Amador ledger., 1904-05-06
Five Hundred Farmers.
Communicated

families. This county is known through
out the entire United States as bullion
producer, and people from the eastern
states who come to California looking
for homes steer clear of US because they
are not searching for mines, never
dreaming that within our borders lie
thousands of acres of the most produc-
tive lands in the state. No other county
in California can show greater or bet
ter variety of farm products, and there
is no reason why we should not produce
the quantity as we'll as the quality.
When we compare the prices of farm
ing lands here with those elsewhere we
find that we are on the very bedrock
basis. Our water supply in many parts
of the county is unexcelled, and the
climate will compare favorably with
that of any section of the state. The
home markets are of the best, there be-
ing ready sale for eggs, chickens,
butter, hogs, cattle, vegetab bles, etc.,
and it often happens that the supply of
hay and grain falls far short of the de-
mand, thus necessitating the sending
out of large sums of money that should
be spent in our midst.
Just now few joint stock companies
are buying up the choicest grazing and
timber lands and converting them into
vast tracts to the everlasting injury of
all other enterprises. 1t would be far
better for the country if these lands
could be subdivided into 25 and so acre
tracts where men of small means could
furnish permanent homes for their
families. Notwithstanding these dis
advantages there still remains land
enough in close proximity to the mother
lode to furnish excellent homes for 500
families. The male members could find
employment the greater portion of the
time at the mines if they so desired,
and at the same time put their farms
upon paying basis, and thus become
independent.
Where are we to get these men of in
dustry? You cannot convert a miner
into farmer, but you can easily change
a farmer into miner. Few men who
began underground work when young
can ever be induced to change their oc-
cupation. There must be new people
brought into our midst if we realize
this much needed addition to our pop
ulation. How and where are they to
come from? Will the building of a
railroad few miles further into the in
terror bring them? Can an enterpris-
ing newspaper that will continually
publish to the outside world the many
natural advantages that we enjoy as
sist in any material way? Will the
building of good roads and the passage
OF wise laws by our county fathers have
any influence? If so, let us begin now,
and act as unit in agitating the rail-
road question, and never cease our la
bors until the farming and numbering
belts are bound together with iron
rails: let the snort of the iron horse be
heard from the Sierras to the sea, and
when this paying and much talked of
enterprise is a reality, there can be no
question but that it will be the means
of furnishing its proportionate percent
age of this new and desired people.
If a newspaper article published in
any one of the many progressive papers
of the county can be the means of
bringing in single individual, home
seeker, then let the brainy and much
imposed upon editors shed their linen.
get to work and keep at it until their
portion of the work is done. 1t mat
ters but little to the public whether
mention is made of visit paid by Ma
tilda Littlefoot of Rattlesnake Gulch to
Mrs. Nora Simpkins of Hog Wallow,
bnt it does mean something to all the
people of the county and state to know
that Mr.. j. L. Doe of Maine has pur-
chased a 50-acre farm near Jackson,
Amador county, and intends erecting
thereon commodious dwelling, for the
future home of himself, wife and ten
children. How many industries would
be affected thereby and what an addi-
tion such family would be to our
community.
Ii our supervisors, who seem to be
men of good legislative and executive
ability, will ignore, to an extent the
petty complaints of individuals and par
ticular localities and legislate on that
broad principle, "The greatest good to
the greatest NUMBER" if they will see
to it, when sitting as board of equal
ization, that the farmer, the banker.
the manufacturer, the merchant and
the mine owners, furnish their Just
portion of the county's funds: and last
ly if each member will look after all
the roads in his particular district and
keep them in reasonable repair, then
will they have materially aided in
bringing into this county a class of peo-
pie upon whom its future prosperity
and stability may depend.
California is typically the home of
the man of moderate means, and no
portion of it more so than Amador
county. The north, the east, the south
are full of homeseekers, many of whom
are coming to California. Can we get
them to come this way and secure
homes in this favored spot of our
golden statac