The record-union., 1896-02-03

the change from days past, when the
California wheat-grower was a baron
He surveyed his possessions by the
thousand-acre tract. His lands were
producing, under prices Of those palmy
days, interest upon values that dis
PEELED computation. An offer of pur-
chase was repelled with vigor, and it is
the inspiration of this spirit that binds
him to the vocation in these dark days.
We say to these owners of large areas,
cut up your holdings into small tracts
and sell off some at such prices as can
be obtained, sowing or planting the re-
mainder to crops that will warrant cul-
tivation without enormous expense
For the past four or five years these
holders of large tracts of land have
been carried along, as rule, by a class
OF itinerant farmers designated as
renters" who believed that without
investment of money in lands they
could obtain a fair livelihood by farm.
ing upon shares" With sufficient (or
insufficient, as the case may be- stock
and implements, they made contracts
to seed to wheat such acreage as the
owner would rent. By this method the
owner secured some returns from his
vast possessions. But now the renter
is bankrupt. by reason of exhaustion of
stock and implements. and as he only
made scant living during his period
of occupation, he is without means to
replenish his plant; hence, the land is
back on the owners hands, and for
what use? He must start anew, and
now is the time for him to consider the
class of farming he will follow He
must, without equivocation, reduce his
acreage, because no crops that are now
grown will warrant 81 plant necessary
for extensive farming. His product
should be just what he can handle with
the least possible help.
THE CONDITION OF AGRICULT-
URE IN CALIFORNIA.
This office recently caused to be sent
out over sixteen hundred inquiries.
reaching every township in the State,
relating to the condition of the farming
community for the past three seasons.
The inquiries embraced questions as to
value of stated products on the farm on
December 1st of 1S93-94-9 as to wages
OF farm-hands, blacksmiths and car.
penters; as to values of improved lands
and of orchard land Clearing and un-
bearing), in every county in the State.
The table will be given in full in this
volume, and will make an interesting
study. By 1t there may be seen the
proportion of reduction in prices of all
farm products, and to what extent each
year Wages of farm-hands have
shown a marked reduction, while those
for skilled labor have not been as great.
Land values, as returned by the corre-
spondents, have not decreased in the
proportion generally thought; but the
values given would be shaded to a con.
siderable extent by bank surveyors
The prices for products on the farm
speak plainly as to the condition of our
whole farming system. There is no dis
guising the fact that thorough reorgan-
ization Of farming methods is needed
The cities, through their property.
owners, their merchants, their capital
lists, must sooner or later take hold OF
the question Of agriculture. The de-
preston in this noble following will moi
be fully felt by the cities until it is too
late to apply remedy.
1t is agriculture that in a great meas
ure keeps the business centers sllpplied
with trade. With the advance that has
recently been made in rnanufa ctured
commodities, and the decline all along
the line in agricultural products the
time will soon arrive when readiust
ment will be necessary. Our opportuni-
ties and possibilities in an agricultural
sense are beyond computation. Over
production is claimed to be the cause of
depressed prices; however, it is not so
much that, as it is the decreased. earn
ing capacity of the consumer brought
about by a lack of confidence in. nearly
every avenue of trade The noneyed
interest will not launch boldly into com
mercial and other ventures for MANY
reasons. It was their distrust that
caused the panic of 1893. resulting in
the uniform calling in of loans. Every
borrower was called upon to make set
tlement forthwith. Those who cou1d
by abandonment of enterprises. sacri
flee and sale of property, did SO. In
many case enterprises that required
large amounts of money to successfullv
carry them forward were, by this de-
cided movement ON the part of the
capitalist, compelled to suspend OPERA
t1ons, and thus receive setbacks from
which recovery will be necessar ri1v
slow In fact, everything STONED. +ba
wheels of commerce became clogged
people were discouraged by havinp
their hopes and ambitions thwarte6
and general stagnation followed
banks soon became overflowing with
money; the products of the farm fell to
ruinous prices; reduced values invited
foreclosures, and the calling of agricult
ure suffered immeasurably. one of the
principal causes for this setback to tbe
agricultural classes was the fictitious
values at which lands were held. The
rapid stride taken in fruit-growing. bv
reason of the endeavor to produce more
valuable crops, and the great promise
based upon introductory returns from
early shipments, caused a STAMPEDE
in this direction, and the result was
lands shouldered speculative yaluen.
and the money was loaned on these val
ues. When reverses came the land
would not sell for the graded values
upon which loans We're made. The
savings banks were overburdened with
loans, many Of which cannot be realized
upon, for the mortgagor is without
sufficient returns from products to paw
interest and taxes, to say nothing OF
principal. Hence the necessity of a
general roundup, and the growing of
subsidiary crops upon small holdings.
The capitalist cannot live without the
producer, and the latter needs the
former; and right here comes the prob
lem of capital and labor The die
tates Of labor have in a great measure
stopped the investment Of capital. and
its seclusion has about ruined labor. A
medium that will harnaonize these great
factors is now greatly to be desired.
How this harmony can be brought
about is a question that must be solved