The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-04
OUR MANUFACTURES.

From various causes the manufacturing
industry has not assumed very large pro-
portions in this city. As rule raw ma
terials are more expensive here than in the
East; labor is higher; for fuel we have to
depend on other States. Hence, the wooden
industry has not been as successful as it
would have been under other conditions,
though California produces large amount
of wool each year; We grow some cotton,
but cOttOn-mills make but little money; we
have but two iron rolling mills on the
Coast; our fOundrieS as a rule find it diff
cult &c compete with Eastern foundries in
the production Of builders hardware. 1t is.
however, from an inspection Of the returns
of the Assessor Of taxes that we learn, de-
spite all drawbacks, there Is quiet indus
trial movement which creates a large an
nual product and affords living 10 a con-
siderable number of people.
The manufactured product which repre-
sents the largest amount of money is sugar.
The Assessor figures that the two refneries
when running steadily, yield 100000
worth Of refined sugar each year; s., 900, 600
of this represents a value created by labor
in this city. About $500, eco represents
the value of the flour and meal ground out
OF grain; perhaps ten per cent of this
would represent the value of the labor en-
ployed in milling, 10 which the value of the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES be added. Three
millions Of dollars are supposed to be add
ed ann ually to our stock of goods by the
fruit and fish Gamers; perhaps one-haIf of
this represents the labor employed Ground
coffee, chocolate. yeast-powder and spices
are reckoned at something over 1900, 600;
laboTS proportion is small, but it Is sOme-
thing. Eight million dollars of malt liquors
are said to be produced annually in this
city. The raw material consumed costs a
mere trife; the great bulk of the value
created is divided between the brewer and
his men. The value Of cigars made here is
given at over $4,000 here again the raw
material, which comes from the East,
largely from Connecticut, costs but small
proportion Of that sum.
A considerable number Of persons make
a living by clothing and housing the COM
muDity. The boot and shoe industry.
which has always done well here, turns out
S4,50o,0Oo of products every year; labor
takes probably one-third Of this. The
clothing industry figures for 6.2J0,OOO of
annual products; this affords employment
to an army of tailors and seamstresses.
The army would be larger If some of the
leading ready-made clothing houses did not
get their goods made at the East. Indi-
reetly the clothing business helps other in
dustries. Though we manufacture little
wooden cloth, $50 men find regular employ
nent in securing and grading our native
woods. In the same way, though we make
few heavy castings, our foundries turn out
nearly $4,000, 900 worth of hardware of yari-
Gus kinds, and the industry is susceptible
of increase. Another growing industry is
that which is concerned with the manufac-
ture of doors, windows, sashes and blinds;
its annual product is reckoned at S4, 100000.
There are a hundred more industries
which in a small way supply the wants of
our population and of our neighbors who
are dependent upon US. They have aseyere