The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-04-11
A WORD TO THE WISE.

WosrHlxaroN. MINI. APRIL II. 1889
WORD TO THE WISE.
We are not disposed to find fault
with the restless American spirit
which manifests itself in emigra-
ton to new lands. Men of sufi-
cient means may do we'll i'll almost
any country, and in places where
DOOR men cannot and do not better
their financial condition. Hence
word of caution is in order to the
restless ones who would make
changes without proper considera-
ton of all the facts before them.
The grand climate of the land
of gold, of the olive and the vine,
is now attracting many. Some 60
there to find, if they may, the boon
of health which they have not yet
found. To such we have nothing
to opukxost: r. sthe-in~aliaA can find
health he is the gamer, even tho
poverty come to dwell with it.
But the usual and necessary mo-
tive for change is to improve the
financial condition of the emigrant.
So far as the Pacific coast is con-
cerned, it may be we'll for the
dwellers in the fat pasture lands of
Minnesota and Iowa who look long
ingly toward the orange groves,
the vineyards, and the olives of
California, to take testimony from
those who have had experience of
that country. Joaquin Miller, a
writer of high reputation, gives a
timely word. as the fruit of per-
sonal experience. We copy from
the New York Independent of last
week:
1.-THE profits of a ranch by the Pa
cific ? Frankly and truly, ! have not
not seen them. Better to tell what
have done a'.G hope to do, and let you
draw your own conclusions.
bought land, or rather Water-pre-
ciOus flowing mountain springs, with
the land thrown in, at an average of
$500 per acre. The land lies within one
uS ct
Oakland. Of course this land, as pros
pective town lots, water to sell. and so
on. has more than doubled in value in
the two years that have owned it.
But to say that could make money
enough out OF this one hundred acres
to keep my little family would be to
place my income from my ranch at a
very high figure.
Yes, some do make money on eggs;
some of my neighbors make butter,
some grow vegetables, some lease their
land to ChiEaInen. some build ard rent
out cheap sllanties to laboring men;
but what l mean to say is that do not
nee how I can make living on such
land here as can be bought at $500 per
Mcre. For land is entirely too high in
California; and you would better set
tie elsewhere.
1t is true that you can read about
ranch eggs selling at fifty and even
seventy. five cents. Butter also has its
exalted days. But, as ! write, eggs
cnn be had 1T my door for fifteen cents;
butter, and Of the best ever made, for
about twenty five cents.
You can also read about cherries and
peaches. and all sorts of fruit, selling
1T $3.50 and over $50 per acre. But it
IS very spasmodic. have seen orch
ards between my place and the city
bitterly ruined by their burden OF fruit
which could be had for the gathering,
but in the abundance Of the time no
one would touch IL. At the same time
let it be written that now. since we are
sending our fruit to the States. this
will probably not happen again."
The substance of this expert
mental testimony is that specula-
tors occasionally do we'll, while the
hard working ranchman is unable
to keep his family in comfort, and
pay for his land. The toiler must
pay for the water that irrigates his
land, and high interest on land
bought at speculative prices. No
wonder Mr.. Miller adds :-"For in
stance, what could a poor man do,
or even a moderately poor man in
Oakland or San Francisco? Get an
acre and raise fruit? Get half an
acre and keep hens? He would
break his heart and his pocket, too,
in half year"
This same candid Californian
gives another caution which ought
to induce wariness in the reception
of the glowing accounts given by
spectators. He says: |The truth
is the new Californian is given to
living. And besides that he is ter
ribly spoiled; you must not only
believe what he says but you must
lie for him, if you care for his fa-
vor." So we conclude our word of
warning that those who migrate
should use the utmost intelligence
and caution that their changes,
when made, may be for the better,
and not for their detriment.
FOR SALE.
One cook stove; ono plush rocking