The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-09-29
MICAWBERS AND SILURIANS.
What They Have Done in the Mount
aims and Valleys.
Men OF Large Land-HoIdings Who Op-
pose Irrigation, Immigra-
ton and Progress.

The Micawbers of the mountains and
the silurians OF the plains are names used
to designate classes of individuals OPP
posed to enterprise or progress who not
only avail themselves of natural adj
vantages, but also discourage develop
ment by others.
Let us consider by what process such
ideas became their ruling motives and
their effect upon prosperity. In the days
OF '49 excitement was the order and a
quick raise of home-stake the general
purpose. Very few settled down to any
steady plan for accumulation. Almost
everybody took chances on everything.
They could not conceive that the gold SC
easily secured could have permanent
value, and some say that they fairly ran
their horses to town to spend it before ii
should get as cheap as iron. Many OF
them Kept sinking one raise in the next
prospect until placer mining was thing
OF the past, and they had neither capital,
skill nor enterprise to engage in any other.
Then they looked for peck cts or engaged
in mountain ranching, frait-growing or
stock-raising in a half-hearted way, and
as soon as receding population reduced
demand they neglected their places and
others that nothing pays. They have
tried it and they know. So they do
nothing, or come as near to it as they can,
and you will find sixty-eight '49ers in
the little County Hospital Of Calaveras,
alone, who can probably tell as many
thrilling experiences of grand opportuni-
ties and brilliant success as almost any
other equal number taken at random
anywhere.
NO matter If the mountains contain
gold and silver to yield profit for the
next 200 years and electricity has Just en-
abled us to use the water power that has
been running to waste since time began
for profitable industry anywhere. No
matter IT recent improvements in chlor-
lnatIon have added so much to the per-
centage OF bullion saved that the barren
quartz OF yesterday may be the bonanza
OF to-day. They are not alert to these
things, but prefer to spend the vast leis-
ure at their command holding down dry
goods boxes and nail kegs, and talking
OF thegood old days of 40 and the use
lessness of present effort. They are al
ways waiting for something to turn up
never rustling to turn UP something.
The silurians of the plains Were nat
ural pioneers, who drifted from the
mines into the stock business, and finally
from cattle and horses into sheep. AS
fiocks increased they were obliged, much
against their wills. to purchase range. AS
they were reached by transportation grain
farming became. more profitable, and
since then their chief aim has been to get
more acres for more harvesters and pay
less taxes, until we find in one instance a
ranch that can raise the wheat to load a
train twenty-five miles long, and all the
children can ride on the cow-catcher.
These are the men that oppose irriga-
ton or immigration; that live and do bus
inessin way to employ the least help
possible.
They build no fine houses, drive no
costly turnouts, wear the cheapest
clothes for the longest time, contribute
the least possible to others prosperity
and seem to receive no enjoyment from
wealth other than the Consciousness OF
its possession.
The combined influence of such men,
when contrasted with the marvellous en-
terprlse of section of our State mainly
settled by new blood, is likely TO make
the world believe when it visits Chicago
that all ofCalifornia worth having hes
south ofthe Tehachapi. i. S. C..
DIS0RDFRED liver Sat ri0ht with