The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-07
AN INLAND EMPIRE.

The imagination is dazzled in contem-
plation of the aspect which the San Joaquin
Valley will present when its capabilities
for supporting human life shall have been
adequately developed. 1t seems incredible
that although it has grown wonderfully,
its growth has been utterly disproportion-
ate TO its capacity. 1t is easy enough to
blame the Southern Pacific for having
established such a system of freight
charges as should discourage production
and consequently an increased population
in this wonderful valley, but the necessity
for meeting the interest on its bonds held
in Europe, and competition with overland
lines, may have compelled it to charge
local traffic heavily in order that it might
offer better overland rates, and if so, this
has been as great a misfortune to the
Southern Pacific as to California.
But this is by no means the only cause
that has operated against the settlement
of the valley. The large profits made in
fruit-growing at the beginning of the in
dustry fell off for many reasons, principal
among them being lack of united effort
on the part of the growers, an oversupply
of the limited market which had been
found, and the coming on of hard times all
over the world. The last named of these
seems now to be passing away; it has
never been the most serious. The growers
are learning economy in production. are
discovering that the extent of the consum-
ing area is limited only by facilities for
distribution, are uniting to handle labor,
turn out fine products and reach more
extended market by more intelligent
means than were formerly employed,
and are beginning to see that return of
the days when they made handsome prof
its is inevitable.
The most important OF all the lessons
which they have learned is that prosperity
is matter over which they themselves
have control. Everything which they
have done to ease the burden resting upon
them has brought relief commensurate
with the exertion. In learning this they
were merely mastering the Oldest problem
in the conduct of human affairs-that be
who would prosper must help himself
This has been the most painful lesson for
California to learn. but the time had to
come for learning it, and the present was
none too soon.
The San Joaquin Valley is only begin
ming to see it's advantages. It's residents
long ago could have started it well on its
way to become the greatest valley in Amer
lea if they had employed the resources
which reside within them. They them
selves could have built railroad or dug
canal that would have freed them from
the exactions of the Southern Pacific.
Most fortunately for them, they have not
been left to dig their way unaided from
underneath the burdens which Cypress
them. Public spirited capitalists of San
Francisco, who have faith in the State,
and are anxious to develop it, have opened
their purses and stretched forth their
hands to their struggling brothers in the
valley, asking only that they will assist in
the plan which will free them.
The San Francisco and the San Joaquin
Valley Railroad is the first opportunity
that this noble valley has been offered by
outsiders to help itself. 1t depends on its
people now whether they will do part of
what they would have had 10 do alone to
secure the same end. We believe in the
and enterprise of the valley
residents, and we are confident now that
the hope of the State is centered in them
that they will generously assist San Fran
cisco in making grand inland empire of
their valley.