The record-union., 1892-02-10
STATE BOARD OF TRADE.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED AT THE
MONTHLY MEETING.
Encouraging Letters Relative to the
Establishment of an Exchange in
London for California Fruits.
Special to the REcoRD-US1ox.


SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 9.-At the regular
meeting of the State Board of Trade to-
day Secretary Maslin read several letters
of an encouraging nature relative to the
proposed establishment in London of an
exchange for the marketing of California
products.
1t was explained that L. C. McAfee of
Bakersfield had taken general charge of
this proposed scheme for marketing fruit
abroad and was arranging details. At
the Auburn Citrus Fair over 4,600 pounds
OF dried fruit were donated to the State
Board to be distributed by General Booth
OF the Salvation Army among the poor Of
the great metropolis. More is being OBJ
tanned from different producers about the
State and will be forwarded to England
very soon.
Colonel j. p. Irish read a brief report
on immigration, recommending the great
need OF circulating only facts concerning
this States resources. One of the mis-
takes, the evils of which have come to us,
IS the perpetuation of feudal tenure by
the ratification of the Guadalupe Hidalgo
treaty, and the Spanish grant titles these
involved. 1T was urged that if California
would prosper we must overcome the re-
naming evils Of the feudal system of
land holdings as the people OF New Y orK
did in 1916 in relation to the Dutch land
titles they inherited. Another mistake
is the repelling of capital in various ways
since the close OF the civil war. But we
are having illustrations all around us of
the wonderful capabilities of our soil, and
these things must be made known.
Suggestions as to the methods of adj
yertising the possibilities of our farming
and OF marketing our products We're
given at length. The experience of the
Fresno man, MIR. Chilgren. who lately
went to Minneapolis and sold his raisins,
netting cents pound, or about 500 per
acre, was related and commented upon
favorably. One of the pitiful mistakes OF
recent years, in the writer's Judgment, is
the great immigration to the Northwest
where land must be cleared at great ex-
pense and hard labor. Japan has an area
about equal to California with 40. 600. 900
population. Allowing for differences of
civilization, California should have pop
ulation of at least 100000.
1t was agreed to have the report of
Colonel Irish printed in the published
reports of State Board of Trade proceed
ings.
". II. Mills of this city praised the re-
port of the preceding speaker, but said
the land tenure system that comes from
Mexico IS not entirely responsible for the
present evils of our large holdings. He
attacked the large land-holders, saying
that in 1880, in the four counties of Te-
hama, Butte, Colusa and Yuba. with an
area of 5,500.000 acres, II persons owned
rs, 900 acres between them. In 1885. 80
persons owned 5000 acres each and over.
In 1890, 106 persons owned 1,4S0,O00 acres
between them. The total Mexican grant
acreage in the four counties named is
only 10000 acres.
The need of proper ore-reduction works
in California was commented upon, and
it was asserted on the authority of the
superintendent of the Anaconda mine.
Butte, Mont, that every bit of copper ore
for final refinement had to be shipped to
Swansea, Wales, and the intelligence of
other people is relied on to make amends
for our idleness or ignorance.
b. b. Pond, representing the Chamber
of Commerce, and J. H. Culver of the
Mechanics Institute, were present to
learn concerning the coming visit of the
National Editorial Association. They
were told of arranged details, and OF a
coming convention at Stockton on the
10th to discuss programme and entertain
ment. All quasi public organizations are
asked to send delegates.