The record-union., 1897-01-14

keep the smelters of the United States
at work. We know that this is a great
State. but this extensive lead industry
GENES as a surprise. According to the
last census the head product of Cali
fornia for that year was fifty three
short tons of the value of S1,999 TO.
1t Is strange that If our lead industry
has had so remarkable a development
since then it has not become q matter
of notoriety.
PURE FOOD AND MORTALITY.
Los Angeles Express: Since the in
PRODUCTION of the stringent methods OF
tests by chemists of food products sold
In San Francisco there has been a re-
markable diminution in the death rate.
w neither one is the cause of the other
1t Is not known, and it would not be
right to postulate that this surveillance
on the sale OF foods brought about this
much TO be desired result. 1t is a we'll
knoWn scientific fact that much of the
zymotlc diseases are engendered and
fGstered by impurities and adultera-
tions in food products. Unscrupulous
dealers do not hesitate to vend impure
food, and will do so as long as they
can and be in immunity from punish
mer1t. Whether the energetic measures
taken by San Francisco has helped to
bring about a decrease in the mortality
or not it is q salutary proceeding and
should be commended and supported
by every citizen of the northern me-
tropolis, and no doubt it is
GRAPES AND RAISINS.
Oakland Tribune: 1t appears from
recent statements that during the past
year 10000 acres of raisin grape vine
yard have been uprooted in Fresno
County. Which leads the San Diego
Union to remark that "it may be ad
ded. too, that. not In Fresno County
alone have vineyardists torn up their
vines, although the acreage of vineyards
| thus sacrificed is much smaller in other
counties than in Fresno. The incident
emphasizes with peculiar force the
CLAIMS of the ralSin- growers of the State
TO full recognition in the new tariff law.
Iney produced during the year just end
ed over 42,0O0 tons of raisins. Their in
duStry represents millions of dollars in
vested and a vast acreage of vineyards.
Owing to combinations among the pro-
ducers and occasional opportunities for
profitable marketing, fair returns have
at times been received" If the raisin-
growers can get a tariff of from 21h
| cents to 3 cents a pound on raisins
| there will be no more vineyards up
! rooted in Fresno County.
| GOOD ROAD LAW IN PROSPECT.
Marysville Appeal: Alameda County
wants better highways. She does not,
however, desire to monopolize all the
| good things and is willing that the
whole State should share them with her
Senator Beard Of that county will at an
early date introduce a bill in the Leg
| 1Slature to make a change in the road
law, SO as to allow the roadmaster to
be elected by the people and to allow
road districts to issue bonds for the
purpose of obtaining funds with which
to construct substantial and permanent
| roads. Many if not all the country road
districts are too poor to do anything
| in the way of permanent improvements,
and the cost of repairing the unscientific
roadWays they now have would build
| highways of solid cement and concrete
| in twenty years.
People have been awakened to the
fact by the researches of civil engineers
that substantial and permanent roads
are much cheaper TO build and keep in
! repair than the so-called cheap dirt and
| gravel roads, which in the winter are no
| better than no roads at ALL
The difficulty has always been that
| the districts were too poor to build de-
| cent thoroughfares, but il they are al
| lowed to issue bonds to do first-class
work with the best material, the saving
in horseflesh, wagon repairs, time in
| transporting produce from the farm to
the shipping point and in road repairs,
will be sufficient to pay off the principal
and interest within the span of a gener-
alton and at the end of that period the
road will be as good as new.
| Another feature of the board bill will
allow work to be done by contract in
| stead of by day labor
CALIFORNIA FIZ.
| Los Angeles Times: A San Jose wine
| maker has had such success with his
| champagne that he has sold out his
wholesale liquor store and proposes to
devote himself hereafter to the pro-
| duction of ''fiz." All the money spent
| for his wine stays within the State,
while that which is paid out for for
| eign brands leaves the country, never
| to return.
Ninety per cent. OF all the people