Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-01


OF these cities to absorb the capital and pop
ulation of the interior is due to the operation
OF those commercial forces which eventually
adjust the balance of metropolitan and sup
portive populations to their normal propor-
tions. further cogent reason will be found 4
In the development Of an inland and owes.
land commerce, in the transaction of IRhich
ocean transportation is not controlling
factor.
The foregoing presents the general tonsid-
erations which justify some of the conclusions
set forth at the opening of this reportl The
following is detailed description of Tx city.
its government, public buildings, etc with a
careful analysis of its trade for 1850 :,
Sacramento-Location
The city of Sacramento is situated very
nearly in the geographical center Of tie State
of California, of which, by constitutional
declaration, it is the permanent Capital. 1t
is located ninety miles easterly from, the
Golden Gate, the entrance to the chief har.
Dor of the Pacific coast. It's site is upon the
east bank of the Sacramento river, the chief
navigable stream of the State, at the con-
tluence of the American river with that
stream. Its location is upon bottom lands
of those streams, which lands are almost fab
ulously fertile and yield nearly all growth
both of the temperate and tropic zones in
great abundance. Immediately east and
| north of the city begin the up or table-lands,
which stretch north and east to the foothills
of the Sierras, and southerly down the great
valley, while the Sacramento valley extends
its broad plains in the opposite direc-
tion. These lands, mostly, yield abund-
| antly of wheat, barley and other cereals, and
OF fruits and berries, while the bottom lands
along the rivers are unequaled for hops, fruit
and corn.
The city is laid out with exceedingly broad
streets running at right angles to each other,
| northerly and southerly, and eastsEly and
westerly. These are from the water front
eastward designated by numbers up to 81,
| while from the north to the south they are
| known by the letters of the alphabet, from
| A to Y. The system of house numbering
begins at Front and at A streets with 100.
and only 100 numbers are allotted to block.
But practically the numbers end in each case
with 80 and 81. Thus number once given
! instantly designates the locality with regard
to crossstreets-as, No. 1015 J street must be
between Tenth and Eleventh streets, and COG
NJ street must between Sixth and Seventh
streets, and 504 Seventh street must be be-
tween and d streets because G is the
third, and d the fourth letter Of the alpha
bet. This system is one of great convenience
especially to strangers visiting the city.
The streets in the central portions of
the city are either graveled or paved,
and admittedly superior at all
seasons. The outer streets are kept
well rounded up and graded, and seldom cut
up to an extent to render them long incon-
venient, even in the wettest season.
The walk-ways are broad and good, and
there is scarcely street in the city which is
not well shaded by a close growth Of elm, pop
lar, cottonwood, walnut and other large
spreading shade trees; indeed, this ample
foliage is one of the chief charms of the city
/, J, K, Front, Second, Third, Fourth,
Fifth, and the streets up to Twelfth, are the
chief business avenues, the others being resi-
dence streets in the main. The streets are
thoroughly lighted with gas, and compre.
hensive sewerage system underlies them.
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The city is not devoid of fine public struct-
ures, and chief among these may be briefly
referred to the State Capitol, between L and
n, Tenth and Fifteenth streets. It is q
superb structure, modelled closely after the
National Capitol at Washington, with adome
rising 220 feet above the street level 1t isap.
preached through beautiful park broken into
two terraces, upon the upper of which the
building stands. The Capitol cost nearly
So, 600, 900, and in its construction the high
est skill of architect and builder was brought
to bear. While the exterior of the Capitol is
attractive in an exalted sense and impresses
the beholder with its grace of outline, mass
iveness ct construction, its finish and general
beauty and lofty grandeur, yet its interior is
equally worthy of admiration. Its Assembly,
chamber is one of the finest rooms in the
Union, and the Senate-ch amber falls below it
only in size. The State Library is circular
room with tiers of surrounding galleries sup
ported by elegant futed columns, and
crowned with dome-ike roof, and for beauty
is admittedly unsurpassed upon the coast and
has but few rivals in the Union. Connected
with this library is an apartment cShtaining
a cabinet of minerals owned by the State of
California, and which is very large and Of
great and rare value.
The State Printing Office is large and
handsome building standing in the easterly
section of the Capitol grounds. The Odd
Fellows Temple, Ninth and K streets, is
building of imposing presence and architect
ural beauty. The Sacramento Grammar
School building, between l and J, Fifteenth
and Sixteenth streets, is lofty and ele-
giant structure, one of the finest school build
ings upon the coast, and considered a model
in all respects. The High School, Ninth and
NJ streets, and Capital Grammar School,
Tenth and @ streets, are conspicuous and
handsome buildings, while the school build
ings at Fifteenth and n, Fourteenth and G,
Seventh and G and Fourth and @ streets,
are structures creditable to the city and the
liberal sentiment Of her people in making
ample provision for educational purposes.
Masonic Hall, Sixth and K streets, the
handsome and spacious county government
Seventh and streets, the Golden
Eagle, Capital, Langham, Arcade, Union,
Western, State House, international,
Morse, fremont and Elmer hotels are all
large and substantial, and add to the archi-
tectural Importance Of the place. Among
the more striking business buildings may be
named the Orleans Building, occupied by
Whittier, Fuller & Co. and james 1. Felter
& Co.; the business buildings of Huntington,
Hopkins & Co.; the business structure occu-
pied by Lipman & Co.; the Pavilion build
ing, occupied by Parsons Kilgoar & Co.