Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-14

Gro.-Why?
Mer.-For several reasons. First, be
cause we have an ample supply of labor
in fact, almost every avenue of demand j:
filled to overlooking, and Us result many
are idle. Slack work, as you know, wa.
the main cause of Kearneyism. NV i'm
preston is that we should first find labol
for those that are idle amongst us, before
we proceed to bring in more labo.-seekers
am not prophet, nor the :" son of /;
prophet but venture to say that unless
the conditions change favorably, so tina
employment is given TO the labor we hay,
here already, we may expect serious troubles
A banker or merchant may lose capital
but not his temper. Not so the starving
laborer for when in that condition they arr
apt TO make use of the old adage, Neces
sity knows no law"
Gro. = How about agricultural immi
grants2
Mer.-If you mean agricultural laborers
would say that the same rule will apply
to these as to those mentioned. Ipresum,
you farmers would favor such immigra
ton but, in reality, it would only multi
plythe evil. for our peculiar climate is such
that farm hands may only be proftably
employed on the farm during few months
in the year; the balance of the time they
are left to shift for themselves, and the
greater number find it difficult to Obtain
work.
Gro.-How about agricultural settlers
those that have means to purchase lane
and who intend to settle down?
Mer.-I consider them the most ad.
vantageous class of people to invite to our
State, but there are serious difficulties il
the way. First, because the choicest tract.
of land are held by individuals VINO do no
want 10 sell second, the lands usually of
fered and often sold to Immigrant settler,
have generally some vital draw back, either
in price, location, soil or condition. 1t i:
true the intended settler sees here just wha
the immigration agent in Chicago or New
York told him he would see. He sees the
snow capped Sierras," the sandy shore:
of San Diego the lovely climate bu
mountains, sand and climate, however
grand or lovely, are not food and raiment fol
grand and noble vineyards and orchards
and the vast fields of golden grain" bu
the trouble is that they belong to somt
other - feller.'
Is CALIFORNIA ON THE DECLINE.
Gro.-Have you then firmly come to tn,
conclusion that commercially speaking
California is on the decline?
Mer,-Yes, for time at least. | am no
prepared to say how long or short tina
time may be, but unless the existing stat,
OF affairs change for the better the com
mercial and industrial interests will de
cline, and will continue to shrink until s
nominal condition is reached for, a.
stated before, her population is too limited
for her capacity, therefore she has too
much stock on hand too much com
mercial and industrial machinery, toe
many liabilities. What may We expect
other than what happened in the case o.
the unfortunate but enterprising hotel mar
spoken of before?
affairs be remedied by an increase of desir
able and permanent population?
Mer.-Yes; entirely so.
Croft appears to me that you contra
dict yourself, for short time ago you gave
me to understand that neither more labor
ers nor farm hands were wanted, and tina
agricultural settlers had but a slim chanc,
for ultimate success, that all these there
fore would be undesirable. Now, if al
these are undesirable what kind of emf
grants do you want?
Mer-I confess that am unable to an
swer giveit up.
Gro.-Are you interested in the fruit
growing industry?
Mer-No.
Croft not directly are You not inter
ested in that industry indirectly?
Mer.-I neither own a ranch nor have
any interest in any. In fact am not in
terested in the fruit-growing business il
any manner whatever.
UNIVERSALLY OF INTEREST IN FRUIT
GROWING.
Gro.-I am astonished to hear YOU say
that, for short time ago you gave me
to understand that your success as mer
chant depended upon the number of per
manent desirable settlers, or, as you called
1t, population. Are not the fruit-growers 8
desirable and permanent class of popula
ton? Is not that one of the sources from
whence your business derives support?
Mer.-Ohl l understand what YOU mean
now. / am, of course, interested in the
welfare of the fruit-growing industry: but
not more so than in the hundreds or thou.
sands of other legitimate industries. Wheat.
growing, cattle-raising, mining, wagon
or the manufacturing of shirts, are
equally as important as frrlit-growing.
Gro.-Are you quite sure of that?
Mer.-Certainly: common sense will tell
you so. You will pardon me when l say
that 1t appears to me to be absurd to even
argue over the matter.
Gro.-I think can show you that not
alone is there no absurdity about the mat
ter, but, on the contrary, that the fruit
growing industry is especially worthy the
closest attention and contemplation not
alone by the fruit-growey, but by the mer-
chant, banker, professional man-in fact
by all the people of the State; for there is
a strong probability that by the proper fos-
tering of this industry we may be able to
restore trade and commerce to what you
call a normal condition; ;" nay, more
even to attain higher degree of prosperity
than by the former condition
Mer.-I should like to have you make
this matter clear to me, for l confess that
am unable to grasp your meaning.
Gro.-I shall try to do so, and have no
hesitation in saying that you will presently
agree with me entirely. Now, tell me-the
people of Massachusetts, are they not
chiefly occupied in the manufacturing in
iustry? is it not the same with the peo-
pie of Rhode Island and Connecticut ?
What of Wyoming, is il not cattle-raising
Now there are cattle raised in
The New England States, and manufacture
IS carried on in Wyoming, but to so limited
an extent that these are tributary to the
main industry. Hence we may infer this
general rule: In every well-established
and permanent community there
ARE CERTAIN MAIN INDUSTRIES
To which all other industries whatsoever
are secondary, and therefore dependent
upon the main industry. Do you grant
hat?
Mer.-Yes.
Gro.-What, in your Judgment, is the
main industry of California
Mer.-Well, this question is rather a
iifficult one to answer. From 1s49 to, say,
1856 it was mining, and, say, up to 1866 it
was combination of mining, wheat-grow-
ng and cattle-raising. The mining interest
AN, however, no longer be called the lead
ng industry. The primary occupations
low are, believe, sheep and cattle-raising
md wheat growing, but it appears 10 me
hat these are steadily changing, for large
racts of grazing land are gradually being
converted into smaller tracts for wheat
fields, and these again into still smaller
for vineyards and orchards.
GrO.-Now in this converting of the land