Transcription

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V I C T O R I A

AUSTRALIA AND CALIFORNIA COMPARED.
FROM THE ILLUSTRATED SYDNEY NEWS  - 
                                                 AUGUST 5TH  1854

Our local Journals have lately been indulging in the odious task of drawing comparisons between these two wealthy young heiresses, who are now [waxing?] the attention of the whole world.  We in this Colony have more reason to Call these Comparisons odious than our great rival on the other side of the Pacific, for there Can be no doubt but that in many respects we come but lamely out of the examination  - The first point of view which strikes every thoughtful mind in California is, the immense interprose [?] and rapid increase of its population.
We have within the last few days seen statistics that show that she is this year in a position to support her population with the Chief necessaries of like without having recourse to extra [?] sources.  Only two years ago California was in proportion to its population the largest importing Community in the world now she can turn round & say to those on whom She was independent for the 'Staff of life' hold back your supplies for those who have more need of them.  We can now support ourselves, & have food to spare".  It is not only in the production of grain.  Every person who has visited their shores comes away with a new idea of the powers with which man is gifted.  One day a city shall be smoking in the ashes;  and standing on its dying embers the undaunted American Citizen is seen making arrangements  - for the recreation of his stores on a scale of greater splendour than they before exhibited.  The sea itself is not safe from his encroachments  -  Miles of wharfs are carried out into the harbour, & this is done with a rapidity that has almost the appearance of magic.  Those who now watch the slow & tedious process which is going on at the Circular Quay, in Sydney, can have no idea of the astonishing rate at which such a work would be carried on in San Francisco.  One fact will, however, serve to illustrate, Here, by great manual labour, we manage to drive about five piles of the wharf per day:  there, by the application of steam Machinery they drive one pile per minute.  Look again at their newspapers San Francisco boasts no less eleven daily newspapers, & Sydney which may be said to have been 6-7 years in existence Can only produce two  -  Let us look at the State of agriculture here.  This has been gradually declining since the gold discovery. During the last year in all articles of agricultural production we were deficient.  In California, on the contrary with all the fever of gold production to tempt men away from such pursuits the valleys are smiling with a luxuriant harvest & a greater breadth of land was sown that was before known
 

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