16 



States in the year 1889 34,393,500 pounds of raisins. When, therefore, 

 California has trebled its present product of raisins, it will barely equal 

 the importation. To state this in a different form : The volume of im- 

 portation is twice that of the product of California. Since California 

 contributes to the demand 18,000,000 pounds at the present rate of pro- 

 duction, and since there were, in round numbers, 35,000,000 pounds im- 

 ported, there is on the present basis of consumption a perfectly safe and 

 certain demand in the United States for three times the vineyard capacity 

 now existing. When, therefore, we are told by the Eastern and home 

 objector that the industry of raisin -growing will be overdone, let us 

 remember that the demand will increase, and that the present demand in 

 the United States is three times our present capacity for production. 

 There is therefore room for three vineyards for every one now cultivated 

 in California. 



How does the case stand as to grapes and prunes ? These will be con- 

 sidered together, simply because they were treated together in the report 

 of the Finance Committee to the Senate. The importation of these two 

 articles in 1889 was 47,493,210 pounds. Are we in danger of overproduc- 

 ing grapes and prunes while the fiscal reports of the nation exhibit this 

 vast volume of importation ? 



Take even the case of lumber. Those but partially informed will 

 naturally conclude that . the forests of our country supply all our home 

 demands, and yet in 1889 the report already quoted states that there was 

 imported into the United States 537,000,000 feet of lumber, the Custom- 

 house valuation of which was $1,050,000. Of olive oil there was imported 

 into the United States 454,000 gallons, of sugar 9,128,000 pounds and of 

 wool 132,817,456 pounds. 



Are our industries likely to be overdone while this vast volume of 

 importation of the industries of other countries must be availed of to 

 supply the home demand ? But there is another and a better view to be 

 presented of the future of our leading industries. The following tabular 

 statement presents under examination a very hopeful exhibit : 



