128 TPANSACTIONS OF THE 



higher than the demand will warrant are opposed to the best interests of 

 the country. u The laborer is worth} 7 of bis hire," and no class will 

 reap more benefit from a full supply of free labor than they themselves. 

 There are hundreds of now day laborers who are competent to transact 

 almost any kind of business, but, from the fact that labor is so high, 

 they are prevented from engaging in the business they were educated 

 for, and are compelled to work at day labor. We need more frequent 

 intercourse with each other, in order to combine our efforts to bring 

 about necessary reforms. The farmer is no longer the slow, plodding 

 clod-hopper, nor the mechanic the mere machine, that the}' were once 

 thought to be, but the}' command the very highest order of talent and 

 genius; but there is not that exertion used by them to procure the bene- 

 ficial results, from a combination of capital or the unity of action, that 

 there is among other classes of men. When we reflect that all the real 

 wealth of the State is based upon its agricultural and manufacturing 

 resources, is it not surprising that greater efforts are not made for their 

 development. Let us suppose that all of the incorporated companies 

 that have been formed in this State for mining purposes had been formed 

 for agricultural and manufacturing, that all of the assessments that have 

 been paid for mining, had been paid for farming and manufacturing, 

 what would have been the result? I think, without exaggeration, I 

 may say that the amount of assessments would have purchased every 

 acre of land in the State, that our population would have numbered four 

 times its present number, that we would produce ten times as much 

 grain as we now do, that our manufactures would be quadrupled, 

 and that the assessed value of our property would be increased a thou- 

 sand fold. We would have our clipper ships, our own lines of steamers, 

 and our State, would be checkered with railroads. Instead of having a 

 transitory and excitable population, that are grasping at every shadow 

 only to be deceived, we would have a population of substantial and 

 wealthy farmers, merchants and mechanics. 



We have truly an agricultural district, and capable of producing 

 many articles at prices that will warrant shipment, such as wool, wine 

 and oil, and there can be no doubt of wheat, when the expense of pro- 

 ducing and shipping can be reduced to a reasonable rate. The superi- 

 ority of our grain will ahvays command for it enough higher price to 

 pay the difference in cost of freight when this shall be reduced to its 

 usual rate. There are other articles that might be produced with profit, 

 such as sugar, flax, hemp and silk; and the day is not far distant when 

 we shall export all of these articles in large quantities. It only requires 

 our attention. Let the farmer pa}* as much attention to public affairs 

 as his interest requires, and it will not be long before the necessary re- 

 forms will take place. Let them see that all laws discriminating against 

 their best interests, such as now exists against the sheep growing in- 

 terest, are repealed or amended. Let them have free roads and free 

 bridges. Let them combine their capital to cheapen freight We have 

 a notable example of this in Colusa County. There the farmers are 

 determined they will have freights at a reasonable rate. To accomplish 

 this they have already put one steamer on the river, and have organized 

 a company to put on .still another; and they are reaping a reward for 

 their enterprise by getting freights from twenty-five to thirty-three per 

 cent, less than Ave do here. We have another striking example of the 

 benefits of opposition lines, in the establishment of a new express com- 

 pany. It has already cheapened expressage very materially. AVe have 

 no fault to find with old companies, no war to wage against them, but 



