Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-18
tel in greatest part to the fact that most !

tel in greatest part to the fact that most
attention, not only of strangers but of II
our own people has been given to more
southern sections. Our own people have,
in fact, as mass, but general and by no
means satisfactory knowledge of the ca.
pacity of the northern and central sections of
California. The suggestion, therefore, of Mr.
Mills, Vice-President of the State Board
of Trade, made to that body, that steps be
taken to encourage frequent local excur-
sions of Californians to the leading sec
tions, that we may become better acquainted
with our State, meets with wide and gen.
eral favor, and the hope may therefore be
entertained that such scheme will grow
into reality.
Within the last few days Mr.. Hunting
ton, President of the Southern Pacific
Company, has entered upon systematic
visitation of promising sections of the
State north of the Bay of San Francisco,
with view of informing himself of the
capabilities of such regions, and the need
for the extension of rail lines into all parts
where there is reasonable probability
that the consequent development will se-
pay the enterprise. The result of such
visitation has been, thus far, to draw out
expressions of great satisfaction at the
wonderful fertility of the lesser valleys.
and of the wisdom of tapping them
by direct lines for the transporta.
ton of their products to market. Such
a policy will in turn stimulate anew
investment and agricultural industry.
enhance values and conserve general
prosperity. To this announced policy
of the Southern Pacific Company. to
watch its President has given utterance.
Is intimately related the other proposition
which our contemporary, the Alta, elabor-
ates, to encourage visitations of the peo-
pie of the State between the great pro-
ducing sections. 1t is a feasible plan. and
one that we believe will do quite as much
to promote development as the visits of
Eastern excursionists The Alta suggests
that the greater commercial bodies should
inaugurate such a movement. to bring
about more intimate acquaintance be-
tween the people of the cities and the
people of the rural sections. Take, for in
stance, the upper Sacramento valley and
the fOOthill REGIONS and caupd tba b,s;
ness men Of San Francisco concerning
their knowledge of the capacities of those
regions, and it will develop that there is
discouraging lack of detailed knowledge of
such divisions of the State, and that the
acquaintance between the producers and
the commercial men is limited to the COM
paratively narrow confines Of the market
exchanges of the metropolis. For in truth,
as the 4ita forcibly says:
We know Lodi for its melons, Fresno for its
ralslns, Naea valley for its stone fruits Napa
Sonoma and Russian river for their wines,
Santa Clara valley for its prunes and character
istic fruits, Santa Barbara for its olive oil and
Los Angeles and San Berns rdino for their
oranges. But between the people who produce
ana the merchants who handle these and the
collateral trade which they support, there has
been too little intercourse. The city men need
to be drawn out of their clubs and the country
people away from their plows and packing.
houses Tor time, to meet ana know each other
Then each class will better understand the
enthusiasm of the Eastern visitor who passes
between city and country ON a tour and sees
and likes it all. There is no legitimate enter
prise or established business in the State that
would not be bettered by freer mingling of
the people.