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

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business; have indeed presented to the
perplexed observer all the outward features
of long established centres of densely
populated regions. But the stubborn fact
that these cities were being enlarged at the
expense of the outlying districts on which
they ought to have depended, has rendered
theil prosperity unstable, and has exposed
them to periodical depressions and fuctua-
lions which sap their strength. It is i'm
possible that all the laws of normal proper
ton between the population of the city
and the country should be reversed with
out evil consequences. A country in which
half or two.thirds of the population is
gathered into one overgrown city must
sooner or later feel the effects of this IN
natural kind of growth. Healthy and
steady progress can only be secured when
the growth of the cities is regulated and
controlled by the growth of the coun-
try ; when, as the farming lands around
about it become more thickly settled, its
business responds to the increase of de.
mand, and every investment made in it is
the result of assured expansion, instead
of being merely speculative. If, there
fore, Sacramento has not grown rapidly,
she has grown surely. Her commerce has
gradually unfolded with the development
of her transportation facilities. She has
enlarged her trade as new connections have
been created for her. The result is that
all her business is on thoroughly sound
and safe basis, and that she has nothing to
apprehend from breaks in the stock mar
ket or other purely gambling enterprises. =
The map of her railroad competitions
which accompanies the report of The Board
OF Trade speaks for itself. It confirms all
that the report alleges as 70 the centrality
and Importance of her location, and proves
in the most conclusive manner her indie
pendence of s9Ji Francisco, and her ability
to take advantage of every opportunity
offered hsr for the future development Of
her resources. There are few cities in the
Um9S which can be regarded as possessing
2Eore certain future than Sacramento, in
Teed. With the river at her doors, assur-
ling her forever of moderate freight
charges, with the whole of Northern Cali
fornia at her back, to pour its constantly
increasing traffic into her hands, with the
immense area of Southern California and
Arizona and New Mexico stretching away
before her, it can only be question of time,
and no long time either, for her to
become great, populous, and wealthy.
The remarks in the report of the Board on
the question of manufactures point to an
other but not less important source of
future commerce. The magnificent water
power of the American river still awaits
the hand of enterprise to utilize it, but
there can be no question that it embodies
manufacturing force equal to that which
the most prosperous and busy of the New
England cities possess. A beginning is
indeed now being made in this direction,
and we may be sure that when once made
there will be sufficient incentives to con-
tinue the effort. The approaching compile
ton of the Southern Pacific Railroad and
it's connections to tide.water on the Gulf
of Mexico must also help Sacramento.
We have no reason to apprehend loss of
commerce from that event, whatever may
be the case elsewhere. The development
OF railroad systems piercing the State
from North to South, connecting us
doubly and trebly with the Atlantic and
Southern States, attracting immigration,
enterprise and capital to our valleys, must
produce the best effects. And as the su-
perior agricultural advantages of the north
ern part of the State insures the earliest
settlement of that region, so it must be
concluded that all the new lines of trans.
portation will combine to assist in the
expansion of Sacramento business These
and many other equally important and
valuable considerations are set forth very
clearly and forcibly in the report of the
Board OF Trade, and the manner in which
the work has been done shows that the
merchants of Sacramento are not likely to
miss any available openings through lack
of commercial sagacity, or that intelligent
and far-seeing enterprise which recognizes
the need OF lucid exposition and telling
arguments even for the most advantageous
business situations.