84 THE FARMERS IN COUNCIL. 



in our hands, and they will know what ships can profitably be sent 

 this way at the right time. Messrs. Blaiichard, Phelps, Rector, 

 Morris, and others favored building sufficient warehouses to carry 

 out, as far as practicable, the objects desired. 



Dr. Carr urged that there was a still higher work for the State 

 Farmers Club whereby they may secure the worthy object of get 

 ting fair prices for our products. Let us arrange to work up our 

 own produce into brain and muscle. Encourage manufacturing, 

 and diversified farming, giving all the needs and comforts of life 

 cheaply. If low prices shall discourage sending .enormous quan 

 tities of wheat out of the country annually, it may be in the end a 

 blessing rather than a calamity. Wheat crops as now produced, 

 year after year, are taking the cream of our rich and generous yield 

 ing soil. As our lands grow poorer, immigration and all industry is 

 discouraged. It is the noble work of our Farmers Club to bring- 

 about a better order of things and make the utmost of the rich re 

 sources that are within our reach on this highly favored coast. 



Mr. Morris endorsed Dr. Carr s remarks, and stated that his tak 

 ing the United States census returns for the State developed to him 

 the fact that in a quite recent year one export of wheat brought us 

 less money than we sent away for boots and shoes manufactured 

 abroad. The census returns also bring painfully before us our lack 

 of suitable employment of boys and girls. Occupation is needed 

 for them, that we may have the right men and women of to-rnorrow 

 to develop and increase our naturaMy rich possessions. 



Mr. Blanchard counseled making the best of things beyond our 

 present control. When we cannot build competing railroads, let 

 farmers and fruit-growers combine, see what, unitedly, is the best 

 they can do without the railroads immediately and prospectively 

 and then show railroad men how they stand in their own light by 

 keeping up high prices, preventing industry from being 1 profitable, 

 keeping back settlement, and retaining undeveloped districts for their 

 slim trains to pass through. Talk business, drive sharp bargains. 

 Railroad men have not all the brains and business tact, and pro 

 ducers have frequent opportunities to make points in their own 

 favor. 



A Constitution and By-Laws were adopted, and the following 

 officers elected, viz: Hon. John Bidwell, President; J. R. 

 Snyder, of Sonoma, E. P. Holden, of San Joaquin, T. Hart 

 Hyatt, of Alameda, W. S. Manlove, of Sacramento, D. C. 

 Feeley, of Santa Cruz, and W. H. Ware, of Santa Clara,, Vice 

 Presidents; I. N. Hoag, Secretary, and A. T. Dewey, Treas 

 urer. 



The farmers were now organized, but there was not yet suf 

 ficient unanimity of sentiment, or experience in management, to 

 secure that without which sentiments and resolutions would 

 prove of little avail, viz. incorporation. 



The statement that the quotations of California wheat in Liv- 



