STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 153 



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to forage on other persons' lands where there were no " lawful fences " 

 to prevent, still, with all this favoritism, stock bi*eeding has been shown 

 to he a branch of agriculture of inferior magnitude "to that of produce 

 farming, and although the recipient of the indirect benefits of an enor- 

 mous tax on the latter interest, it is in an unpromising condition except 

 where it has been put under the restraints of fences. 

 • Gratifying as are the reports from many of the farming districts of 

 the State, the fact cannot be concealed that in other and large sections 

 there is a decay and falling off in the general thrift and prosperity of 

 those engaged in produce farming; nor is this compensated by an in- 

 crease of stock grazing in those localities. Somewhat of this dilapida- 

 tion may be attributed to the growing scarcity of labor in consequence 

 of the sudden withdrawal of large numbers from agricultural to mining 

 pursuits within the past three years; but more must be charged to the 

 great cost of establishing and maintaining " lawful fences." That some- 

 thing must be done to rescue our great plains from total abandonment 

 by the plough is becoming more and more apparent. Two remedies are 

 within reach : abolish all fence laws, thereby rendering produce farming 

 less costly; and establish quick and cheap transportation to market. 



RAILROADS AS A REMEDY. 



But, says a man who owns teams which are engaged in hauling freight 

 across the mountains, if there was a railway from the navigable waters 

 of California to Nevada Territory, teaming, which has grown into an 

 enormous business, would be ruined. Admit that such a result would 

 follow — and this is a proposition not tenable, as will be shown a little 

 further on — and what is the position as regards the general public, econ- 

 omy ? It would seem that a system of transportation must be adhered 

 to which is not profitable to those conducting it, and is positively ruin- 

 ous to the great public interests, simply because of an aversion to change. 

 That a railroad from Sacramento to the great central basin would entirely 

 drive off of the wagon roads the present continuous caravan of teams 

 cannot be doubted, and this is the stongest argument which can be raised 

 in favor of its immediate substitution. Cheap and rapid transportation 

 has become the necessity of every great community w r hich strives to 

 maintain its industrial relations in a flourishing condition with compet- 

 ing nations. Look where one may among civilized or barbarous nations, 

 and it is seen that wherever there is any considerable traffic carried on 

 between different localities, the old mode of packing or transportation 

 by animal power for the propulsion of vehicles is rapidly giving way to 

 steam on the railway. Indeed, this is as much of a necessity to the gen- 

 eral economy of society, as it is required to enable communities to main- 

 tain themselves in the swift march of modern improvement. The reduc- 

 tion of freights between Sacramento and the great basin east of the 

 Sierra Nevada Mountains, from the present price, which averages about 

 one hundred dollars per ton by teams, to ten dollars, which it can be done 

 for by railroad, would save ninety dollars on every ton, to be invested in 

 developing the mines. It being estimated that the transportion on the 

 Sacramento route will cost nine millions of dollars this season, it will be 

 seen that railroad transportion would effect a saving of over eight millions 

 of dollars, which, if added to the capital used in productive industry, 

 instead of being wasted needlessly in transportation, would create new 



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