The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-01-21
BAD INDUSTRIAL CONDITION OF
CALIFORNIA.


have been booming the State during
tbe last year, for the purpose of in
creasing immigration and settlement
They have charged themselves with toe
much modesty, in permitting that en-
terprising paper, the Los Angeles Times
to hold up to the immigrant the IN
searchable riches of Southern Califor-
MIA, and the drawbacks of the north
ern parts. Since the northern papers
have discovered, as they claim, that the
fruits do as well in the upper as
in the lower portions, they are asking
whv the immigrants stay in the south.
For the credit of the State, and In Or
der to avoid a wrangle, the southern
papers have tacitly agreed not to dis
pute over the matter, but unite In re-
citing the joys of life in every part OF
the State, and proclaim its advantages
over all other lands. Large. generous
sums of money are being spent in cele-
brating the climate and resources
While all may agree that the State is
destined to be one most hourishing OF
the Union, there is a willingness to
ignore certain laws which govern inn
migration and settlement, which no
blooming" will alter. Up to the present
time the story of fruit farming has
been one of pathetic disappointment,
suffering and loss. The present genera
ton learned the business at Infinite
sacrifice, due to inexperience and ignor-
ance The coming generation will found
success and fortune on the mistakes of
its predecessor.
The visiting tourist is no longer
mere tenderfoot In spite of the Won
derful stories Of the press, there has
gone to the East, in letters and by woro
of mouth, the experiences of the present
generation. The tourists are wary and
suspicious. In the rich and beautiful
Santa Clara valley, for instance, many
thousands of tourists have visited IL
during the last six months in the ex-
cursion trains, but it is said by real
estate agents that purchases OF Iand'
and new settlements were not frequent.
.aThese tourists" recently said one ex-
tensiye dealer in land, "come up on
cheap excursion tickets, have GOOD
time of it, praise our country ana go
home" While this valley is one OF
the most prosperous in the State the
real estate, the ranches, and orchards
offered for sale are so surprisingly
large, that the tourists are asking;
.yhy do you. wish to sell out? Inc
number of overdue mortgages is enor-
mons. Some of the we'll managed
ranches do pay. and pay wen, but on
the whole the fruit business is not
profitable.
..This is due, in a measure, to the
high and increasing price of labor but
also due to the still preventing ignor-
ance of the farmers, and their refusal
10 co-operate in reaching markets. The
day of speculation is over. The farmers
are on the hard and dusty road which
win ultimately lead them to success
The Argonaut now utters the cry:
"Wake up San Francisco" 1t tells its
citizens that a great back country is
needed to make the city prosperous;
that othere is no money in fancy
crops" that only a small percentage of
tbe tourists remain, that they are not
the men who can afford to wait for the
growth of fruit trees, that they must
have cheap lands on which they can
raise immediate and profitable crops.
This blow at the fruit industry by a
loyal and influential paper is sig
nif1cant thing. 1t fattens the boom if it
IS not already fat. 1t means that the
people are on the wrong scent
The Argonaut insists that the pros
perity of the State lies in 1.-The produce
ton of meat and sugar, great staple
articles" 1t refers to the success of the
sugar-beet farmers of Utah.
The eastern farmer of today is no
fool He emigrates to territory where
a Quick cash crop is to be obtained.
He goes to Canada because wheat,
pays. No alluring advertisements entice
him to California, because he is aware
of the uncertainty Of fruit raising.
Alfalfa and hay are better than oranges
and peaches which must cross the con-
tinent as perishable fruit, and COM
pete with all the tropics. But in pro-
ducing meat and sugar from the beet,
it claims that the people stand on
solid agricultural foundation.
No one need despair of California.
It's people are gradually adjusting
themselves to the conditions of domes-
tic and foreign commerce. 1t is educat-
ing the young people, not always per-
haps in the best way, but preparing
them to meet wisely the question of
right living. Trained heads are taking
up the serious problems of maintaining
a well ordered and happy community.
But it is rather surprising when a paper
like the Argonaut deals heavy blow
at the fruit industry, even though it is
fully authorized to do so, by the facts.