The San Francisco call., 1895-12-30
COAST EXCHANGES.

The Napa Journal announces the dis
covery on A. A. Watson's ranch at Napa
Junction of deposit of stone from which
an excellent quality of building cement
can likely be manufactured. If this dis
covery fulflls the hopes which it has raised
the State will gain enormously and another
important source of wealth will be added
to the long list which California already
enjoys. Our contemporary says: "Nearly
all of the cement used here is imported
from England, the price depending upon
the amount in the San Francisco market
and the will of the importers. With ce-
ment at a reasonable figure, sidewalk
building and other like improvements,
public and private, requiring the use OF
cement, will be stimulated. The deposit
OF cement, If such it is, is apparently ex-
haustless. An interesting phenomenon
occurs in connection with the cement de-
posit. 1t is vein of quartz, OF how great
extent is not known, which pierces the
cement and could be worked cheaply at
the same time. The outcroppings of the
quartz are rich in sulphurets and carry
little free gold. The sulphurets them
selves are blackish as though carrying
galena. No extensive explorations or tests
of the rock have been made as yet. Pro-
fessor Surface of the college, who takes
lively interest in such things, has con-
sented to make some tests"
In view of the large profits which have
been secured by sugar-beet growers in
various parts of the State, it would seem
that the offer made by Claus Spreckels to
furnish seed to all who wish to make ex-
periments to determine the adaptability of
their section to the industry ought to be
eagerly accepted, especially as a favorable
result would more than likely secure one
OF the sugar refineries which he proposes
to erect throughout the State 1t is clear
that he could not be expected to make SO
heavy an investment on an uncertainty,
and that he must depend on the intelli-
gence and diligence of farmers to make the
necessary experiments. The cost to them
would be trifiing and the benefits in the
event of success would be very great. The
Lodi Sentinel, in discussing these matters,
reads the people of San Joaquin County
this severe lecture: ''Strange as it may
seem, little interest is shown by the farm
ers of San Joaquin County in the efforts of
Spreckels to get sugar-beet growing started
here. The offer of free seed to all who
wish to experiment with the beets has
been accepted by many in the valley, but
less than 10 per cent of the requests for
seed came from residents of this county.
There is little likelihood of beet-sugar
factory in this neighborhood if the farmers
do not care to raise the beets or even dis
cover if their culture would be successful
here The seed offer is still open, III. J.
Corcoran of Stockton supplying free all
applicants"
The value of the gold-mining industry
to a community is that no financial de-
preston can affect it, and that if profitable
at all it is so under all circumstances. The
following remarks made by the Virginia
City Enterprise with reference to Nevada
are true also of California: Nevada need
not be troubled at the depression which
prevails in the eastern and central parts
of the Union. 1t IS in line with what we
all along said. Business in the East will
continue depressed, but in Nevada we shall
have local prosperity for local reasons.
Nevada is a gold-producer. The East is
depressed because of lack of gold. Ne
vada is prosperous because of an abun-
dance of that metal in our mines. The
situation in the East, and especially the
contrast between that section and this,
must sooner or later open the eyes of a
thoughtless public to the true causes of the
trouble under which this country labors.
But whether it does or does not, Nevada
will go forward upon its career of pros
perity. twill develop its mines. open new
farms and provide homes for additional
population. Nothing can crush this State.
1t is this assurance which should fill the
heart of every Nevada man with hope and
confidence"
The Christmas edition of the Fresno
E1positor is handsomely printed and IL
lustrated affair of twenty eight pages, with
an artistically designed cover printed in
colors and strong array of special articles
devoted TO the resources, industries and
attractions of Fresno County.
According to the following excerpt from
the Hayward Recicw, one of the most de-
lightful towns of Alameda County is MAX
ing an enviable record of progress, and
thereby offering the strongest inducements
for an increase of its size and prosperity:
"San Leandro has taken another step show
ing that it is live and progressive. By an
almost unanimous vote it has decided to
issue bonds to the amount of $40, 1000 for
the purpose of putting in an electric light
plant to light the town. There is grow
ing tendency toward municipal ownership
of light and water supplies, experience
having shown that the plan has resulted
in cheaper and more satisfactory service
to consumers than ander private owner
ship. San Leandro is to be congratulated
on the outcome of its election, and it is safe
to say its people will never have occasion
to lock back with regret on their action in
voting for bonds"
The holiday souvenir edition OF the
Ventura Democrat gives elonuent evidence