The San Francisco call., 1907-06-02
'FRQdDlENT lTAlIMMIa
CF CAIHCJKfUM
DINING m THE.
ARBCR AI>-AGYJ

IN and the other. great foreign centers
OF life and art whose people help make
up our cosmopolitan population.
Taking up the concrete, the material
effects of Italian industry, methods and
innovations, one is deeply impressed
With what California owes to the peo-
pie of this southern European kingdom.
From end Ito end of the state the in
fiuence of the italian agriculturist is
seen. In the perfection OF the olive.
the development of the grape. until all
the desirable varieties of Europe are
reproduced on our own soil. the won
derful profusion of rveSeta bles used in
daily consumption, and through all.
this the development into rich acreage
of land that to others has doubtful
value, the Italians had part that must
ever make the state of California their
debtor. The development of fisheries
and of manufacture OF food articles
used in that sunny cline which have
become household articles here since
their introduction, add-to the record
The Italians came with the first rush,
for gold. Though many of them lived
in ~the eastern part of this country,
few came with the OK trains that
crossed the continent But they knew
the ocean. and the ships that flew from
the old world to the land of gold
brought many OF. them. The names of
some of these pioneers became known
in the history of California.
Many men Of Italy had taken up res
licences in the warm clifnes OF Central
and South America. and many came
here from those sections. II. Ghirar-
sielli was one of those who came to-
San Francisco lin fs49 from Central
America. He was residing in Sal
vador when the excitement arose One
of the earliest. pioneers was Nicholas
LARGO. who reached here in 1sfs from
Buenos Aires. The names of A. Sbar-
bero and NJ. Fontana We're well known
even among the old timers.
The Call of the Soil
5Sany of the italians went to the
mines 70 seek the yellow metal. Some
went into business here and in the
mining towns. but the call of their
earlier pursuit was soon answered by
the great part of them that came.
They had been reared to know that in
the tilling of the soil lay the surest
and most permanent. wealth. and to the
soil they turned. II was in her ability
to grow almost anything under the
sun in greater quantities and OF bet
ter quality than in almost any other
section of the world that California.s
future lay. and the italians were soon
taking advantage of this source of
weaitia--doing q lions share toward
laying. tie Foundation of that fruitful
ness that today is bringing a stream
OF immigration into the state. Wher-
ever the Italian has planted his
orchard. his vineyard. variety of gar
den vegetables. his flower patch there
may those who are working to build
up the states population take the
newcomer. point and convince. If gar
den truck. olives. vines. fruits and
flowers grow in spots where the soil
left untitled shows little promise Of
what the Italian has made a reality. so
much more the marvel OF the stranger,
SO much more the impression made and
SO much more has the son of Humbert-s
kingdom done for the land Of his adop-
tion. He Eas painted the picture OF
vine and olive on the brown canvas OF
the nhls, or written the poem OF the
fruit op tho psychment of the stubbls