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distinctive qualities which characterize the people of Placer and Nevada 

 Counties — qualities which were fostered and developed by the vocation of 

 mining, until they were and are now known and recognized as character- 

 istic of a mining population. To turn a river, to sink a shaft, to run a 

 tunnel, to penetrate the deep canons of these mountains, involved the pos- 

 session of indomitable spirit, of undaunted courage, and of a faith as 

 unwavering as the Sierra is immovable. Many of the early settlers are 

 among us, and with their sons, inheriting the excellences of their fathers, 

 are engaged in tilling the soil. The same enterprise and foresight devoted 

 heretofore to mining will be exhibited in the planting of trees and vines, 

 and upon the character of our people, as well as upon our soil and climate, 

 I rest my firm faith in the future agricultural development of our district. 

 Agriculture should be, in this section, the handmaid of mining. It is well 

 to look things squarely in the face. Occupations are stamped upon people 

 and form their character. Mining, while it is provocative of generosity, is. 

 at the same time, the cause of wasteful expenditure of wealth. The spirit 

 of enterprise necessary in mining runs sometimes to excess. The boldness 

 that leads the miner to stake his all in the development of a mine, the 

 richness or extent of which he can only imagine, is apt to be applied to 

 other pursuits where business training and conservatism are more the fac- 

 tors of success. The "doctrine of chance" cannot be applied to all the 

 problems of life. On the other hand, ah agricultural community is not 

 progressive. It is the fashion to praise the happiness and peacefulness of 

 a farmer's life. I accord to the farmer all the praise he so richly merits. 

 His vocation is the basis of all substantial wealth. He is the conservative 

 element in the social fabric. From the farms go the youth with ruddy 

 health and strong brain, to become the masters and directors of commer- 

 cial and manufacturing enterprises in the cities. But farming has its dis- 

 advantages. I hope no farmer will be offended when I repeat what is the 

 judgment of students of social economy — that the vocation of farming is 

 not favorable to mental activity. The daily round of unremitting, monot- 

 onous labor is too wearisome to permit the evenings to be devoted to mental 

 culture, and want of daily contact or conflict with their fellow men narrows 

 the farmer's vision. The isolation of a farming life tends to forbidding 

 reticence. The very certainty of the yield of labor, the security the land 

 affords of remuneration for toil, dulls the edge of expectancy. I am speak- 

 ing of the effect upon communities of farmers. Their virtues need no praise 

 of mine. Loyal and obedient to law, moral and religious in mind, con- 

 cerned in the cause of education, patient under governmental burdens, 

 founders of homes and creators of States, they are at once the pride and 

 glory and security of a country, and the stratum upon which rest and arc 

 sustained all the other industrial pursuits. 



The point I wish to make is that in these counties where these two pur- 

 suits can be intelligently and profitably followed, the happiest results must 

 flow. The miner by his restless energy will inspire the farmer to more 

 mental exertion. The breadth and scope of mining adventures, com- 

 manded by financial and executive ability, will incite the farmer to extend 

 bis operations, and will aid to broaden the field of agricultural experiment. 

 The farmer, by his conservatism, will control the restlessness and feverish 

 energy of the miner, and teach the latter habits of prudent economy. I 

 am arguing to-night in behalf of the encouragement of agriculture in these 

 two counties. Strange that so noble a calling as tilling the soil should 

 need encouragement, yet so it is. Scarce any one in legislation or other- 

 wise speaks for the farmer. Mechanical trades federate for their protec- 

 tion, both for limited hours of labor and increase of wages. Tariffs are 



