Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-02

In presen ting the annual review OF the
trade Of Sacramento, the REooRD-UNIoN re-
fers TO its former carefully prepared reports
in previous years, as indicating the steady
and certain advancement of this city. At the
close of the year 1877, our statistics showed
the volume of commercial transactions to be
s25. 500, 900 for 1873, s27, 600, 600; for 1879,
S29, ,27S, 800 for 1880, s31, l12, $50 and now.
for 1881, it aggregates sS5. 392. 935, gain of
81, $50. 8s5. This figure is verified by the
most careful calculations, and is the strongest
evidence possible of the position uniformly
maintained by this journal concerning the
Importance of Sacramento as a trade center.
TRADE GENERALLY
In 1881 was proportionately better in Sacra-
mento than in any other section of the State.
Notwithstanding the crop fails1es in this sec-
tion, merchandising and manufacturing in
Sacramento, unaffected by the shortage, have
had uniform advance, and the market area
of the city has broadened and increased in
importance. Some declination is noted in a
few lines, while remarkable advance is
noted in others The uncertain condition OF
affairs in some of the mining sections, and
loss OF trade from sections injured by the
overflow of the preceding year, limited
trade considerably in many provision
lines. It is not deemed necessary
now to enter, as heretofore, into
an extended consideration of the advantages
of Sacramento as a commercial center. These
are now well understood by the people Of
California. In brief, the points may be re-
called, however the centrality of the city
the many lines of transport by rail and water,
converging at Sacramento; the lowness of
rentals and local expenses: the saving of
freight between San Fraucisco and Sacra-
mento to all the northern, eastern and central
trade; the small fixed capital necessarily
locked up in property on which to conduct
business the absence of wharfage and
drayage charges; the saving in time in the
shipment aud transport of goods; the i'm
portation facilities enjoyed by the merchants
of the city the dryness of the climate, and
the general climatic advantages for storage
of liquors and for the production of all kinds
of wood work, etc. As to this last item, it
may be specified that the boxes for the great
fruit trade of the State, which has here its
chief market, are principally made here, and
even San Francisco has this year anticipated
the coming fruit season and fled orders for
boxes here to an extent that will test the
capacity of our works, when added to the
regular trade that must be supplied.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS,
Which tend TO enhance the COR mmercial
Importance, etc., of Sacramento. are found
in the populous agricultural and mining Sec
tions which contribute to our trade; the
fertile area of developing country to the
north and west of the city, the productive
foothill sections, the mountain regions and
the demands of the transmontane States and
Territories. Our trade extends now north to
British Columbia, southerly to Mexico, east
ward along the lines of the Central Pacific
Railroad and Southern Pacific Rail
road to the Mississippi Valley, and is
commanding, to large extent. the
great San Joaquin Valley, as it does
thoroughly the valley of the Sacramento.
The superior lumber regions eastward of
Sacramento are important factors in the city's
trade. Sacramento is the geographical cen,
ter of tie State and its political capital.
ITS BUSINESS
Has the fostering care and wise direction Of
the Board of Trade; its business men are
united in purpose and labor, and their rela'
tious towards each other are of character
to strengthen the commercial influence of the
CITY, Real estate is held less fo- specule-
tive purposes than for occupancy. During
1881 real estate values were much steadier'
Business property has been in greater de-
mand and reuts on leading streets have ma
turally appreciated. Prices for desirable
business property have advanced from 10 to
20 per cent. Money has rated at lower
figure for interest, and On good security Is OBJ
tainable at Z to per cent net. Outside eligible
residence property tsay east of Tenth street
has advanced from 20 to % per cent. Along
Front street, and in that section, business
rentals have declined, owing to the gradual
movement of local trade eastward along the
chief streets. Building during the year 1881
was carried on largely and aggregated
an outlay of over s500.0O0. New
industries have been introduced, busi
ness property has been much improved, bank
ing business has been active and profitable,
labor has been plenty, comparatively few idle
men have been seen on the streets, wages have
not dep,sciated, manufacturers have iu-
cres ed the volume of their pro iucts, ad-
ditional cap.tll has been launched in
business, and new houses have been
added to the commercial circle. The job
hing trade is on frmer basis than ever
before, and the efforts by rival markets, both
home and foreign, to weaken cur volume Of
trsds snd divert it from Sacramento, have
sirnallv failed. The houses that report de.
crease in the volume of business may be mum
bered on the fingers of one hand
and those that report neither less nol
advancement are less than dozer
in number. Sacramento's educationa
facilities, its private seminaries and institute
its banks, halls, churches, mansions, public
buildings, libraries, drives and its parks it
system of government, its moral and sOcia
features its manufactures, shops, hospitals
societies, charities, mills and its pub
fishing houses, together with the home
of the city, the horticulture and agri
culture of the county. this year it is no
deemed necessary to mention in detail
though they furnish topics for extended an'
appropriate remark. To the specific note
of business transactions for 1881 attention i
directed, and these will be found to add fore
TO the remarks of Mr.. Hittell in bis recen
work on "The Commerce and Industries o
the Pacific Coast that Sacramento is
THE CHIEF CITY
OF the great interior or valley between th'
coast range and the Sierra Nevada" anc
who, in remsrking upon the trade Of the city
SAYS "it maintains its position next to Ssr
Francisco in the commercial business of Cal
ifornis."
To illustrate the Importance of Sacramentf
as distributing point. the following stats
tics of shipments are presented. l. viii bi
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