The record-union., 1893-05-29
SHOULD Be PRODUCERS.
Our Agricultural and Manufacturing
Interests.
By Encouraging Them We Can Pro-
mote the Growth of Our
Commerce.

Commerce.
| From the San Francisco Journal of Com
merce, May 24tn.i
In leading article on the 18th inst. we
called attention to the condition of manu-
tactures, and on the 22d, in another lead
ing article, we offered some suggestions
regarding neglected agricultural oppor-
tunities in this State. 1t goes without
saying that commerce depends upon
| farming aud manufacturing. The sum
of all that has been said regarding the in
dustrial and commercial condition of
| California is that we have the opportunity,
however handicapped we may be in some
respects, to make this State one OF the
richest and most prosperous in the Union,
We have referred to the benefits of di-
versitied farming, for which the condi-
tions are most favorable, with special
reference to the disadvantage of buying
instead of producing the necessaries of
Ilfe-meat, poultry, eggs, certain forms of
grain food, dairy products, etc. Wehave
shown wherein enterprise can promote
agriculture and create manufactures by
soil and climate are peculiarly adapted.
And we have called attention to the means
of giving new life to manufactures that
are now languishing, and OF establishing
new manufactures OF the kind already in
! operation.
We have not pretended to exhaust the
! subject. Our hope has been simply that
suggestion offered on a few points
would set those OF our patrons to think
ing who are vitality interested; some of
| whom, nevertheless, appear to visitors
from the centers of Eastern activity to be
living in state of drowsy indifference
regarding the future. The fact is that
much OF our energy is wasted and enter
! prlses neglected because we have fallen
into the habit of scolding and pickering.
/ There are too many among us who. it
seems, would rather fight and lose than
work and win, while there are not a few
others, who having become fixed in their
pioneer ways Of doing. or rather of not
doing, business, prefer to take what
| comes to them, oyster-like, rather than
reach out. AS to what may be done con-
splcuous instances might be cited of what
mas been done in the lines indicated. But
If II were proposed now to establish sugar
rennerles and works for the construction
| OF warshlpS-lf these institutions were
not already an accomplished fact, the do
nothlngS would discourage them as i'm
practicable. We understand that estab-
| llshed manufacturers, who have earned
a high reputation for the production of
woolen goods, contemplate closing down
| at a sacrltce because they are not making
as much as they used to make, though
they are tiding over present difficulties
and earn meager interest on their in
! veStment.
We need some one, or some ones, to
take hold OF the cultivation and manu-
facture of the leading tibres-such as cot
ton, flax and hemp. About the two last
named there is no doubt, while the prob
abilities are strongly in favor of the first
also. We have cotton and rope factories
in successful operation; for the raw ma
terial used in them, we send to Texas for
cotton and to Manila, New Zealand and
Mexico for hemp. In these cases agri-
culture and manufacture go hand in hand
creating commerce. So, also as regards
the cultivation of grain and manufacture
of packing house products. We do not
lack capital, but our capitalists lack en-
| terprise. We live in old memories, hold
ing on to what we have. San Francisco
is known abroad as a city of savings
To the extent that this is true we can ac-
count for lack of progress. There is also
a lack OF unity and public spirit. Even in
so simple matter as the advertisement
OF our agricultural resources at the Chi
cago Fair, California is said to be ex-
tremely backward, owing to want of har-
mony among representatives of the
State. And then this agitation over the
Chinese is used to our injury. 1t gives
us wild and woolly" reputation and
deters a desirable class of home-makers
from coming into California, Still. il ia
a familiar fact that the workingman for
whom the demagogues appeal for protec-
ton against the Chinese patronize them.
and make it profitable for them to remain
in the country.
Much of the same sort of buncombe
prevails i'll regard to transportation. We
have freights from the East at this time
that are so low that the existence of some
of our industries is threatened. All our
nail and iron factories will have to close
down if the current rates from the East
are maintained. The time has come. it
would seem, when the great body of con-
sumers, who are the least benefited of al /.
and the middle-men as well, who are he-
ing drawn into dangerous speculation on
account of abnormaIly low freight rates.
ought to stop and inquire what thev are
throwing up their hats for. Not even the
courageous daily press of San Francisco
makes any account of $4,000 employees.
that is to say, 10000 persons. whose living
Is In question IN consequence of war OF
rates between the steamers and our rail-
roads. But as regards real public spirit
and community of sentiment what is
there of it? 1t is said that some wears
ago, in the Manufacturers Association. a
prominent merchant interested in the
wine industry treated the association to A
homtly on the duty of the mem bers and
the people at large to purchase home
made goods only. Thereupon another
member, engaged in the Manufacture Of
wagons, brought to his recollection that
only few days before he had gone to the
agent of an Eastern manufacturer and
ordered wagon, without giving the
speaker, who lived right across the Street
an opportunity to make him a bid. Sacra-
mento Is setting us an example Her
business men, at last aroused to the
necessities of the future, have bound
themselves to contribute each a fixed
percentage of the assessed value of their
properties to establish and promote
manufactures. Ii the San Francisco
merchants would do as much. this citv,
and the State also with it, would be pIIt
forward ten years within twelve months.
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