Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1896-08-14
the SALINAS BANQUET.


to Mr.. Claus 'Spreckels by the
people of Monterey County is one
'iof the events of the day that can
be regarded with no little salts
. faction by Californians of all
classes. 1t was a gathering of
men representing all forms of in
dustry in the country, both urban
and rural, and gave expression to
the common esteem which all in
dustrious men have for those
great promoters of industry whose
works tend to increase prosperity,
advance civilization and add to
the welfare of all.
The occasion was in every way
worthy of such a gathering. Mr..
Spreckels went to Salinas to an
nounce to the farmers of the sur
rounding district that if they
would furnish him with the sugar
beets he would erect in that
county the largest and best
equipped sugar refinery in the
world. In his address he said:
"The factory will cover a wide
area of land. 1t will eat up 5000
tons of beets every day and turn
out every day $50 tons of refined
sugar ready for market. That
means the distribution among the
farmers of $4,000 every day, and
$4,000 more paid to workmen and
for other materials in the manu-
featuring. You can see, therefore,
that this Is an important matter.
Now, as l say, it is for you to
grow the beets. I'll do the rest"
1t is scarcely necessary to say
that an address of that kind, con-
tanning a promise of such indus.
trial munificence from man
whose promises are as good as
gold, awakened true enthusiasm
among the listeners. Such an
announcement of enterprise would
be noted as a matter of impor-
tance even in the largest cities
and to the wealthiest States in the
Union. To the people of Salinas
and Of Monterey County it was an
assurance of the beginning of a
Veritable new era. An industry
which will distribute $4,000
among farmers and $4,000 among
workingmen every day of the year
will surely exert a powerful and
ever widening influence for good,
and by the wealth it diffuses
through the community afford the
means for the establishment of
new industries and new enter
prises as yet undreamed of.
The glowing prospect, more
over, is not confined to the limits
of Monterey County Tor Salinas
Valley. Every part and portion
of California will derive some
benefit and good from the deve-
lopment of this great industry.
The ambition of Mr.. Spreckels is
not limited to the construction of
single refinery to be the largest
in the world. He desires to make
California the largest sugar pro.
ducing section of the world, to
raise the output from this State
to a point where it will be able
not only to supply all the needs
Of its own people, but to ship
abroad annually not less than co.
100000 tons of refined sugar.
That means, of course, a steady
golden revenue flowing into the
State to add its stimulus to every
trade and brighten the comforts
Of every home.
1t is worth noting, moreover,
that for this great factory to be
established in their county, Mr..
Spreckels asks of the people of
Monterey neither the land for
site, nor a present, nor IA bonus of
any kind. All that he asks to
make California the sugar-produc-
er Of the United States is some
protection against the compe-
tition of the cheap labor of
Europe. 1t is his intention to
maintain the rate of wages now
prevailing in California, and his
desire is to increase them if pos
sible. Certainly, therefore, work
ingmen, farmers and tradesmen of
every class and degree should sup
port him in the work. AS b. V.
Sargent said at the Salinas ban