94 HOW THE CLUBS BECAME GRANGES. 



except to remark that great as has been nature s lavishness, in 

 points of mineral wealth, that of the soil has run past them, and 

 become, and is henceforth to be, the leading and paramount in 

 terest. 



But it is not all sunshine, even in California. As the brightest 

 skies become overcast with the darkest clouds, and the richest soil 

 produces the rankest weeds, so even in this favored land you have 

 your trials and troubles. You can produce, but } r ou have no 

 reliable adequate markets at home or abroad for your products. 

 Even when there happens to be a demand, combinations intervene 

 and cut you off. 



I submit, then, that it is our interest to unite in order to encojurage 

 manufactures and build up usefurmclustries in our own State7 and 

 thereby enlarge home market; and in order to bring about reasonable 

 transportation and otfier&quot; expenses, and enable you to go into the 

 markets of the world, and compete with all the world with your 

 surplus products. As it is now, we are, in comparison with the 

 Atlantic coast, at a disadvantage of more than fifteen thousand 

 miles (practically more than half the circumference of the globe), 

 in order to reach Europe. And from this there is no escape. Your 

 cargoes must double Cape Horn, or do worse, by doubling the 

 Cape of Good Hope, or still worse, by doubling all the capes of 

 Southern Asia, and thence through the Bed Sea and the Suez Canal. 

 The other lines overland by rail and the Isthmus are by their 

 charges practically closed, and therefore I do not take them into ac 

 count. 



By the nearest feasible route, then, the Pacific Coast is the re 

 motest place on earth furnishing bread to European markets. Nev 

 ertheless, enterprise and superior natural advantages enabled you 

 for long years to contend against distance, and overcome obstacles 

 innumerable, till you won for California as wide a reputation for 

 bread and other agricultural products, as for the precious metals. 

 You have made her name like that of Egypt of old, almost a syno 

 nym for plenty. 



There is a limit beyond which burdens cannot be borne, even by 

 California farmers. As long as freights, sacks, and other expenses 

 left even a small margin, you said nothing. You could pay fair 

 rates for every needful outlay, and still have a margin, though 

 small, on which to base hopes for the future. You could afford to 

 await the growth of home industries and the influx of population to 

 the State, knowing, as you did, that she possessed the elements, 

 though undeveloped, of a glorious future. 



It is true the elements which bear so heavily on your prosperity 

 are not the growth of a day, but they are none the less dangerous, 

 for they have become well-nigh formidable. 



But when speculation and reckless adventure organize against 

 you, and demoralize every legitimate business, enhance every risk 

 and increase every expense in other words, when freight rings, 

 grain rings, sack rings, and all sorts of combinations, regulate their 

 own charges, dictate the prices of your produce, and practically 

 block up every avenue between you and your markets can 3-0 u re 

 main insensible, silent, apathetic ? 



