California. like the other Pacific Coast States, has a remarkable wealth of forest resources: but remoteness from the market and the difficulties of transportation have delayed their exploitation. From the above table it will he seen, however, that lumbering is enjoying a steady growth. The industry centres in the Humboldt Bay region, on the Pacific Coast, but also extends along the western slope of the Sier ras as far south as Fresno County. From the immense redwoods of the Pacific Slope, large quantities of lumber and shingles are manufac tnred. while the equally large firs are used for the building of houses and ships. Among other valuable varieties are the cedar, adaptable for finishing work and furniture; the chestnut oak, used for tanning; and the yellow pine, valuable for lumber and for the production of resin and turpentine. The deciduous trees are not great in variety, nor of much industrial value.
The long coast line has few excellent harbors. and the in land navigation is not extensive, being confined principally to the Sacramento River, which is navigable for small vessels as far as Red Bluff, and the Colorado, which is navigable through its entire course along the borders of the State.
Railway facilities are well developed, particu larly in the great central valley. Only in the northeastern portion of the State is commercial progress seriously retarded by a lack of trans portation accommodations. Two important transcontinental lines—the Southern Pacific and the Santa Ft; Pacific—enter the State from the south, while a third transcontinental line—the Central Pacific—enters it a little north of the centre, San Francisco being the terminal point of all. On the Central Pacific are 33 miles of wooden galleries, known as 'snow-sheds.' and costing from $40,000 to $1,100.000 per mile, ac cording to the amount of masonry needed. The San Francisco and Northern Pacific makes con nection with the railway systems to the north. In 1860 the State had 23 miles of railroad, which had increased in 18S0 to 2195 miles, in 1890 to 4349 miles, and in 1900 to 5750 miles. There are 0.27 mile of line per 100 square miles of land territory, and 38.72 miles per 10,000 inhabitants.
Commerce centres mainly at San Francisco, over two-thirds of all the merchandise imported to the Pacific Coast entering, and considerably over half the exports leaving, by that port. The great lumber trade of the Pacific Coast finds its chief market in that city. The other customs districts are Wilmington, San Diego, and Hum boldt. There are lines of steamers to Alaska,
British Columbia, Oregon, etc., and to New York, Great Britain, Hawaii, China, Japan, Aus tralia, and South America. Its position on the Pacific Ocean gives the State an advantage in the trade with Oriental countries, which is be coming of increasing value, and contains pos sibilities whose full import can hardly be ap preciated at present. The construction of the Isthmian canal will also be greatly to the ad vantage of the State. especially in its trade with European countries. The cargoes to Europe con sist mainly of wheat, canned fish and fruits, honey, borax, and ores; to Asia and the islands of the Pacific, of large quantities of butter and cheese, canned and enred meat and fish; to ico and China, of quicksilver. Shipments across the continent include fruits (fresh, canned, and dried), cattle products. and honey. In 1900 the value of imports of merchandise to the Califor nia ports aggregated $49,000,000, and the im ports of gold and silver $13,000,000, while the exports of merchandise and bullion were $41, 000,000 and $9,500,000 respectively.
In 1 900 there were 39 national banks in operation. with capital aggregating $11,000,000, deposits $13,000.000. and reserve fund $4.132.000. There were 178 State banks, with $•6,980,000 capital stock, $85,880.000 de posits, and $20,580,000 surplus. The private banks numbered 19, having $890,000 capital and $1,629,000 deposits. There were also 53 savings hanks, with $7,650,000 capital stock, $158.000, 000 deposits. and 86,900,000 surplus. The aver age deposit in savings banks was $730. or over 30 per cent, more than in any other State.
The present Constitution was ratified by popular vote and became operative in 1879. A proposed amendment must have a two thirds vote of each House, and be approved by a vote of the State electors. A proposition to re vise the Constitution must likewise receive a two-thirds vote of the Legislature and the ap proval of the people, and the text drawn up in the resulting Constitutional Convention must also be submitted to the people for their approval.
Alales who have lived one year in the State, ninety days in the county, and thirty clays in the voting precinct, and have not been convicted of infamous crimes, embezzlement, or misappro priation of public money, and can read the Con stitution or write their own names have the right of suffrage; hut Chinese are excluded.