The record-union., 1897-02-02

u lHH system III vogue dl
the beginning, and long before the
growers organized for the. special pur-
pose of ascertaining to what points
daily shipments We're made, and direct
ing their products accordingly, the
money that would have been saved the
individual growers is beyond calcula-
ton.
There should be a public body i'll
charge of this work, duly authorized to
furnish information to growers, and
the money expended in conducting this
business would be returned tenfold to
the State in additional taxable prop
erty. This board is willing to under
take the management of such work il
the expense attendant is forthcoming.
There should also be a law enacte q
compelling owners Of thresning ma
chimes to make returns of the acreage
harvested and grain threshed and re-
port the same to this office. AS it is
now we have to rely upon the judgment
OF individuals in collecting this infCr
nation, and then verify it as much
possible by reports Of exports estimat-
ed consumption, and deduction of re-
ceipts from outside points Authentic
NN4N''iNS NlCli e'dis VI plOCuCtIOll VI
great value to a community. and ir
should be the aim of all growers and
dealers to aid in their collection for
self protection if nothing else.
From information given to the public
through the United States Department.
OF Agriculture, We find the condition Of
the American farmers much better than
is supposed. 1t is shown by actual
canvass by that department of Govern
ment that the farmers of the United
States hold - out Of each 100 farms,
occupied by their owners, free from
mortgage or other incumbrances.
The debts secured by liens upon lands
OF this character aggregate less thar
one-sixth of the total indebtedness of
the citizens Of the United States Sc
cured upon real estate. The facts show
that out of each thousand farms in the
United States only 2S2 are m0rtgagad,
and three-fourths of the amount repre-
sented by the mortgages was for pur-
chase of the land or money borrowed
to improve them. The prevailing idea
that the West and South are more
heavily burdened with farm mortgages
than the East and Northeast is entirely
y
ricuiture in his report for 1896
In California the Assessors reports
show the total amount of real estate
and improvements in the entire State is
carrying mortgage to the extent OF
1916 per cent. of total value
1t is the farming community upon
which all other vocations depend. The
cities do not support the country, al
though the average man Will tell you
that the cities of the Union comprise
40 per cent. of the population whereas,
it IS almost exactly the reverse. AS is
aptly said by Secretary Sterling J. Nor
ton: THE farmer is the copartner of
the elements. His inteligently directed
efforts are in unison with the light and
heat of the sun and the success of his
labOrs represent the comm:ngling Of
the raindrops and his own sweat"
We most heartily mdorse the recent
organizations Of Farmers Institutes
throughout the State, and the assist
ance rendered by Professors Hilgard,
Wickson, Jaffa, Woodworth, Lough-
ridge, President Kellogg and A. p.
Hayne of tie University of California,
aided by Edward F. Adams and DR.
koebig in lecturing before the various
institutes. These meetings, with lee
lures from such able men, bring the
farmer closer in touch with the scen-
titic principles of his art, and as al
most every productive interest is seek
ing such information that will aid 1t.
this move is quite essential and should
be encouraged by the farming commu-
nifty in general.
GOOD ROADS.
We are Internationally allied with any
proposition that will insure US a
thorough system Of good roads through
out the State. and have some idea that
the majority Of the people of the State
are Of the same opinion. We think the
road laws should be amended so that
counties could be districted, and elect
in each district a Board Of Road Gov
ernorS, who in turn should elect the
Road OYerseer, and authorize the issu-
ance Of bonds covering each district, the
sale Of which would raise the necessary
funds to build permanent highways, the
existence Of which would greatly en-
hance values, thereby increasing secur-
difficulty in placing such securities, as
better than mortgages, better than al
most any character Of investment. Let
them be sold in popular amounts open to
all. and it will be surprisingly SO see how
much money in small lots there is in
this State looking for sure investment.
The annual patchwork done each year
upon our roadways costs more and re-
turns less than any public expenditure
we have. What the public want is roads
and good ones. no makeshifts, so the
farmers can reach objective points with
their loads OF produce during the winter
as well as summer months, thus afford
ing them the opportunity Of marketing
products the year through.
THE EXHIBITION OF 1896.
Through an error of judgment, we ex-
tended the State Fair to three weeks this
year, which under the existing condi-
tions of trade was i'll advised. However,
we tried the experiment, and now feel
that two weeks is ample time for the
purposes of the annual exhibition.
There was a noticeable increase Of in
terest taken by all concerned and results
while not satisfactory to the manage
ment as in former years was to the ex-
hibitors and visitors, SO that our desires
on that score We're most gratifying our
state appropriation of $4,000 was Judi
ciously expended in the awarding Of
premiums and a portion of the expenses
attendant, all other expenses being met
from cur gate receipts, entrance money
to races. and the deficit. by reason of
extra expense, was supplied from bank
overdrafts secured by notes.
Every department had its usual quota
of exhibitors. The Dairy School inau- |