174 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



ANNUAL ADDRESS 



DELIVERED BEFORE THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, AT SACRA- 

 MENTO, SEPTEMBER 17, 1885, BY HON. M. M. ESTEE, OF SAN FRANCISCO. 



Mr. President and Fellow Citizens: The most remarkable feature of 

 this State Fair is, that although held at a time when an apparent depression 

 in business prevails throughout the country, and when the harvest has been 

 unusually light, yet this exhibition is the most successful one within my 

 recollection. 



There can be no doubt but that in California there has been a great 

 improvement in farming during the past few years. The cause is apparent. 

 It has only been a short time since we first learned how necessary it was 

 not to put all our eggs in one basket. By this I mean we have ceased to 

 raise wheat as our only crop, and have planted orchards and vineyards, 

 and are practicing a varied culture in every branch of farming. We con- 

 gratulate ourselves also upon the fact that, owing to the Restriction Act, a 

 new population is coming among us, who are capable of being citizens, and 

 of participating in the affairs of the Government. 



MANUFACTURING. 



Manufacturing has kept up an even stride with the progress of the State 

 in other respects. Within the last year over $80,000,000 worth of manu- 

 factured goods have been made in San Francisco alone; and in this beau- 

 tiful city manufacturing has more than doubled within a decade. We 

 may, indeed, be pardoned for the pride we feel in our present success. 



Looking back upon the year that has passed, with its rewards, which 

 have been many, and its disappointments, which have been few, we can 

 certainly profit by the lesson it teaches. 



LESSONS OF THE PAST. 



We are here, my friends, to inquire what these lessons of the past are. 

 Our location upon the map' of the world is a most, peculiar one. We live 

 upon the border line of western civilization. Our market in our own coun- 

 try is inland. There are no great water highways from the West to the 

 East, except around Cape Horn. Railway transportation is our only means 

 for reaching a market for many of our products. And although living on 

 the western shore of a great continent, we are yet so isolated from the rest 

 of the business world that our influence is only felt when we crowd others 

 out of the market by producing what is better than they can produce. 



COMMERCE OF CALIFORNIA. 



California is thus left to fight her commercial and business battles alone. 

 Unlike many of the Eastern States of the Union, we are not surrounded by 

 rich and populous communities, with similar industries and a community 

 of interests. While Nevada joins us on the east, that State is separated 

 from us by the Sierra Nevada Mountains, with only one line of approach. 



