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

The advantages of Sacramento as manu-
featuring point may be briefly presented. In
the manufacture OF all mill work for build
ings. the heavy pine regions lying immedi-
ately eastward of the city afford an mex
haustible supply of lumber. For the manu-.
facture of woolens it offers the advantage of
being at the central point for the receipt of
wool, and is the point of the largest receipt
and shipment Of that staple. By rail or
river coal or other fuel consumed in creating
power can be had as cheap as at any other
point. For the manufacture of wheeled
vehicles or agricultural implements the dry
ness of the climate is peculiarly adapted to
the production of superior articles. Equal
advantages might be Enumerated relating to
manufactures of pals, tubs, boxes, cord
age, cabinet furniture, sash, doors, blinds
and house mill-work, etc. In the near
future the permanent manufacturing inter-
est of this coast will enter upon its period of
real development The one chief factor in
successful manufactures is cheap power,
and such power is now in rapid
process of development at the town of Fol-
som, twenty miles east of this city. At
that town the American river breaks through
granite canyon, acquiring a fall of eighty
feet in distance of two miles, affording a
practically unlimited power to be utilized
by manufactures. 1t has always been
the confident prediction of practical men
that this vast power, located as it is in the
very heart of the State, and at point so
favorable to that result, would become the
seat Of the largest manufacturing interest on
this coast. This opinion is justified by every
reasonable and practical consideration bear.
ing on the subject. The inconsiderable cost
at which this vast and valuable power may
be developed affords ample guarantee of
early development. As factor in profitable
manufactures, cheap power possesses high
intrinsic pecuniary value. This water power
at Folsom will be utilized because it
is located convenient to the center
of the railroad system, and because,
when estimated by its value as producer, it
surpasses that of the richest mine. But the
prospect of its early development is far
more than merely theoretical. A branch of
the State Prison of California is now located
at Folsom. Its buildings and grounds are
situated on the line of the proposed pioneer
canal. To augment the fall a granite dam
has been constructed at the head of the
canyon. This location was made under con.
tracts between the State and the company
owning the water power, by the terms of which
the canal is to be constructed with convict
labor. Portions of the excavations for this
work have already been made, and within a
short period the entire work will have been
accomplished.
The bearings the establishment of large
manufacturing interest at Folsom will have
upon the trade of this city are obvious. Sac
ramento will be the exchange market of the
products of such manufactures. Business
firms now established in this city as import
ers of many lines of wares and goods will
become manufacturers of these wares, and
in many other ways the commerce of Sacra-
mento will derive important advantages by
reason of its superior relations with this i'm
portant manufacturing interest. The de-
tails of existing manufactures are presented
elsewhere in this report.