The record-union., 1897-02-18

tertaining that opinion We also enter
tain the belief that in inviting immi-
grafton to California we are comforting
a favor not only upon this common
wealth but upon those who accept that
Invitation. Never before the present
time in the history of this State have
| the Inducements to immigration been
| 50 great
| THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
Men dispose of the property they
| have accumulated and make invest
| ments in new countries in the hope of
| acquiring the ownership of property in
| the new location in advance of its de-
veloped value. They expect, as they
have a right, that the increment of
value on the property they purchase,
will reinforce their own industry and
economy in acquiring wealth. For
many years past this hope or expecta-
| ton could not be realized with refer
ence to California. The inflated prices
| at which the lands of the State were
held forbade this expectation.
All this is changed. Lands are no
| longer held at values which anticipate
| development, and out of this grows the
| OlpOI thillly VI Lea pms, Liz lNNNeoii VI
that enhancement which will necessar-
lily ensue upon the more dense settle
ment of our State All the conditions
melting immigration to this State have
improved. The rate of transportation
has a steadily downward tendency. The
cost of living constantly declines. The
| original cost of planting an orchard
has been very greatly diminished. A
ripe experience as to the science Of hor-
ticulture and agriculture affords guar
antee against the costly mistakes of ig
nOrance. In every aspect of the case
the invitation which the people of Cali
fornia can now extend to the home
seekers of the world has better justifi-
cation than at any time in the history
of the commonWea At this juncture
tire reputation of our State as d desir-
able place for residence has received
| the broadest injury.
OF VAST IMPORTANCE.
These matters are of the highest i'm
p0rtance to the State of California.
They are cf vastly greater Importance
than the question of exhibiting the
products of the State at Eastern or
foreign cxpositions. We are confronted
| by condition which will deny to us
our due share of the immigration which
| seeks new homes each year
The State Board of Trade an organ
| ization composed Of the representatives
! Of the various counties of the State,
has had these matters under considera-
ton and has appointed the signers Of
this communication committee to pre-
sent the matter to your excellency, ac-
companied by a petition that the facts
herein presented be made the subject of
| a special message to the Legislature,
accompanied by the recommendation
that a Committee of immigration be
created and established whose duty it
shall be to institute inquiry into the
character Of all coloniza ton schemes
projected in this State, and to commend
or condemn according to the merit OF
demerit of such schemes.
WHAT IS NEEDED.
The only adequate or effective de-
fense the State can now make against
the injurious misrepresentation which
have received such high official indorse-
men Will be through the deliberate
conclusions of an official body, one rep
resent!ng the Government of the State
of California, and therefore charged
| with a high accountability The testi-
mGny Of such an authority win be re-
ceived, respected and believed while
the representation of the voluntary i'm
migration inL5trumentality Will be re-
garded as partial, interested and unre-
liable.
We, therefore, have the honor to petit
ton that your excellency present to
The Legislature in the form Of special
message such statement of the changed
and improved conditions in this State
as bear upon its natural resources, the
opportunities of their development and
the general desirabihty of the State as
q place of residence.
We also respectfully urge upon your
thoughtful attention the suggestion
herein made of the creation Of a State
Commission on Immigration, the func-
ton and Office Of which would be to
protect the people of California against
the injurious results of fraudulent
schemes projected only in the interest
of private peculation. All misrepresen-
tatiOn Of this kind can work only injury
to this commonwealth, and a State
Commission. composed of patriotic and
honOra bic men, armed with the au-
thOrity Of the law and representing in
an official capacity the people of the
State OF California, would make only
truthful representations: and with this
high official Endorsement the truth con-
cerning our State would be received
and believed.
We forego further detaM Of outline,
leaving to you better understanding of
the subject and your better facility of
/ S1Ippac+ior. tho cha h0Ya +iOr, of +lea nj a n
herein generally outlined
Respectfully representing to You the
gravity of the situation, we have the
honor to remain. yours very respect
fully VIM. H MILLS.
Chairman Committee, San Francisco
n. P. CHAPMAN,
President State Board OF Trade, Te-
hama County.
JOS. EMERY,
Vice President State Board of Trade,
Alameda County.
j. \. FILCIER,
General Manager, Placer County.
MRS. +. SHIELDS,
Sacramento County.
CRAIGE SHARPE,
Alameda County. Committee.
THE BEST PLAN
The Governor asked what size the
committee thought the Commission
should be and Mr.. Mills said either one
CT three, although the size was not ma =
ter ial. He knew the Governors preju-
dice aga inst Commissions. There had
| been q great many in California, but
this might be arranged with economy.
Mr.. Chipman had suggested that the
! work ha comm itta1 IN a (-or,1r1sSStpr,