1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 158 I Want to Join the Party
The California State Legislature meeting on April 1851, 4, was the meeting that passed the most bills since California became a state.

The bills passed at the meeting are not innocuous bills, but bills that are actually related to the vital interests of many Californians.

After obtaining Liang Yao's permission and several times of review, the "California Daily" published a newspaper on April 4, detailing the bill passed by the state assembly and its content.

The streets and alleys of San Francisco and Sacramento, bars and teahouses, are full of Californians holding newspapers for careful analysis.

Even illiterate Californians entrusted literate intellectuals to read to them the contents of the newspaper.

In the hall of the Huaxia Chamber of Commerce, Chinese businessmen were also analyzing the "California" daily on April 1851, 4.

It's just that the "California Daily" in their hands is a Chinese version of the newspaper.

Due to the increasing number of Chinese in California, the newspaper considered that the number of Chinese who subscribed to the "California Daily" has exceeded 3. In March, the newspaper hired a Chinese editor to be responsible for the editing of the Chinese version of the "California Daily" The Chinese version of the daily was launched.

Most of these Chinese businessmen can understand English, especially the Guangzhou merchants who have been doing business with the British all year round. They can not only listen and speak English, but also write beautiful cursive English. Reading English newspapers is even more important for them. No problem.

But since there is a Chinese version of the newspaper, they still prefer to choose the Chinese version of the newspaper to watch.

The Chinese version of "California Daily" is written in vernacular, which is easier to read.

Fur traders from the Oregon area often come in and out of the Huaxia Chamber of Commerce's business hall.

The fur business in the Oregon area was originally run by Astor. These fur merchants were all former partners of the Astor family. Since the Astor family made a fortune and transformed, they have not paid as much attention to the fur business as before.

With the influx of Russian fur traders, the life of fur traders in Oregon is getting more and more difficult.

The furs obtained by Russian fur traders in Alaska are of better quality and lower prices than their furs, making furs from Oregon uncompetitive.

Fur traders in the east and the Hudson Bend Company in the UK are more inclined to buy furs from Russian fur traders.

A large number of Chinese businessmen stationed in California gave fur traders in the Oregon area hope.

In the Qing Dynasty, the main source of fur in the Qing Dynasty was outside the Guan, and outside the Guan was the place where the Qing Dynasty flourished, and the Han people could not set foot outside the Guan.

In the eyes of Chinese businessmen, it is profitable to buy Oregon's fur and sell it back to Qing Dynasty.

Pan Zhengwei has now started a fur business. Fur is in short supply in the Qing Dynasty, and the Pan family also has connections. It is not difficult for the Pan family to get rid of these furs in the Qing Dynasty.

However, the fur business with Oregon fur traders is still a small profit after all, and it will not be a big deal.

Pan Zhengwei, Wu Yuanhua and others are discussing joining the California Coal and Steel Alliance, an industry that is very unfamiliar to them.

Chinese businessmen are currently doing business in California mainly as entrepot trade, selling native goods from the Qing Dynasty in California to make profits.

This is also their old business, and the difference from before is that they had to go through the hands of American businessmen before they could sell the local products of the Qing Dynasty to the United States.

Now they can sell it by themselves, and the profit is much higher without the middleman.

"Those ghosts have made a lot of money following Mr. Liang. As far as I know, Mr. Liang has never suffered a loss in the business field in California. I think the California Iron and Steel Alliance has a lot to do!"

Pan Zhengwei pointed to the newspaper and said.

"Those ghosts and Chinese patriarchs can discuss this matter in the state assembly, but our chamber of commerce does not have a state assemblyman. If I had known that I would not return to Guangzhou, I would stay in California and become a naturalized person. Maybe I am also a state assemblyman now. " Wu Yuanhua said regretfully.

Those Chinese patriarchs were not well-known figures in the Qing Dynasty. Wu Yuanhua felt a little unacceptable now that he, an imperial businessman, was overwhelmed by these people in California.

"No matter how much it costs in the next state assembly election, our chamber of commerce will participate and strive to win more seats." Zeng Jinsong glanced at the newspaper.

"No matter how detailed it is written in the newspaper, it is not as good as the details heard directly in the parliament. The parliament does not have our people, and there is no one to speak for us. It is too bad."

Zeng Jinsong had donated officials in the Qing Dynasty, but he didn't expect that the congressmen in the United States had real power, unlike the officials he donated in the Qing Dynasty, they were just officials.

"You can't say that, isn't Mr. Liang, our president, the state assemblyman?" Wu Yuanhua said, "Those ghost congressmen are now surrounding Mr. Liang every day to flatter Mr. Liang."

"It's not so early for the reelection of the state councilors. I heard that nine out of ten state councilors are members of the Civic Party. Why don't we go back and talk to Mr. Liang, let's join a party first? Anyway, the party fee is 12 dollars a year, and joining a party first Not bad."

Pan Zhengwei, vice president of the Huaxia Chamber of Commerce, said.

"Brother Yu Ting said very well, join the party first, those ghost state councilors and patriarch state councilors all joined the party, we can't fall behind." Zeng Jinsong said.

"The newspaper said that if you want to join the California Coal and Steel Alliance, you must first register and establish a steel company, coal mining company, or a company in a related industry with an asset of more than 30 U.S. dollars. My brothers first pooled some money to join the California Coal and Steel Alliance. Say it again."

"I was lucky enough to visit Mr. Liang's California Iron and Steel Company, and I also took the train with Mr. Liang. Mr. Liang told the old man on the train that his steel plant can produce more than two million catties of iron per month and four ten thousand catties.

Such a large output is still not enough, I think Mr. Liang has even bigger ambitions. "

Pan Zhengwei stroked his gray beard and said.

"This coal and steel alliance, we have to join in everything, whether the steel plant is old or not, I am old and I don't understand the machines of foreigners.

But a few days ago, I spent 15 US dollars to buy several coal mines and set up a Tongfu Coal Mine Company to supply coal to Mr. Liang's steel plant.If you are interested, you can pool another $[-] with me to join the California Coal and Steel Alliance. "

Faced with Pan Zhengwei's proposal, some Chinese businessmen with meager financial resources decided to pool some money to invest in the Tongfu Coal Mine and get admission tickets to the California Coal and Steel Alliance.

It is impossible for Chinese businessmen such as Wu Yuanhua with relatively strong financial resources to depend on others. They decided to set up a coal mining company or even a steel company to join the California Coal and Steel Alliance.

After Chinese merchants decided to join the California Coal and Steel Alliance, Bank of America got busy.

30 US dollars converted into silver is about 19 taels, which is a huge sum of money.

Although the families behind these Chinese businessmen are all wealthy families, it is quite difficult for them to spend 30 US dollars in cash to start a company at once.

The only option is to borrow from the Bank of America.

Facing so many sudden large-amount loan applications, Jones, the president of the Bank of America, did not dare to make decisions on his own. Instead of approving these loan applications immediately, he first came to Taoyuan to seek Liang Yao's opinion.

Liang Yao has investigated the family background of those Chinese businessmen privately, and they are all very solid and able to repay the loan.

After carefully reading the application form, they personally signed and agreed to their loan application.

"Is the $30 threshold too high?"

Holding a teacup in his hand, Robinson felt that the threshold of the California Coal and Steel Alliance was too high, and would reject some businessmen who aspired to join the California Coal and Steel Alliance.

"It's not high at all. This is heavy industry, such as steel, coal mines, railways, and machinery. The initial investment in these industries is very high, and they have to bear losses for a long time. Those small businessmen with weak assets do not have the psychological ability to bear it."

Liang Yao put down the pen in his hand and said.

"The industries I run myself, except for the steam engine factory, are still operating at a loss up to now.

In the case of the California Railroad, the San Francisco-Sacramento railroad won't be finished until mid-June, and I won't be able to recoup the cost immediately after the line is operational.

Do you think those small businessmen have a better tolerance for risk than me? "

"In all of California, there's no one with a bigger heart than you."

In this regard, Robinson was powerless to refute, he put down his teacup and said.

"The Hope is launched. This is the first steamship developed and manufactured by California itself. Today is the launch day of the Hope. We hope you will cut the ribbon for the Hope."

Liang Yao nodded: "You go first, I still have some things in hand, and I will finish them soon."

"Didn't you just take care of the Chinese business loan?" Robinson asked with some doubts.

"It's something else."

Liang Yao said lightly.

Robinson nodded and left Tingtao Garden.

After Robinson left, Liang Yao said to Coney, "Mr. Martin, please come in."

Oliver Martin, dressed in rags, followed Coney into Liang Yao's study, and several strong servants carried a heavy wooden box in.

Liang Yao signaled everyone to go out and close the door. In the study, only Hu Jinchen, Coney and Martin, a special visitor, were left.

Coney pried open the wooden box, now covered in black cloth over gold.

"Sir, this piece of gold was weighed by me personally, and it weighs a full 151 pounds!" Kony said excitedly, "This is the largest natural gold nugget I have ever seen in my life!"

Liang Yao looked at this 151-pound natural gold nugget, and his heart was not disturbed.

This gold nugget is far less shocking than the original California Star. After all, from the naked eye, the 145-pound natural gold nugget and the 151-pound natural gold nugget are not much different in visual impact and psychological shock. .

It's a pity that he gave the Star of California to President Fillmore last year as a gift, otherwise he could compare two natural gold nuggets.

Liang Yao glanced at Martin in disbelief. God knows how this kid brought this piece of gold from the Sierra Nevada to him alive.

"Mr. Liang, is there anything to eat?" Martin said, clutching his hungry stomach.

"Jinchen, order the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous lunch for Mr. Martin." Liang Yao walked to Martin's side, patted Martin's shoulder and said, "I want to have lunch with Mr. Martin."

(End of this chapter)