Year: 1876

SACRAMENTO, CAL,


Feb. Sd. 1876.


Ed. DIsPATcH A short letter from
the capital of the Golden State may
prove not unacceptable at this time,
while our lawmakers are at work max
ing new laws, amending the old, and
giving vent to their long pent-up feel
ings on the political issues of the day
and hour. As you are well aware. our
present Legislature is strongly demo-
cratic, elected pledged to economy, re-
trenchment. and reform. To certain
extent they have acted up to their prom
ises made the people that is. they have
introduced two or three bills looking to
retrenchment in the expense incident to
the proper management OF the State
and our several Municipal Govern
ments. regulating gas and water ra;e'.
and also, one in relation to freigLts and
fares on the railroads of our State but
from the present outlook little. very
little more will be done by them. The
session is limited to one hundred days.
and hals of the allotted time has al
ready passed. As in all similar. bodys
of the past, it is feared the acts that the
people most desire to see become laws.
will be hastily considered, and passed
Into laws with many Objectionable fea-
tures-leaving large openings or favor
able chances for those who desire, and
arc always ready, to profit at the e1-
pense of the many. The truth is. that
politicians have SO long been permitted
to plunder the people, or else willfully
neglect. their constituents interests
without being punished, or even retired
10 private life in disgrace, that they sel-
dom hesitate to rerpetrate great wrongs
whereby political or pecuniary gains
can be secured. either for themselves or
for their special friends and immediate
followers.


If our present Legislature. however,
desires to retain the democratic party in
power in this State, it must now 60 to
work in earnest, and scrutinize every
measure submitted tor their considers
ton, and see that no swindling schemes
are allowed to become laws. They will
find our newly elected State officers evef
ready to assist them in advocating the
States best interests.


Up to the present time we have had
an abundant fall of water fiom the hea-
vens, with a pretty fair prospect for a
coed rush of waters from the mount
aims as soon as the snow begins to melt
In the spring.


Owing to the snow blockade, the
trains from the east are regularly behind
time nowadays, and for this reason
the travel both east and west is light.
Immigrants are not SO numerous now
as they have been in the past few
months, or as they will be during the
approaching spring and summer.


Why is it that the leading men of
your Territory are not doing something
to attract portion of these immigrants
to your portion of the coast? You
must have good field there for men of
moderate means to begin life in. which
needs only to be made known to turn
the tide in that direction. To show you
how little is known here in relation to
your Territory. its extent. resources,
productions, capabilities. healthfulness,
&C., where the government lands sub
iect to entry lie, their distance from
navigable streams, proximity to schools,
markets and general centres of civiliza-
ton, &C., the price of improved and
unimproved lands, and every other mat
ter of special interest to those who are
seeking for new homes, 1 have teen
earnestly engaged in an effort to post
myself in relation thereto for month,
and as yet am none the wiser for my
trouble. It Is no trouble to learn all
about Southern California, and the Sac
ramento and San Joaquin valleys, but
Washington Territory is hardly known
here. Why is it thus Who is, or are
blame 1 know of number in this
State who no longer see an opportunity
to secure homes here, simply because
lands are held at such high rates that
they cannot purchase. and in conse>
auence. are now looking in your direc-
ton for homes. But they do not want
to "leap in the dark" Cant you give
them little light ?


Our crop prospects were never better
at this season of the year than they are
row, and farmers are jubilant. Gen.
teunial wheat will cause the hard times
to HE away to other lands, and July 4th,
1876 will be a day of great rejoicing if
the north.winds do not blast present
hopes.


Wishing the Dispatch long life Of
unbounded prosperity, I have the honor
to sign myself yours, most obediently.


h. A. P.