Year: 1876




immigrants this year, particularly the
latter portion of it, differs materially
from previous seasons. There has
been decided falling Off in the num-
Der of farmers having the means to
purchase homes on this coast, and q
large increase in the number of me-
chanics and laboring men who come
for employment and bring with them
little or no means. There are good
reasons, toe, why this should be the
case. The effects of the panic in the
East, so far from having passed aIhy,
are felt more severely in the agricul-
tural districts than at any previous
time. The stagnation of the money
market at all times affects the farmer.
To this is now added an unprecedent-
ed depression in real estate in the rur-
al districts. Farming lands are un-
salable at any price, and hence no
money can be raised on mortgage upon
them. The farmer who desires to re-
move to California is therefore pre-
vented by the ruinous sacrifice he
must make to realize upon his proper
| ty. While thousands have made up
their minds to remove to this section,
but few are enabled to effect the nec-
essary pecuniary arrangements. With
the mechanics, artizans and Iaborers
the case is different. Their wealth
consists in their skill or muscle. Wea-
ried with the long stagnation and lack
of employment in the States, and see
ing their savings getting near the bot
tom they strike out for u more favored
land. This class of population is much
needed in California, and the majority
of those coming find ready employ
ment at liberal wages. There are, Of
course, many who hang around San
Francisco for a while, and seeing no
opening return to their former homes,
but the return tide is far less than
! could be expected. The capacity of
the State to absorb the laboring ele-
ment is indeed wonderful, and the
many thousands that will pour in dur
ing 1875 will find as many opportuni-
ties as did their predecessors. There
is room for all that may come. With
the rapid expansion of the various in
dustries, the demand for labor of all
kinds bids fair to keep in excess of the
supply for several years. The mines
absorb such vast quantity of skill
and muscle that the ordinary branch
es of business are left without a suf-
ficiency. Mining is not only profita-
BILE, but there is u romance connected
with it that is alluring, and as long as
the area of mining country continues
to expand, labor will be in great de-
| mand. 1t is this element which reg
ulates all the other branches of labor
| on this coast, and maintains wages at
their present high rates.


Precisely when we may look for
large influx of the farming element
with capital it is difficult to say, but
the prospects of the coming season in
| the States do not seem favorable for n
reaction. Until the farmers and small
! capitalists there are enabled to realize
something like a fair price for their
property, we need expect but few Of
this class to remove to California.
When that time does arrive the West
ward flow will set in.
Los Angeles has received her pro-
portion OF the immigration this year
MS attested by the increase i'm pOpula-
ton. The election returns showed an
increase of fifty per cent. since the
previous ballots were cast, growth
unequaled by any county in the State.
Much, however, might be done by our
citizens to increase the number of i'm
migrants by taking steps TO counter
act the effects of the misrepresenta-
tions of this section. Were the true
merits of Southern California proper
ly set before the new corners OH or be-
fore their arrival in San Francisco, ad-
ditiOnal thousands would seek homes
among US.