. Immigration has
poured in upon it, the demand for homes
has been exceedingly active, population
has augmented, towns and cities received a
new impetus, and general prosperity has
marked especially what may be called the
los Angeles section Yet northern Cali
iornia presents equal, if not superior advan-
tages; equally as fertile soil, a greater
certainty Of rainfall, cheaper lands and
a more accessible market There has been
less immigration to the north simply be-
cause the people of the Sacramento valley
have not advertised their heritage to the
world and itcrated the invitation to
come" Their neglect in THIS respect they
now see and are rapidly correcting it.
The error Of landing immigrants almost
exclusively in San Francisco, where they
are prevailed upon by Oregon and
Washington Territory representatives, is
also realized. and, in degree, viii prob
ably lie corrected. The transfer Of the
Oregon and California Railroad at the
close of the year to the Central Pacific