1850 American Gold Tycoon

"The Immigration Bureau has given a lot of quotas to the Ministry of Agriculture, but after all, people are not cattle and horses. I can't tie them to the fields." Chen Baoliang explained the reason.烃

"You don't make money by growing land, and you don't make money by growing food. A worker working part-time in a factory in the San Francisco Industrial Zone for four or five months is equivalent to a year's income of a grain farmer. Working as an oil worker in Los Angeles, this time It only takes three months.

California today is no longer the California it was four years ago. Gone are the days when farmers could shed tears of gratitude with just a few small favors.

The old farmers regard their fields as a burden and dump the cultivated fields to the new immigrants.

The new immigrants came to their senses after farming for a year or two, and relinquished the fields to subsequent new immigrants, and so on.

Therefore, although there is plenty of fertile land in California, it cannot retain people.

Even among those who stay, farmers often prefer growing more profitable fruits and vegetables instead of growing grain. "

California is indeed no longer the California it was four years ago. From the perspective of its industrial structure, California was an undisputed deformed agricultural state.烃

After four years of rapid industrialization, California has stepped into the threshold of industrial society.

Agriculture is less profitable than industry.

While profits are low, you also need to bear greater risks, such as drought, floods, hail, frost, pests and diseases and other natural disasters.

Taking into account market factors, the meager profits in agriculture simply cannot withstand the impact of so many risks.

The choice of farmers to abandon farming and work as workers is understandable.

Comparing his feelings, if Liang Yao were one of these immigrants, he would have voted with his feet to join a factory as a worker instead of a farmer if he had no other options.

"Is there a way to solve the problem at its root?" Liang Yao asked after thinking for a moment.烃

"Yes." Chen Baoliang summoned up the courage to say.

“In the early days, there were no machines, so one person couldn’t take care of much land. Now, with machines, there are more livestock, and each person can take care of more fields every year.

The seven-acre land quota for each immigrant is no longer enough. I think if the shackles of the land quota are removed, taxes will be levied based on the amount of land held and the type of land. Those with less land will be taxed less for grain fields, and those with too much land will be taxed. , cash crop land, mines and forest gardens, the tax rate can be appropriately increased as appropriate. This problem can be easily solved.

There are only two ways for grain farmers to increase their income. One is to increase unit output, and the other is to have more land and produce more grain. California is a vast country with few people, so you can choose between two options.

only"

Chen Baoliang said a lot, and in summary, he just started to implement the big farmer model. This model is indeed the agricultural model that best suits California’s conditions at the moment.

"Just what?" Liang Yao said, "Don't hesitate, but it doesn't matter."

"Now that you have spoken, I will boldly say that you are the one with the most land holders in California, followed by Mayor Sutter, Governor Fremont and Secretary of State Gervin." Chen Baoliang said through gritted teeth.

“If this bill is to be passed, only if the four of you set an example can the members reach a consensus and pass this bill.

These people are the founders of the founding of the state. Most people can't talk about them. Only if you come forward can you have a chance. "

Chen Baoliang has made it very clear that agriculture wants to make further breakthroughs and ensure subsequent agricultural tax sources.

Not only must land quotas be liberalized, but some privileges of state founders must also be abolished and the cost of hosting land must be increased.

Depriving those with vested interests of their privileges has not been an easy task since ancient times.

"I will try to persuade these three people." Liang Yao said, "But I want you to issue a military order. If you still cannot achieve the goal of food self-sufficiency within three years, you should stop being the Minister of Agriculture and let Lao Mo Or the Irish will do it."

The main ethnic groups working in agriculture in California are Chinese, followed by Mexicans and Irish.

The Ministry of Agriculture is basically controlled by these three ethnic groups.

"If you can agree to one more condition, I can complete this goal within two years." Chen Baoliang said.

"What conditions?" Liang Yao asked.

“Higher tariffs on imported food.”

Chen Baoliang wants to limit the impact of imported grain on the state's grain through price protection.

California's largest grain importers are Mexico and China.烃

The labor costs of these two countries are far lower than those of California, especially the labor costs of the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, after excluding the costs of transportation, warehousing, management, sales, tariffs, etc., the food of Mexico and the food of the Qing Dynasty are very important. California’s local grains are still very competitive.

What's even more outrageous is that because the price difference between the quantity and price of food in California and that in the Qing Dynasty is huge, Shuoshu in the Qing Dynasty even sold the best grain and military rations to California to earn a fortune.

"Three years then." Liang Yao rejected Chen Baoliang's exchange. "The tariff issue is the bottom line of the federal government. I can't help you with this."

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After crossing the ditch full of iron slag, coal dust and sewage, and walking along the muddy soot path interspersed with shoe prints and ruts, Liang was greeted by an ugly scene of factories, chimneys, and pollution.

This is the industrial area of ​​São Francisco, the foundation that supports the city's prosperity.

After more than four years of development, the size of the industrial zone has expanded several times.烃

Officials at the Ministry of Industry don't have to worry about attracting investors.

The San Francisco Industrial Zone is the city's biggest business card after the gold rush. This business card is enough to attract investors from all over the world.

“This industrial area has a nickname, it’s called the Heart of the West.”

Minister of Industry Fair, a shrewd and capable Irishman, vividly introduced the situation of the San Francisco Industrial Zone to Liang Yao.

“The level of steel industry, metallurgical industry, shipbuilding industry, machinery manufacturing and processing industry, machine tool industry, and steam engine manufacturing industry here is not inferior to that of New York State, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Notable names include Union Steel Company, San Francisco Shipyard, California Railroad, General Machinery Company, Lotus Garment Works, Pratt \u0026 Whitney, Robbins-Lawrence Works, Brann Company, Allaire Works, Republic Engine Company, Jardine Matheson Well-known enterprises such as Iron and Steel, Tongfu Metal, and Shuntai Paper.

If the industry here stops, it will affect the lives of more than two million people in the west, which is equivalent to the heart of the entire west stopping beating. "烃

After speaking, Feier, who felt very accomplished, showed a proud and proud expression.

The achievements of California industry in the first Five-Year Plan were outstanding, but Fair was proud of them.

Relying on the government's unremitting support, the primitive accumulation of capital in the gold rush era, the pursuit of California's first generation of entrepreneurs, and the dedication of workers. California not only reaches the average level of northern industrial states in steel production and coal production.

California has also cultivated its first batch of well-known companies, including those founded by Chinese.

Because California has the most complete industrial categories in the West, California's economic influence in the West is also expanding.

The entire West Coast region has been included in California's economic system, and California has not stopped its pace of economic expansion. Now California's economic tentacles are slowly extending to the inland areas.

In the markets of Utah, Wyoming, and even Colorado, the share of California products is increasing.烃

California is now the industrial center of the entire western region and the only industrial state in the entire western region.

Compared with the three major industrial powerhouses in the United States at this time: New York State, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming, California's industry now only differs in scale, not in quality.