1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 153 Currency and Food Security

"For the development of the education industry in California, and for our children and grandchildren to be able to obtain a good education in their hometown, I will donate 30 US dollars to the state government as the state government's education funds.

In addition, I have built a primary school and a middle school. If you have children of school age, you can send them to the school I built to receive education. "

After stating the content of the "California State Compulsory Education Act and Higher Education Plan", Liang Yao took the lead in making a statement.

The reporter of the "California Daily" who was allowed to observe the record quickly wrote down the news.

The news that Mr. State Speaker donated 30 US dollars as a California government education fund will soon spread throughout California.

Three hundred thousand dollars was less than a week's income for Liang Yao. As for his reputation in California, he didn't need much publicity.

The reason why he is willing to donate [-] U.S. dollars is to hope that he can set an example, and at the same time take this opportunity to observe these rich people in California.

"I would like to donate $5."

Senator and Secretary of State Gerwin followed closely behind, took out a check from the Bank of America from his pocket, and wrote on it the amount of fifty thousand dollars.

"I would like to donate $3."

Governor Robinson also expressed his willingness to donate $3 for state education in California.

"$1 million."

"$8000."

"$5000."

"$3000."

"Very well, I think that after you walk out of the state assembly, the people of California will praise your kindness in the streets and alleys of California tomorrow, and the people of California thank you!"

Liang Yao watched with satisfaction as the state legislators filled out the checks.

Now, Bank of America is not the only bank in California. In addition to Bank of America, there are also Bank of Boston in California.

Banque de France and Barings Bank have also settled in San Francisco. In addition, the Astor family also opened Citibank in San Francisco and Sacramento, responsible for Citibank's business in California and even Oregon.

Still, more than [-] percent of state legislators use Bank of America checks.

Bank of America is a young bank, but it has very strong financial resources and a good reputation. More importantly, Bank of America is a bank opened by Mr. Speaker.

The remaining few MPs use checks from the Bank of France and Barings, and no MPs use Citibank checks in Parliament.

Members of the State House have more or less paid some money. In fact, some of them are not willing to pay this money, but after seeing that the core figures in California and their colleagues have more or less donated With a little money, if I don't take out any money, I will appear to be very out of group, so I donate some.

Besides, the money donated by the "California Daily" for this matter is not completely in vain. At least I can see my name in the newspaper, which is regarded as an advertisement for spending money to buy a newspaper, although this advertisement is a bit expensive.

After the "California State Compulsory Education Act and Higher Education Plan" was passed by the state assembly, Liang Yao granted the Bank of America the official currency issuance right in the state assembly, and stipulated that any foreign currency will be prohibited from circulating in California from next year.

The Bank of America began issuing currency last year. Currently, the main currency in circulation in the California market is the gold dollar and silver cents minted by the American Mint of the Bank of America. Without the currency issued by the Bank of America, the entire California economy will inevitably fall into chaos. middle.

In 1791, the founding father of the United States, Hamilton, put forward detailed proposals for the establishment of a mint and a unified currency, which led to the birth of the US dollar.

Since then, the United States and the state's coinage rights have been taken over by Congress, and the states are prohibited from privately minting currency. The federal government's Treasury Department wants to take back property rights.

It’s just that the ideal is very full, but the reality is very skinny. Due to the lack of metal currency in the United States, the federal government has issued US dollar bills indiscriminately, which caused the currency of the United States to be very chaotic. The value of the US dollar, especially the paper credit currency endorsed by the US government, has plummeted. Along with the depreciation is the prestige of the American government and Congress.

Hamilton's original intention of taking back the minting rights of the states was good. He did not expect that after Congress took back the minting rights, he would not think about how to improve the dollar currency system and solve the problem of the shortage of precious metal currencies in the United States.

Instead, they issued U.S. dollar bills indiscriminately, taking this opportunity to amass money crazily.In this regard, Congress has surpassed the original states and almost paralyzed the entire country.

Under the protests of the people and the states, the Congress had to let go and grant the state legislatures the power to grant commercial banks the right to issue currency.

This also caused the chaos of American currency in the middle and early 19th century. According to Liang Yao's understanding, Texas and some southern regions still prefer to use Mexican silver coins instead of US dollars until now.

Because Mexico's precious metal coins are more stable in value than U.S. dollar bills.

As for the U.S. dollar precious metal currency, the value is relatively stable, but the quantity is too small to meet market demand.

The dollar bills that the states awarded to the state's commercial banks were doing a little better than the government-issued ass wipes, but their value was still very volatile.

Currency is an important factor restricting the economic development of the United States.

It was during the Civil War that the United States initially resolved the currency issue. It was at this time that the green dollar, which is well-known to people in later generations, gradually entered people's field of vision.

It was also from this time that the United States began to develop at an incredible speed, and at the end of this century, it completed the great cause of catching up with France and the United Kingdom economically.

After Liang Yao talked for a long time, he felt a little parched, so he went to his seat and drank some water, preparing to take a break before making the next proposal, which is called "California Industry Five-Year Plan" He was holding it tightly in his hands. This was the most important proposal today.

When Liang Yao walked off the podium of the Congress during the intermission, Chen Baoliang, Minister of Agriculture of California, took the stage to give a speech.

Since he is the minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, the content of Chen Baoliang's speech on the stage is naturally related to agriculture.

Chen Baoliang's English is very poor. After getting used to Liang Yao's proficient and fluent words and professional English, listening to Chen Baoliang's speech is torture for these state congressmen.

But they didn't dare to underestimate Chen Baoliang's speech, they still listened carefully.

In addition to the identity of the Minister of Agriculture, Chen Baoliang has another identity, that is, the president of the California Agricultural Association.

And Chen Baoliang was able to become the Minister of Agriculture of the Upstate, mainly because he fought for it himself.

Chen Baoliang led his fellow Fujianese to find another way and embarked on a different path of gold panning.

That is to clear the land to grow food crops.

He not only reclaimed the land by himself, but as the patriarch of the Chen clan in southern Fujian, Chen Baoliang united with other clans in southern Fujian to reclaim wasteland, imitating Liang Yao when he established the California People's Committee and established the Agricultural Committee.

After becoming bigger, Chen Baoliang expanded the cooperation object to fellow villagers in Fujian, and then expanded to all Chinese immigrants.

And after the establishment of the state in September last year, it began to absorb white farmers in California into the Agricultural Committee and renamed the Agricultural Committee to the Agricultural Association.

Chen Baoliang also intermarried with local farmers. After marrying the daughter of a large white farmer, he wanted to take the daughter of a small farmer as his concubine.

However, taking concubines is illegal in California, so he had to give up resentfully and let his brother and nephew marry local white farmers.

The members of the California Agricultural Commission are basically farmers, and most of them are emerging Chinese farmers.

Although the industrial and mining enterprises in California except Liang Yao, most of the other Chinese industrial and mining enterprises are small.

But in terms of agriculture, the Chinese can be said to have controlled half of California's agriculture.

Last year, the Chinese provided more than 40% of California's wheat, 100% of its rice, more than 60% of its vegetables and fruits, and more than 60% of its aquatic products.

If the farm products provided by white farmers in the agricultural association are included, this proportion will be even greater.

Liang Yao also has his own Shennong Reclamation Company, and the leadership of the company has also joined the Agricultural Association.

Because he does catering by himself, he also works as a reclamation company, supporting his own industry.

At the beginning of the establishment of the Agricultural Association, Chen Baoliang and others asked Liang Yao to be the president of the Agricultural Association.

However, Liang Yao declined. He has several jobs now, and he has no extra time and energy to serve as the chairman of the Agricultural Association.

Anyway, the Chinese immigrants followed his lead, and no one who served as the chairman of the Agricultural Association could pose a threat to him.

"At present, California cannot be self-sufficient in food. The food produced in this state can only meet 60% of California's supply. The remaining gap must be purchased from Indians and Mexico to meet our needs."

Chen Baoliang stated the current severe situation of California agriculture.

"Gentlemen, let me add that next month, the Federal Government Customs Administration will enter California and set up a branch in California. That is to say, from next month, we will have to consider the 24.31% tariff when we import food from Mexico. question."

Gwen added.

Tariffs are the main fiscal revenue of the federal government. As far as tariffs are concerned, the federal government will never turn a blind eye to California.

The 24.31% tariff was enacted by the US Congress and the federal government to protect the country's industry and commerce.

Local factory owners are the main beneficiaries of high tariffs, and there are beneficiaries and there are also beneficiaries.

The most damaged interests are naturally agriculture, especially the planters in the south. The plantation economy represented by cotton planting is the economic pillar of the southern states.

High tariffs did keep high-quality and cheap industrial products from Britain, France and other countries out of the United States, but the cost of exporting economic crops from plantations in the south of the United States also increased, and they lost their competitive advantage in the international market.

What's more deadly is that the commercial crops in the southern plantations cannot be digested in the United States
Although California is not an agricultural state, the tariffs across the United States are unified, and California's agricultural imports will also suffer from the high tariffs of the United States.

"Mr. Ge Wen is very reasonable. California must achieve self-sufficiency in food, which is related to the state's food security."

Liang Yao also expressed his support for this.

"Minister Chen, you continue to speak."

Liang Yao signaled Chen Baoliang to continue. The Chinese took the initiative to participate in politics, which was a very positive signal.

"As Mr. Ge Wen and Mr. Liang said, the state government must ensure the food security of the people of California, and the rice bowls of Californians must be served in the bowls of Californians."

With the affirmation of Ge Wen and Liang Yao, Chen Baoliang became more confident, and his English became more fluent.

"We can import food from Mexico for a while, but we can't do it forever. There are a lot of land in California that can be cultivated into good farmland."

　There was a sudden power outage for a long time at night, but fortunately the files were not lost.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)