The record-union., 1895-01-01

Inc resources conferred upon us by the
broad limitations of our climate have not
been exhausted. Recently an enterprise
has been founded for the cultivation on a
very extensive scale of canaigre from
! which is extracted tannic acid. The en-
terprise is heavily capitalized, and is the
beginning OF an important industry, one
| which Will bring into use large areas of
land. 1t is to the infinite credit OF our
people that they have manifested the
highest degree of enterprise in exploring
the climatic resources of the State. But
there are many objects of cultivation yet
to be introduced here in the production
of which we will enjoy practical mo-
nopoly. We may therefore indulge the
reasonable hope, based upon an obvious
tendency, that the market for the surplus
products OF California will experience a
constant improvement from this time
forth.
But there are classes of resources in this
State which demand cheaper communica-
tlon than will ever be possible by lines of
railroad, and In entering into brief con-
Slderatlon OF the ocean as factor in the
industrial and commercial development
OF California. l may be permitted to say
that L express profound personal con-
vlctIon when l say that there is vast la
| tent wealth in California awaiting the
awakening influence of the Nicaragua
| canal. One great obstacle to the develop
the absence of coal tit for smelling. Coal
has been denomnated the reservoir of
mechanical power.
But the discovery of methods of trans
mlttlng power long distances through
the agency OF electricity will make the
vast water power found in the rivers on
the western flank Of the Sierra NevadaS
available throughout the entire State.
Tributary to the State of California is
vast metalliferousr region comprising large
bodies OF IoW-grade ores, now worthless
because their reduction is impOSSibl
which require for the development of the
mines IN which they are found an instru-
mentality of transportation that will not
consume that value in transit to points
where their reduction is poSsi BILE.
The forests of California under such
regulations as wise forestry requires
would be an incalculable source OF w ealth.
Quarries OF marble, of onyx and cheap
building stone, now worthless, would be-
come valuable. Fully 70 per cent. of the
natural resources of this State, including
certain classes of its agricultural, viii
cultural, mineral and building resources
possess value below the line of their
economic transmission to their final
market by existing agencies. Steam COM
| munication by the ocean alone can
| awaken this latent wealth.
Our distance from the final markets for
our products and the long lines of COM
munlcatlon over which both our exports
and imports must be carried have already
| been noted. The statement of the fact
! alone carries conviction to the mind that
we are possessed of vast resources whose
value III their final market is so low that
they are now unavailable, because that
value eVapOrateS III their transportation.
4 or Is this in any sense an impeachment
of either the practice or the disposition Of
the overland railroads by which we are
served. these roads have every incent-
i've for enhancing the purchasing power
of the people to whose productive capacity
| they owe their existence aud upon whose
| prosperity the profit of their operation
| depends.
That navigable waterway for ocean
| going vessels between the Gulf of Mexico
| and the Pacific Ocean across the narrow
| neck of land which separates the conti-
| nent of North and South America will be
| au accomplished fact within few years
| Is beyond all reasonable doubt. All man
| kind is Interested in that consummation.
The Government of the United States
| finds its jurisdiction of the State of Cali
fornia profitable. The avenues collected
| In the way OF customs duties in Caiifor-
MIA for the past thirty years commencing
July l, 1868, aggr ogated S2l0, ,945,0O0 The
customs duties collected in 1868 amounted
20 only S63l 900. Twenty years later. in
| 1883, the customs duties collected in Cali
fornia were $40. 10000. Here, then, by
the growth OF population and increased
power of consumption, Government
revenues from the source of customs
! duties alone arose from S63I, 900 to over
| $40, COG, 900. II the development of 75 per
| cent. OF the natural resources of this State
may be depended upon to double the pop
ulatlon, and thereby double the purchas-
ing power of the people of the State, it
may be assumed with reason that the
revenues of the Government from Gus
| toms duties alone would be increased to
! so, 900 per annum. The increase al
ready noted was due almost wholly to the
| construction OF the tranScontinental lines
OF railway. The state OF isolation in
which the completion of the overland
railroads found California would have per-
petuated the low revenues of 1868 and
! 1861, The greater intimacy of commune
| cation due to the completion of the rail-
roads brought California and her re-
sources closer to the great commercial
| and industrial heart OF the world, and
1 thus the Government revenues from one
source alone arose from less than one to
| more than ten millions in twenty years
The collections of internal revenue in
| 1863 were S34S, 600. In 1883, twenty years
later, the revenues of the Government
| from this source were increased to 81, 600 =
| 600. Reviewing this statement, it NAV
| be said that the collections from custom
| duties and internal revenue in 1863
were less than 81 900, ,000 while in 1883
| they were over $4,000,000 The aggregate
collection from internal revenue in Cali
| fornia for the period Of thirty years be-
| ginning with 1868 is $S4 ZIG, 900; and from
the two sources mentioned S292, ,66I COO
To offset this enormous sum, the Govern
ment has appropriated for river and har-
Dor improvements S5,2S5, 900, and for
public buildings So, 93S, ,OOO OF this latter
amount more than S2,000,000 remains un-
expended. In the aggregate, the Govern
| ment has appropriated for rivers and har-
bors and public buildings less than
| 100000. There is balance to the
credit OF California, even after our due
| proportion Of Government expense is
subtracted, of at least $500, ,000, 900, in
thirty years. It would not be an otfense
| against modesty to ask at the hands of
| the Government additional aid in the way
| OF cheapening communications, thereby
developing the latent resources OF the
country and securing the augmentation
OF our population, with it's attendant in
| crease of profit to the Government itself.
The State needs the good offices of the
Government OF the United States in fos-
| terlng its development in disseminating
intelligence concerning its agricultural
and horticultural capabilities, in securing
cheaper means Of communication, in pro-
tecting from foreign competition It's nat
ural products. These offices cannot be
performed by. the people of the State.
They are, however, plainly within the
province of the General Government.
One OF the crying needs of the Pacific
States and Territories is'a more potent in
huence in the Congress of the United
States, and position in the Cabinet at
the hearthstone OF the nation. Our posi-
| ton. geographically and commercially. is
| exceptional. Our industrial interests are
not entirely homogeneous with those of
other portions of our common country.