The San Francisco call., 1895-11-18

roads? Has it never occurred to our con-
temporary that shrewd reason for Mr..
Huntington's suddenly acquired interest
in the welfare of the Sacramento valley Is
deliberately intended to obstruct a COM
peting road? Has it never reflected that
Mr.. Huntington could pursue course OF
immeasurably greater benefit to the valley
by reducing rates than by seeking 10 III
crease the population under existing con-
ditions and at the same time making re-
duction of rates by competing line I'M
possible? Would not such reduction con-
stitute the strongest Of all possible lnduce-
ments for settlers to enter the ValleyI Ii
these questions are fearlessly ana wisely
answered we deem it hardly possible LOT
the people of the Sacramento valley 10
find anything commendable in Mr.. Hun
tington's attitude or any sufficient reason
for their permitting him to fasten himself
still more securely on their property.
AproposIof the announcement that Claus
Spreckels intends still further to enlarge
his sugar-beet operations in this State, the
San jose Mercury publishes the following
valuable information:
.The growth of the beet sugar in
dustry in the United States during the
past few years has been marvellous. In
1890 the country produced only 6,U0,OOO
pounds; in 1891, 10000, 600 pounds; IN 1892,
$4,000, 600 pounds in 1893, 43, 900 600 pounds;
in 1894, 10000, 900 pounds. The direct re-
suit of the Mckinley law was marked
increase in production, thus saving some
millions of dollars for the country and dis
| tributing vast sums to American wage
| earners, besides reducing the price. There
| never was more striking example OF the
| benefits resulting from fostering nome IN
dustry. The consumption per capita OF
sugar of all kinds has increased from al
pounds per annum in 1867 to 63.4 in 1888,
| and the Louisiana Planter is authority for
the statement that it is now n. Accepting
the latter figure, the annual consump-
| ton of sugar of all kinds in the United
States is $500 600 pounds, and i'll
the year ending June 80, 1894, we i'm
ported 4.345, 1893, ,s81 pounds, valued at
$126 ,s71 ,S89. During the same period we
exported IA, ,77S ,416 pounds, valued at $653,
052. AS to the quantity OF cane sugar pro-
duced in this country last year we have
not the figures at hand, but IN 1888
it amounted to 45O, 900 pounds. Calling
it SOC, 600 900, and adding to those figures
the 60,0O0OO0 pounds of be ct sugar made
last year, we have total production OF
only 100000, 900 pounds to meet demand
of $500, 10000 pounds.
| cit will be readily seen, therefore, that
the possibilities of the beet-sugar industry
are practically limitless. This country
should supply its own market, and If the
Republican policy of protecting the in
dustry by means of bounty is revived the
industry will expand into prodigious pro-
portions. Mr.. Spreckels and other manu-
| facturers doubtless believe that it will be.
| Germany last year paid S5,7S1 $50 in sugar
bounties, France $10,000,000, Austria
| $1,000, 900 and Belgium $5,00o,OO0.
"At Watsonville last year, according to
a report made by committee Of agricul-
turists from Yolo County who were dele
gated to visit the factory, to growers alone
the sum of $3.50 900 was disbursed, $780, 600
was paid to operatives, clerks, etc., and the
supplies OF wood, limestone, ETC., cost be-
tween 100000 and $150,000. Similar sta |
tisties were obtained at Alvarado."
The Summerland Aduance, which has
done so much to advertise that charming
town in Santa Barbara County, makes
| remarkable showing of the recently de-
veloped oil industry there. It says: 'There
are thirty-seven producing oil wells COL |
lectively yielding an average of nearly 400
barrels per day, and contracts were let for
twenty-six more wells during the past
week" Some of the interesting facts re-
lated to the subject are thus set forth:
''Lots in the known oil belt are held at
$3.50 to $500 each; the oil is found at such
shallow depth, IS so inexpensive to reach,
that en-barrel we'll will pay for lots,
well and all in three months time. Mr..
Williams says that all oil regions have
three distinct sands at different depths
which contain oil; that the oil now
pumped is from the upper sand, which is
found at an average depth of about $50 feet
that the gas vein existing in Summerland
is from the second oil-bearing strata, for
the gas is found at a greater depth than
the first oil strata, and, as the gas will
ascend instead of descend, it proves the
existence OF the second oil vein. which is
claimed to be a stronger vein and of a
lighter and better quality of oil, Judging
from the great amount Of gas thrown up
from it,
The opening of San Luis Obispo to the
world both by rail and sea is matter
whose Importance the rest of the State is
likely to overlook. Some of the many
charms of that section are thus described
by the Tribune: "In equableness of climate
San Luis Obispo is without a rival among
the towns or cities along the golden coast.
Set most delightfully."- amid mountain
peaks far famed for their beauty-not on
the ocean but open to it by means OF devi-
Gus canyons--lt' owns all the benefits of
both the mountain and ocean breezes with
out being subject to the discomforts of
their storms. Also its outlying driveways
are unsurpassed; and whether one takes
the road to Pismo, the finest ocean beach
in the world, or to Moro Rock, famous for
the odd beauty of its shape and peculiar
setting, or to Sycamore Springs, justly
priced for the charm of their location as
well as for their therapeutic qualities, or
to the top of the Santa Lucia Range, un-
excelled for the length and beauty of its
perspective-and all within radius of
twelve miles-he Is sure to return enthusi-
astic, not only for the things he found
waiting him at tho end but for those