The San Francisco call., 1897-02-18
AN |MMIGBAT ION
Commission
California Should Be Cleared
of Some Peculiar
Stigmas.
Structures Of the British Consul
on Coon zation Schemes Not
Entirely Merited.
Recon- N ndations of a State Board of
Trade Committee Approved by
the Governor.

", NAL., r6Ds 1l.-1n Q6-
tense of the reputation of the State of Cali
fornia and with the object of encouraging
immigration TO this State the State Board
OF Trade, through committee comprising
w. H. Mills, n. P. Chipman, Joseph S.
Emery and J. A. Filcher, to-day ted
the following memorial TO Governor Budd:
SAN FRANCIsCo, Feb. Is, 1897.
Hon James H. Budd, Gouernor Of California
Sacramento, CdL.-DEAR SIR; Your Excenency is
no doubt aware of the TACT that in September last
a report of the ConsulGeneral residing in san
Francisco and representing Great Britain in the
consular service OF that country transmitted
to Parliament. In general effect that report de-
clared that for the most part the colonization
schemes projected This state were fraudulent
and deceptive. The Isovereign of Great Britain in
dorsed these staten ents sufficiently to the
docum"n. TO lie transmitted 10 the British Parlil-
menJ. and the Representations therein made have
Lecome in sense the official expression Of that
Government.
Unfortunately for our state, the structures con-
tanned in the document have for the most part a
degree of jus. iicatlon in the facts OF the case.
There are now offered on the markets colony
lanis in which no intelligent CALIFORNIAN would in
vest They are addressed to foreign ignorance
and designed only for the attention and p,tronage
easy victims Of dishonest immigration schemes
1t is no part OF the present purpose addressing
you o present or expose these schemes. We,
therefore, coItent ourselves by the declaration OF
facts, for the verification OF which have ample
remedial measures.
In the first Instance the representation made by
the ConsulGeueTal of Great britain and its official
lncorseinent by the sovereign OF that country IS Il
condemnation which while intended only for the
condemnation OF fraudulent schemes, will neces-
sarliy be EXTENDED in ITS effect the most bene-
hcent and advant tRgeous enter rises.
California, Notwithstanding its age. is a country
OF large extent occupied by relatively small popu-
lation. Our condition is such as TO make
enforcemant OF our capital and population most
desirable. We have natural resources which,
when developed. will prove q rich reward TO en-
terprise and inIelligentIy directed capital. But
representations concerning these resources and
our presentation of the in ucer ents they ofer is
now very broadly discreGlted throughout the
world.
they had no foundation in fact, the case w,u.d be
different; but un ortunately the evidence that
and have resul ed oisa,trously TO those who
deceived by them gives not only color bat
demonstration of fraud which, a already ind
caied, Will attach to all Tepresent tatons which may
be made on behalf OF our commonwealth.
This situation demands remedies he first OF
these is to establish some fundamentally OF an
official charR ter which Will pose md denounce
the projectors Of fraudulent and deceptive ColOni
zation undertaklngs- IN the next instance, the
Iiuary unofficial methods OF the defeuso of the
Stale aInst the broader differences of the charges
already made and in part suostan ed are in
sufficient 10 the accomplishment of the purpose.
In times past the price OF ana in California has
been high The richest fruit lands in the State
have been held at prices which to which
they might be devoted would justify. The general
farming lands OF the - ate were held "a prices
which forbade all of reasonA b return
upon the capital invested
These c. nditions have passed away California
in the past has presented a example wherein the
price OF Its real esta was not correlated with the
density of population In all countries there has
been fixed relation OF value between The SOIL
the original source OF all wealth, ami the density
of population occupying the country embrAc. NJ
hat soil.
California for a long time appeared to be an ex-
cei tion TO this rule; but 1t is no longer So Very
high prices for farming and fruit lands OF Cali
forniA no longer obtainable nor even asked
The depressed state of business thrunehont the
has aarfp in
in the direction OF elm mating ia factors in all
valuations The average value Of all classes Of
agTcult ural land in California to-day 30 per
cent of that placed upon 1t during the decade be-
tw 1880 and 1890.
Men forego home ties, break up home relations
sever themselves from kindred and from friends
only because they Lelieve they can better their
condition-hnanclaily, morally and socially. The
SOBER QUESTION Whlch contronls US in inviting a
reinforcement of our population is: Do the CON
ditons OF California in ihe financial educational
religious, moral ana social aspects. Cffer superior
inducements TO those existing in the more densey
settled portions of our country? they do not
then IN the very inclplency OF the case an invita-
tion extended to people 10 break home ties and
become citizens of commonwealth is fn ils
nature deception.
We who address you IN this communication and
the organization we represent believe that CALI
fcrnia offers inducements superior to those OF
many more density settled countries ana enter
tanning that opinion we also entertain the belief
tina; in inviting immig ration 10 california We IRE
conferring a favor only upon this common
wealth but upon those who accept that invitation
Never before The pre- ent time in the bistorv nf
this state have the Inducements to immigration
Men di-pose OF the property they have accum-
ulated and make Investments in countries I'm
the hope OF acquiring the ownership OF property in
the new location IN advance of its developed va ne
They expe {, as they have right, that the incie-
ment uf value on the property they purchase will
enforce their own ind ust Y and economy in ac-
quiring wealth. For many years past thf, hope or
expectation could not De ealized with reference 10
California. lhe iutAtei prices NJ which the lands
OF the state were be forbade this ex pectatiop
All this IS changed. Lands are % longer held at
values which anticipate DEVELOPMENT a nd Ont of
this grows the opportunity OF reaping the reward
OF that enhancement which Will nece sarly ensue
upon the more dense settlement OF our stale All
the condL' ms incliing immigration TO this State
have improved. The rate of transportation has u
steadily downward tendency. The cost Of living
constantly declines. The or sinai cost of planting
an orchard has been very greatly dmin shed A
ripe experience To the science of horticulture
and agriculture affords guarantee against the
costly mistakes of ignorance.
In every aspect of the case the Invitation which
home-seekers of the world has better iuslfdcStin1
than at any time in history of the cOmmo,-
wealth. At this iuncture the reputation OF or
State as a desirable place for residence has re-
ceived the broadest injury.
These matters or the highest importance 10
the Sla,e OF California. They of vastly greater
products OF the state = rasLern or foreign expo-
siuons. We are confron ed b. condition which
will deny to us our due share of the immlgratioI
wnicn seeks new homes each year
Tne Stale Board of Trade, an organization com
posed of the represen tatv-s or the various coun-
Ties of the state, has had these matters under con-
sideraton, and has appointed the 81 sners OF this
communication committee 10 present the mai
ter 10 your Excellency, accompanied by a petition
That the facts herein presented be made the sub
iect OF q speciai message to the Legislature ac-
companIed by the recon mendation that a com
III ssion of immigration be crtated and eslab-
lished whose duty shall be institute inquiry
into the character of all colonization schemes pro
jected IN this STATE. and to commend or condemn
according the merit or deme il OF such schemes
The only adequate or effective defense the state
can now make against the injurious representa-
tions which have received such high official m
dursement will be through the eliberate conclu-
tI,a
Government o. the state OF California, and there
fore charged with high accountability. The
testimony of such high authority will be re-
ceived, IT spected and believed, while the repre-
SEN alton OF the voluntary immigration instrr-
me Dtali VIII be regarded par. ial, interested
and unreliable.
We therefore have the honor to petition that
your Exec ,lency present 10 the Legislature in the
form of a special message such statement of the
bear upon Its natural resources. the opportunities
of their development and the general desirahilfiy
of the state as ace of residence.
We also respectfully urge upon your thoughtful
creation of n 81 ate Commission of Inmigraton
the function and Office OF which would be To pro-
tect the people OF california against Injurious
results OF fraudulent schemes projected only in
the interest OF private pecuiaiion.
All misrepresentation of this kind can work ONLY
injury this commonwealth, ard a state COM
mission, composed OF patriotic and honorable men
armed wi. The au hoIity of the law and represent
ing in official capacity the people Of the State of
california, would make only truthful Representa-
tions: ard ith this high official Endorsement the
truth concerning our state would be received aud
BELIEVED.
We furego further detail of outline leaving 10
better underst snding of the bject and Your
better facility OF suggestion he elaboration of the
plan herein generally outlined.
Respectfully representing to you the gravity of