CALIFORNIA.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2465, 1 March 1882, Page 3

CALIFORNIA.

The following letter on the resources of California, by Mr L. D. Jenkins, has been published in the " Pacific Rural PreßS *':— # The " Merohant," in speaking of California at a " home for the homeless," struck the keynote when he said, " One thing we lack, and that is population." California contains 100,922,642 acres of land, the greater portion of whioh is capable of cultivation. In extent, it is nearly as large as Spain, whioh has a population of 16,630,000. In 1880 the population of California was 865,546. Belgium, with 11,373 square miles of territory, supports a population nearly seven times as large as California, with ita 188,981 square miles. If California were as densely populated as Belgium, it would contain 92,000,000 inhabitants, and furthermore it would sustain that population easily if the soil were fully cultivated by a thrifty, law-abiding, eoonomioal people. The want of California, then, is the want of more immigrants—hard-fisted Eastern men who are not afraid to work. It has no other want. It has abundance of capital awaiting investment. It has vast regions of virgin soil awaiting cultivation. It has a perfect system of land and sea transportation ; but it lacks people. The agricultural population of California is comparatively small, whioh is an inducement for Eastern farmers to emigrate here. There is an abundance of Government land for pre-emption and homesteading in accessible places. Perhaps the very same land that may be had for settling upon now will in less than ten years sell for 15dols. or 20dols. per acre. To illustrate, I have still another year to live on my homestead, and I am within five miles of two different post-offices, one of which is only one mile from my place. We have also a steam locomotive capable of hauling seven heavily-laden waggons in one train, running within half a mile of my ranch. When I first took my olaim I was twelve miles from any kind of steam transportation, but California is a fast State, made up of fast people, and all we want is more neighboursmen and women who are willing to put their shoulders to the wheel and labour for the hidden treasures of this rioh and fruitful land. _,, _,.„.. Men must work in the "Golden West if they are to be successful. This is no plaoe for a lazy man. If the frugal farmers of the Eist could be induoed to come here, bringing with them their settled habits of industry, California would soon take suoh a lead among produoing States as to distance all competitors. While we have said so much in praise of this fruitful State, we must not forget to mention in particular our own county of Colusa, whioh is credited with being one of the greatest wheat produoing counties, not only in the State of California, but also in the whole United Statos. The amount of wheat raised in Colusa oounty in the year 1879 is said to be about 4 500,000 bushels, or 17* bushels per acre. This is a pretty good showing in a country where the land is at moßt never more than half cultivated, and a great deal of the crop falls out, having sometimes to remain in the field long after it is ripe. What we want is smaller farms better cultivated, and this, of course, neoeißitateß more people.