The San Francisco call., 1897-03-03

mills OF that county have cutting capacity OF
more than 200 900 900 feet per annum,
though the maximum amount has not been
sawed in recent years.
lowing to the long continued business de-
preston the output of lumber has declined
since 1892, the lowest figure being reached in
1896 when only 10000, 900 feet, including
shingles, posts and tiles were exported. Several
of the larger mills were idle most OF last year
and others were running on limited time, but
the prospects of revival in that industry are
now Frightening. The foreign demand for
redwood seems to be increasing and larger
shipments 10 Australia, the Sandwich Islands
and Central America have been made during
the past two months than for the correspond
ing months for several years past. The Vance
mill, one of the largest redwood mills in the
State, is now running day and night to fill
orders for the Australian market. The Pacific
Lum Der Company, which has its headquarters
in San Francisco, has completed the largest
and best constructed redwood mills in the
world and is running at full capacity to re-
plenish its stock of lumber which was con-
sumed during the construction of the new
MILL the original mill being burned some two
years ago. Dolbeer and Carson operate two
large mills, Mckay e. Co., Isaac Minor and
Korbei Brothers have mills OF from. fifty TO one
hundred thousand feet capacity per day,
while several smaller lumber mills and
twenty-five shiDgle and shake mills employ
an army OF loggers and mill hands when the
lumber trade is good.
Terminal rates on carload lots OF lumber
and shiugies have been secured over the
Southern Pacific and Northern Pacific roads
to Eastern points, and many carloads of fine
lumber and shingles have been shipped to
the Mississippi Valley direct during the past
year. The construction of the Nicaragua canal
would open the markets of the Eastern States
to our redwood and prove of incalcuiable
benefit to our lumber industry.
''Next to redwood our dairies are the great
est sources of revenue. Last year Humboldt
produced over four million pounds of butter,
most OF which was sold in San Francieco and
brought the dairymen nearly 81 ,OOO, 900.
Humb boldt has the best soil and Climate for
dairying to be found in the world. Clover
grows the year round in the valleys, and good
COWS, even at the present low price of butter,
average from $50 to $75 worth OF butter per
year. Recent legislation against the sale of
imitation butter and cheese has been OF great
value to the dairying industry. Farmers no
longer make their own butter. Creameries,
which use the latest and most approved ma
chinery and methods, found in every
neigh borhood In our valleys, thus producing
the best butter and securing for Humboldt
producers gilt-edge prices. The creameries
here increased from one in 1889 to twenty-six
in 1897. and the end is not yet.
"The southern and eastern portions of Hum
boldt County are adapted to grazing, and
sheep and cattle from the hills find their way
to the San Francisco and other markets by
nearly every steamer. Wool, lumber and
'spuds' were formerly the chief articles of ex-
port; but the Wilson tariff bill struck deadly
blow at the wool industry. The wool men of
Humboldt, who formerly had from 16 to 36
cents pound for their wool, and were in good
circumstances, have sold their wool clips for
the past four years for from 8 to IL cents.
This has ruined over half of them, and the
wool industry has been nearly destroyed.
Many large wool ranches have been sold by the
Sheriff, and but few remain unincumbered.
With the restoration of a reasonable tariff on
wool, our grazing lands will become valuable,
and wool will again be one of our staple pro-
ductions. We are hoping that the extra ses-
sion OF Congress will give US such Ia iff, and
also give us protection on California prunes,
raisins, oranges, lemons and other fruits.
"Our salmon fisheries, especially those on Eel
River, are source of considerable revenue,
and with new hatchery that stream TO
supply the river with young fish the run OF
salmon will increase and our fisheries will be
greatly increased in value. We have two Gov
ernnent hatcheries already. One near Hoopa
and the Other on the north fork OF Mad
River under control of Captain Dougherty,
which are doing great good in stocking our
streams with salmon, trout and other food
fish. Senator Gillette and our representatives
in the Assembly have been making vigorous
fight in the Legislature to amend our fish
ing laws as to give the fishermen chance to
take salmon in October, and they Will probably
get half of that month into the open season.
The salmon run comes later in Humboldt
than it does in the Sacramento, and this
change in the law is needed by our salmon fish-
cries. Once let the hatcheries supply young
fish for Eel River and in a few years we shall
ship hundreds Of thousand of dollars worth
of that most excellent fish to market
Humboldt apples, like Hum boldt wool. are
the best produced in the State. The Goblin
moth and other insect pests have not reached
our orchards, and while we cannot compete
with some sections OF California in apricots,
pears. grapes and citrus fruits, we can produce
the best apples and as good prunes and
peaches as any county in the State. Nature
iTrigates our hills and valleys. There is not
an irrigation ditch in the county, and we need
none With such a soil and climate Hum
bold County should-and will-become an in
dustrial empire. 1t is safe place 10 invest
capital. The expenditure of over 100000
on the entrance to our harbor has greatly i'm
proved the bar and made 1t safe to enter or
leave our wharves at all stages OF the tide.
When the work is completed we shall have