Imperial Valley press., 1913-09-17
How to Develop Cattle
Industry in California
-D

dentally your meat shortage would De
solved"
PROFITING BY OTHERS
The logic of this argument appeal
ed to the troubled manager, and in
turn to the head of large western
railroad, bankers and others who had
previously lent their support. With the
efforts of these combined forces came
a new era in colonization plans.
everyone began to see the need of
more livestock, newspapers and pro
motion literature advocated it, speak
ers at banquets and public gatherings
dwelt upon it, even preachers used
| it as an argument in their sermons,
and bankers mentioned it in their
business correspondence. Everywhere
the opinion prevailed that Oregon was
the one place to raise livestock of all
kinds, and particularly mutton sheen
and hogs.
Again this colonization plan has
proved a successful one, for Oregon S
| livestock industry has grown at a
rapid rate since its introduction in
fact, the valuation of pork products
alone for the year 1912 in Oregon and
two sister states, which were
greatly aided by Oregon's campaign,
was S12 100000 more than those same
states in 1911, which shows that more
immigration was the cure for the live
| stock shortage of few years pre-
vious.
California is today facing the same
! problem that Oregon did several years
ago, and it would seem that their So
luton would prove beneficial here
! Our growth, while remarkable, has
not been along stock lines; we have
lived in a fruit atmosphere which,
though aiding the horticultural
growth of the state, has not greatly
benefited the livestock industry.
| We, like Oregon, have carried on
the colonization plans in large way
but have unconsciously given the i'm
preston to the prospective colonis;
that our fruit-growing business was
the most promising of the state's
resources.
The average California residen;
knows this condition is not true. but
as an eastern railroad manager said
Ithe multitudes with from $4,000 t
$4,000 do not, and as consequence th(
livestock growth Of the state suffers
There are innumerable instances
that afford justification for this con
clusion, one in mind being the Pan
ama-Pacific exposition to be held here
in 1915. This is considered the great.
est opportunity that has ever beer
offered this state for development
purposes, as prospective settlers vii
visit us from every known country u
that time. 1t is for this reason that
it was deemed advisable to erect :
building to be devoted to CalifOrni9
county exhibits showing the wonderfU
possibilities offered in the state. Tl
cover the cost Of this building, foo,
space was rented at $3.50 per square
foot, and some counties have invested
as much as $4,000 in this way. These
rentals are to be paid for by special
taxes levied upon the property own
ers. Unquestionably, these exhibit
will be of great value to the horticul-
tural and agricultural interests, but
it is doubtful if they will materially
aid livestock development, as ever
those counties which are. strictly
speaking, livestock localities, are pre-
pairing to make a display Of horticul-
tural and agricultural products, but
sadly neglecting any promotion along
the livestock lines, when the latter
would be far more representative OF
their county.
While it is true that provision is
being made for worlds display OF
livestock, this, like the main horti-
cultural exhibit, will not afford oppo--
tunities for promoting local livestock
interests; therefore it would seem that
those counties interested in livestocl;
raising should lend some fininciaI sup
port to a showing of that kind
A short resume of our opportun.
ties may strengthen the above conten-
tion and serve to furnish data fo,
future work.
At the present time the valuation
|placed upon horses in California i:
more than that of any other farm AM
NAL we raise, and they are yearly
growing numerically stronger. This
condition has been brought abou;
through past agricultural develop
ment, an increasing city market 70.
heavy drafters, and a growing export
business, and the future is very bright
for the hreodinr of cortai in typaC E,,,