The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-03-20

over that of 1894, and value of about
| t4.000,0O0 for 1896 over that of 1898.
| The ruling prices have given fair re-
turn to both employers and workmen
The character of the trade has not
been boom or sharp rise, but, on
the contrary, a gradual and steady in
crease in values of both raw material
and manufactured articles; this is most
promising. The low price of our iron
| ores, caused by their small metallic
percentage, is a noteworthy fact IN
! comparison with the price of that i'm
/ ported. In 1885 we raised 12,oUO,OUO
tons British ore, worth about t2,SOO,-
600, and imported 4, 100000 tons, mostly
| Spanish ore, worth nearly t3,OO0,OO0.
Therefore we are greatly dependent on
Spain for supply. There has been a
slight advance of price in tin plate,
but nothing compared with which we
would wish to see The majority of the
orders formerly came from the United
States, but every day brings us further
proof that the time is not far distant
when this will almost disappear. We
| have seen the phenomenon of the
United States steel manufactures ap-
This, we think, is due to the depression
in their home market caused by their
free silver contest Mckinley is now
elected President and their business is
reviving. This and the prospective in
creased tariff will, we think, check such
exports. However, a new tariff can
not come into force until well on in
next year; it is therefore likely that ex-
ports will be poured into that country
in order to escape the probable increase
| CT duties, etc. Here is an acknowledge
ment of their home weakness regarding
| their supply of raw material for their
great export manufacture and account
| ing for competition from this country
| because of our financial disturbance.
| No doubt but the statement made IN
the review on their iron and steel trade
is more or less true of their other lines,
and without any desire to bring for
| ward anything but a business phase OF
this question, permit me to say that 1t
win doubtless be admitted that the
present Administration was committed
to and means to push forward at the
earliest day possible a higher tariff
schedule.
EFFECTS OF TARIFF.
Considering the foregoing English
testimony and our home evidence, such
as the late reported Boston wool COM
bine for importing Immediately foreign
woods and goods, is it not incumbent on
such bodies as this to sink former diff
ferences and unite in asking our Con-
gressmen to urge Congress to adopt a
temporary higher tariff schedule that
4 rat
| fiooders until such times as Congress
can carefully and thoroughly prepare a
tariff schedule that seems best suited
to the demands of the country. In
other words, if it is foregone conclu-
sion that we are to have higher tar
| iff should not the General Government
have the duties to be imposed to check
imports not needed, and to keep the
markets of our own country steady?
RIVER IMPROVEMENTS
| All members of this chamber should
familiarize themselves with the report
| on the Sacramento and San Joaquin
Rivers and other waterways which was
recently made to the Hon. James H.
Budd, Governor, by the Commissioner
of Public Works. Hon. Ed z. Leake.
This report was submitted to the pres
ent Legislature by the Governor, who
broadly Endorsed the undertaking; that
part of his message treating on this
subject closed with these thoughtful
| words: THE Improvement of these
rivers should be by the National Gov
eminent, but where it hesitates, nay,
halts, when it should begin, the State
ought to step in and do the work itself.
The entire State is deeply interested
in this subject and I recommend to
your honorable babies that you con-
slider this matter carefully, devise ways
and means of giving our interior the
| relief it needs and enact a law carry
ing a proper appropriation for that
purpose"
The dredging measure that at the
Governors suggestion was subsequent
ly passed by the Legislature. was
earnestly supported with voice and
vote of legislators from all portions of
the State. The true situation was
most aptly given by the Hon J. H.
Seawell, the experienced and able Sen
ator from Mendocino, in his speech on
the bill. a portion of which 1 heard and
was to this effect: This part of the
State was first, for years, absorbed in
mining, at which period great wealth
was developed and great damage was
done the rivers. Subsequently agri-
culture and commerce came to. the
front The General Government is
slow to realize the real situation. which
is extraordinary and the State can
well take the initiative not as a pre-
cedent to be always followed, but
as an urgency matter to afford
needed prompt relief which is demand
ed by the necessity for the protection
| of commerce and the preservation of the
wealth of the valleys by the restoration
OF the great waterways of this por-
ton Of the State
| Permit me to suggest that il will be-
| hoove the Commission which is to take
charge of this great undertaking to
| carefully and properly expend the ap-
preparation just made in order that
the best showing possible of good and
satisfactory results can be made to the
next Legislature and more especially
20 the Government engineers. In fact,
| it would be good work for a committee
to be carefully selected from different
portions of the great valleys who will
follow this work closely and study the
question diligently, in order that they
may inteligently press our members
| in Congress to secure the prompt and
effective continuance of this great I'M
dertaking on the part of the General
! Government.
! SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY.
| AS already minated to you, the
experimental tests in the line of sugar