Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

Chamber of Commerce research department. Aside from the continued population expansion, the chamber cites these other factors: doubling of transcontinental freight rates in the past 10 years pushing manufacturers into establishing western factories; development of new or expanded regional sources of supply for steel, aluminum, other primary metals, wood, paper, rubber, chemicals and other basic raw materials, as well as semi-finished components for fabrication or assembly, and an enlargement of labor supplies with a narrowing of wage differentials. The durable goods industries showed the biggest expansion in 1955 with a 5.7% gain in employment and 10.1% in wages. Auto assembly payrolls jumped a terrific 57%, ordnance and accessories 25%, scientific instruments 23%, furniture 15%, primary metals 14%. The giant aircraft and aircraft parts industries employed over 230,000 workers last year and paid out over $1.24 billion in wages, some 7.5% above 1954. Some further labor expansion this year is predicted in this field despite defense restrictions on expansion of facilities at present sites. Military and civilian ord^r backlogs for the industry total several billion dollars. Only 8% of the state's population lives on the farm, but they account for production of the nation's richest yield of agricultural products, $2.57 billion. By cash value, California produces more than a third of the commercial fruits (it is said to be the only state where all three big citrus crops — oranges, lemons and grapefruit — are produced in commercial quantity), nearly a fourth of the commercial tree nut output of the nation. It accounts for virtually all of the nation's supply of lemons and most almonds, avocados, walnuts, olives, dates, figs, apricots, grapes, plums and prunes. As a result, extensive processing industries have developed, with frozen food packing expanding most rapidly. California packs a third of the nation's total canned fruit and vegetables and bottles 86% of its wine. California leads, or ranks near the top. in production of oranges, hops, barley, alfalfa, sugar beets, lettuce, asparagus, tomatoes, beans, carrots, spinach, melons, potatoes, cotton and rice. It is weak only in such staples as corn, wheat, oats, grain sorghum and tobacco. On the basis of production in proportion to population, California is far below what is considered the normal quota in beef cattle, hogs, chickens, horses and mules. Tractors and the mammoth machines they pull have long outdated any need for the latter two. The state ranks first in turkeys and honey and is high in wool, sheep and lambs. Around the big markets the dairy industry is growing, and Los Angeles County claims first place nationally in value of dairy products, topping any county in Wisconsin. California has ranked first in the U. S. in value of farm crops in 21 of the past 26 years. Last year it was first for the tenth consecutive year. California farmers received an estimated 8.3% of the total national receipts although they operate only about 2.5% of all farms in the U. S. Value of field crops in California is about $690 million while commercial vegetable crops are around $350 million. Fruit and nut crops are an estimated $550 million, having gained about 9% in value last year due to substantially higher returns for peaches, grapes, raisins, prunes, apricots, almonds and walnuts. Livestock and poultry exceed $900 million. With two and sometimes three crops a year possible from California soil under its conditions of favorable climate and intensive cultivation, the fertilizer industry is growing in importance. Dollar volume in 1954 was $75 million, according to Sidney H. Bierly, California Fertilizer Assn., who noted sales increased from 218,600 tons in 1940 to 640,000 tons in 1950 and 834,000 tons in 1954. Mineral production in California for eight consecutive years has exceeded a billion dollars and now stands around the $1.5 billion mark. Petroleum and allied products account for about 80% and non-metallic minerals about 17%. In value of petroleum products, California ranks second. Crude oil production is about a million barrels daily. Oil still in the ground is valued at $11.4 billion. With 1,000 miles of coastline, California was destined to become the leading fish state as well. Although the sardine disappeared mysteriously about 1951-52, much to the economic embarrassment of canneries at San Diego, Los Angeles, Monterey and San Francisco, the tuna catch and pack has been high, giving California the fish processing value lead since 1950. Japanese imports of fresh, frozen and canned tuna have caused some distress among local fishing fleets and packers. Cash receipts for fish and shell-fish landings, including imports, were estimated at $70 million for 1954, the latest year for which data is available. It was well below the $85.2 million landing for 1950 but shows considerable growth over the $20.4 million in 1940. The Sardine Mystery What happened to the sardine? "We sure would like to know," says Charles Carry, executive secretary of the California Fish Canners Assn. "There was a shortage at Maine this last year too. They had their lowest pack in 20 years. And at South Africa the catch has dropped to practically nothing." The sardine catch value increased from $4.8 million in 1940 to $12.1 million in 1950, then slumped to $7.2 million in 1951 and dived to $0.5 million in 1952. During the past five years the total number of operating canneries in California dropped from 112 to 52 while the U. S. total slumped from 710 to 579. "Annual value of canned tuna in California is in excess of $130 million," E. L. Morris, director of the Tuna Research Foundation, reported. California's large redwood and pine forests give it another leading industry. Lumbering employs over 100,000 workers with an annual payroll of more than $460 million yearly. Annual value added by manufacture for the industry exceeds $700 million. The state's sawtimber resource is estimated at 360 billion board feet by the U. S. Forest and Range Experiment Station at Berkeley, 58% greater than 1945 and 69% greater than 1938 estimates. "The stand of sawtimber in California today is enough to build 35 million new houses, almost enough to replace every dwelling in the U. S." is the way industry spokesmen will explain the state's timber resources to you. These forests are being preserved by private industry through scientific tree farming backed by the California Redwood Assn. and the Western Pine Assn. Lumber is produced by 796 sawmills. 392 in the redwood region and 404 in the pine areas. There are 13 paper and paper board mills, 21 plywood plants, 13 veneer mills and 10 wood preserving firms. California produces and consumes more wine than any other state in the nation, although its 1.989 gallons per capita annual consumption must take second place to the District of Columbia's 2.587 gallons. The state's 340 bonded wineries (649 U. S. total) bottle 86% of the nation's annual production of 150 million gallons and have a winery value of $143 million and retail value of $550 million. Fruit distilleries also are a major industry in the state. "Aside from their wine production, wineries also constitute industry's only source of tartrates," an official of the Wine Advisory Board at San Francisco said. "Tartrates, more commonly known as cream of tartar and technically as potassium bitartrate, are needed in the manufacture of rayon, medicines, photographic chemicals, textile dyes, electroplating of mirrors and the manufacture of baking powder and metal coloring." The state's chief wine districts are along the north central coast, the Lodi-Sacramento area, Modesto and Fresno in the central valley and Southern California. Similarly, California has grown to a leading position in the brewing industry with the population increase. Beer production last year totaled 5 million barrels, up from 4.5 million in 1954. Exports to other states are increasing and imports decreasing, according to the California State Brewers Institute. Starting with Pabst in 1949, major eastern brewers have become local producers with Anheuser-Busch and Schlitz among those building modern facilities. The industry's capital investment exceeds $200 million and annual payroll for 7,500 workers tops $37 million. "But all these products and people wouldn't be here if there were no transportation facilities to move them around," a shipper recently remarked. "We have great ports at the natural harbors of San Francisco and the big man-made harbor at Los Angeles and Long Beach. Lots of railroad and trucking facilities, more airports than any place else. And our road program represents an investment of more than a billion dollars since the end of the war." Motor truck carriers are making big gains and state officials recently announced truck traffic is increasing at a faster rate than auto traffic. Vehicle registration of 6.6 million, including 5.3 million passenger cars, is a national record. But in spite of California's vast freeway and advanced highway system, state authorities estimate it will take until about 1963 to lick deficiencies. Vehicle Page 76 • January 30, 1956 Broadcasting • Telecasting