Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-09-19


done. We would find il a difficult task to
overdo the production of precious metals,
the manufacture of iron, or manufactures
OF lead and copper. Thus we may truth
fully proclaim TO the world that California
offers an opportunity for field culture, man
ufactures and mining such as no other
State in the Union may claim thst none
OF the industrial pursuits of our country
are even at the meridian of their develop
ment; that all, without exception, await
the vitaliZing influence of enterprising cap
iIsl and industry.
THE QUESTION OF LABOR.
For many years the people of the world
were taught to believe that California was
not an inviting field for honest industry in
the realm of common labor. This was
true of its early history. The distance to
the State and the cost of getting here, and
the rate paid TO common labor in this State
were ali such as to operate as a discourage
ment TO the coming of an intelligent, self.
respecting European labor. The competi-
ton also of Chinese labor was an additional
discoursgement But il is chiefly with the
labor market of to-day that we are to deal,
and while its adequate treatment would be
beyond the reasonable space allotted in 3
paper OF this kind. some of its most salient
features may be considered.
It is regretable fact that the unions of
skilled laborerS are opposed 70 all efforts to
induce their craftsmen to come to this
State, Their objection, if we are to trust
the expressions of their representatives in
conventions. is thar the coming of addi-
tional men produces a condition of things
menacing 10 the maintenance of high
wages The fundamental error OF all this
IS that the growth of population in any
4. 4 ~.
industries and the increase of employment
rather than its decrease TIE coming of
additional population to California to en-
gage in any pursuit or undertaking. of any
nature whatever, is an unmixed good. The
chief obstacle in the Pacific States to the
successful prosecution of all enterprise is
the sDsrsity of population, There are
economies OF production, possible TO large
populations which are unknown to thinly
settled countries. The best market for the
products of every country is the home
market. Take the cases already referred
to- We ship wool from California and
submit to a reduction equal to the cost OF
freight and commission, and We wear the
clothing manufactured from that wool, to
which has been added the skill and indus
try which have enriched another country,
with the freight cost and commission added
to the manufactured article. The difference
between the economy OF manufacturing at
nome, therefore, represents the cost of
shipping raw material to the place of man
utacture and the cost of shipping the man
ufactured article or clothing back again
and also represents the loss OF the opportu-
nity to create wealth by the amount of the
difference between the s aple aud the fabric.
This in our case constitutes very large
margin in favor of manufactures Our pop
ulation is estimated at 1,250000. Let us
for moment anticipate the result if that
population were doubled, and the popula-
ton of California stood in the census re-
port at 2500000. Would the natural re-
sources of the country be INADEQUATE 10
the employment of its people? In the
first place, we would have an accession of
$50 GOO home consumers. We would
have double our present capital We
would have double the supporting
population for every species of indus
try and enterprise. The local rates
of transportation would at once descend,
because the same fixed charges would an
swer for the new as well as for the present
demand; and the net result of that aug
mentation of population, that enterprise
and capital, that addition to every element
of civilized life, would be an increase in
geometrical rather than arithmetical ratio:
the products of all employment would be
more than doubled, and the opportunity
and condition of the labor of California
improved. The chief difficulty of the pres
ent is the circumscribed character of labor's
opportunity. Give US twice the number of
our present cities, or double the population
o. those already existing, and the possibili-
t es of all life would be greatly expanded.
Tne chief difficulty of the present is the
irregular character of employment The
fruit industry of our State gives greater
proportionate employment to labor than
the cereal industry.
l have taken a single instance, but at the
same time the most notable, OF the irregu-
larity of employments. The vineyard
owned by Senator Stanford is the largest in
the world 1t covers 3 900 acres of bearing
vines. 1t is operated under a single con-
troll, and is the largest operation of its kind
known. The statistical facts relating to it
would be the equivalent of statistical facts
relating to 80 vineyards of 100 acres each,
and the facts are as follows: Exclusive
of any labor, employed in planting, or
grating old vines, the operations of the
vineyard require the labor of 135 men
for six months; that is the maximum re-
quirement of the period of cultivation; then
comes the vintage. This requires the steady
employment of 500 men every part of two
months, but for three weeks of that period
steady annual employment but seventy
men are required. Here we have mini
mum of annual employment equal to sew
enty men, for the period of cultivation l35
men, and maximum during the vintage
of 700 men. The maximum is ten times
the minimum in this case. There are
about 200, 900 acres of bearing vineyard in
this State. Carrying the proportions de-
rived from an exhibit of the great vine
yard into the entire vineyard interests of
the State, and the 100000 acres of vineyard
in this State would give US annual en-
ployment for $500 men. 1t will at once be
seen that if grape-growing was the sole in
dustry of the State, the $500 men who
would find in it steady employment would
be the only available labor for the vintage,
and they would be grossly inadequate. As
has already been shown. the vintage re-
quires ten times as many men as the in
dustry affords annual employment. 1t
would be impossible to have the labor of
nine men available for a few months in the
vintage season for one man who might
find steady employment. The value of a
diversified industry comes into view, and
with the accession of populations, indus
tries become more diversified. In this way,
history has repeated itself in every State of
this Union.
The statistics of employment in every
State show an increase of diversity exactly
proportioned to the volume of population.
In their early history, and when popula-
ton was sparse, in the Western States of
Indiana, Illinois, ETC., tine great staples of
wheat corn and pork were the objects of
cultivation. Some of these States have a
history of over eighty years; they have
completed eight decades, and the testimony
of eight ascertainments declare unmistak-
ably that as their populations have in
creased, the diversity of employmenis has
correspondingly augmented. With us the
diversity of field culture enables us to
achieve our present measure of success, but
we are under serious disadvantage with
respect of labor. This disadvantage, how
ever, is rapidly passing away, but the ex-
listing condition plainly invites intelligent