books will some day possess unique value, and should belong to one of the California universities. The recent publications of the Department of Agriculture contain much material furnished by Mr. Burbank.

"One of the best illustrations of the esteem in which Burbank is held 'among those who know' is furnished by the recent action of the Royal Horticultural Society of London, which was established in 1804, and holds unquestioned primacy in its field. This great society, in 1898, planned a 'Hybrid Conference,' which took place in July, 1899, and whose results were published in 1900. The call was for a conference on 'Hybridization (the cross-breeding of species) and on the cross-breeding of varieties,' and the Society then sent out special invitations to one hundred and twenty-five distinguished 'hybridizers,' nine of whom were Americans (four of them, however, from the Department of Agriculture at Washington). Only one, Luther Burbank was selected from the western half of the continent. He did not attend; he was too busy even to send an essay, but Professor Bailey of Cornell, and others, alluded in glowing terms to his success in producing 'new values in fruits and flowers.'

999

CHAPTER XV.

MANUFACTURING IN CALIFORNIA.

Several circumstances have hastened the movement that is fast transforming California from a country of grazing, agriculture and primitive mining into a highly complex society of varied manufactures. Within the last ten years the discovery of vast oil fields has gone far toward solving the fuel question, but the long-distance transmission of electric power promises to multiply every form of mechanical activity. The falls of the Sierra are destined to turn the wheels and spindles of industry in many distant centers of population.

Mr. Andrea Sbarboro, president of the Manufacturers' and Producers' Association, thus sets forth some of the main points in the story of the development of our manufactures:

We need go back less than fifty years to find the beginnings of manufacturing in California and it is needless to say that these beginnings were generally of the crudest character. Until the discovery of gold the only productions of consequence that reached the outside world were hides and tallow.

With all of its productive capabilities, the state could not in its early days furnish those who came in search of gold the things which were necessary to satisfy their most ordinary wants. With many thousands of cattle ranging the great Spanish ranchos, butter in firkins must be brought from the east, as well as hams and bacon, and dried apples hung on strings and then packed in barrels according to the old way.

The needs of the newcomers required to be supplied from the outside. For a time it occurred to no one to make or grow anything. The only thought of all was to dig out gold and then to return to the good things of civilization. In due time, however, the most imperative needs of manufacture on the spot began to assert themselves. First, perhaps, was lumber for shelter and for mining purposes. Gradually other much needed manufactures fol

lowed in rough form and the possibilities of natural production began to force themselves to the notice of those who had time to consider them.

All of this was followed by a development which has not had its equal upon any other spot in the world in rapidity of growth, in accomplished results and in great future promise. California is not only self-supporting in numerous manufactured as well as natural products, but it exports many of its manufactures and it stands as one of the great factors of the countries of the globe in the supply of articles of food to the people of the world.

Arriving in San Francisco in the early fifties, it was indeed very interesting to me, as it must have been to all early comers, to see, one by one, the articles of product from the soil and manufacture from raw material replacing those formerly imported from all parts of the world. Well do I remember how the first flour produced from the Lick mills at Alviso replaced the musty flower imported from Chile and New York via Cape Horn and sold as high as from $20 to $40 per barrel.

Sugar arrived from New York usually in a sweated condition, which caused much complaint by the dealers, yet it brought from 25 to 30 cents per pound. I was then in the grocery commission business, supplying the mines with all kinds of provisions. I remember how difficult it was to introduce a new California product or manufactured article on the market. People had been so long accustomed to the imported goods that they had then, as unfortunately, some few people have now, a prejudice against our own home-made articles, although in most instances everything that we produce or manufacture is far superior to that from abroad.

Little by little many of the imported articles were driven out of the market. Who could have foreseen that in less than fifty years the tables would be turned and that we would ship in enormous quantities back to the countries from which we originally obtained our supplies those very things that we had lately been importing from them? California flour may now be found in all parts of the globe; our sugar is supplying all the other states west of the Rocky Mountains.

Our wines are now greatly appreciated, not only by our own people, but are highly prized by connoisseurs in England, Germany and all parts of the world. California in 1902 produced over 40,000,000 gallons of wine, valued at over $12,000,000. This state is the only one in the Union where