Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-22

noe of emigration to the Pacific Coast.
Leading men in this State t1llinois) and
Michigan frankly admit that the drain in
men and money is being severely felt, and
that in some way il must be checked. The
denunciatory articles appeared first in one
paper then in another in widely separated
localities, but no matter where they origin
ate, they are copied approvingly every
where and are often re-epforced and
buttresse6 with editorial approval. The
harm they are doing is inoSlculable, and
unless prompt and effective steps are taken
there wifi soon be a large falling off in
California immigration"
The writer then suggests that the most
effective immigration literature is the
personal correspondence written by citizens
of California, formerly residents of States
east of the Missouri river, over their own
signatures, and published in the papers of
the localities III which they are acquainted,
CT written directly 70 their old friends and
neighbors. The writer further says:
" wish to add TO the above that pam
phlets and advertising matter sent out by
Boards OF Trade in the several counties and
States do not meet the requirements of the
case. Such matter is looked upon as of
doubtful cred;bilitr. written by interested
parties for interested purposes, oyer-colored
and, in fact, intended to deceive. A state
ment, for example, concerning Southern
California from Los Angeles sources carries
no weight whatever and usually causes a
smile of derision."
ALARM OF THE EAST AT CALIFORNIA S GROWTH
The far-reaching significance of all this
should be apparent to you. II means that
the vast territory with which we are COM
peting for re-enforcements of capital and
population, backed by powerful monetary
institutions and inspired by general
alarm at the rapid depletion of Eastern
capital, by reason of Western investment,
has entered the field against the further
growth of our State, so far as such growth
may depend upon re. enforcement to our
industrial population III the way OF immi-
grafton. While these efforts may have a
temporary effect, yotr committee do not be-
lieye that they will exert an appreciable in
fluence upon the continued growth of this
commonwealth. We believe the real mer-
its of our country constitute an attraction
to immigration as certain in its operation
as the law of gravity. Our past growth has
been hindered by many causes which have
practically passed away. Our future growth
is to be under conditions which are entirely
new TO this State, and which have super
vened upon the past only within few
years. These new conditions relate chiefly
to the progress of the Western frontier of
civilization, to the rapid filling up of CON-
peting territory, to the better facilities for
transportation, and especially the deyel-
opment of vast area of fertile territory to
the north of US by the extension of the Can
adian Pacific Railroad, the Northern Pacific
Railroad, and the connection between Cali
fornla and those areas by the recent COM
pletion of the California and Oregon Rail-
road. We believe that our State possesses
elements of attraction superior to those of
any other State in the Union, embracing
the whole range of attractive attributes
including climate, soil, diversity of pro-
ductlon, profitable return to labor and that
it is incomparably superior to any other
portion of the Unitei States, with refer
ence to the comfort of mere physical ex-
istence. Entertaining these abiding con-
victions, we also believe that the facts of
the case can be so presented as to secure a
lodgment in the minds of men everywhere,
and that the superiority being real and not
fictitious, the truth of its existence will
find complete and early acceptance.
SOME VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS.
We, therefore, beg leave to suggest that
the various industries of the State be pre-
sented strictly from the standpoint of the
information which the intending immi-
grant desires to receive. To be more
specific, let us illustrate with oliye-grow
ing. The extent of territory in California
over which olives II ay be grown, the aver
age price of land suitable for olive-grow-
ing the cost of preparation of the soil, the
number OF years, required to bring an
olive orchard into bearing, the cost of
cultivation in each year. the market for
olive oil in the United States, the cost of
olive oil per bottle as proven by experience
the market price of good California olive
oil, can all be set forth within reasonable
space.
Your committee are of the opinion that
by far too much stress has been placed on
the peculiar advantages of California for
the prosecution of horticultural pursuits
We believe the attention of the State Board
of Trade should be turned largely in the
direction of looking into the manufacture
ing and mechanical resources of our coun-
try. Our manufactures are in their in
fancy, and your committee believe that
California offers vast field for the devel-
opment in this line of enterprise AS a
commercial field our coast certainly affords
high inducements to cspital associated
with intelligence and enterprise. Speak
ing of the State at large, it is incumbent
upon US to present fairly and faithfully its
social and educational advantages. In ad-
dilon TO all this, inquiry is constantly be-
ing made concerning the cost of various
necessary articles. the rate of wages, the
cost of living, the cost of agricultural i'm
plements, horses and cattle, the market
prices of various commodities In short,
the publication put forth By the State
Board of Trade should deal with sober re-
aiities, and meet the inquiry fairly upon
the plane of the subjects thereof, by fur
nishing to the inquirer the information he
would most naturally seek were he Wis
itor TO our State engaged in personal oh
servation, and accompanying his observa-
ton with verbal inquiries.