Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-09
A GOOD EXAMPLE For us.

The people of Redding last week ar
ranged handsome produce fair, full of
revelations, to which they conducted the
four hundred excursionists to Mount
Shasta. The train conveying the people
was held an hour at Redding to en-
able the visitors to view the fair
Not one of the excursionists but has
since made that fair of one hours duration
the chief theme of his or her enthusiastic
report of the trip.
1t was a revelation to the great majority
of the exeursionists. They had heard
much of northern California, and believed
much concerning its productive capacity.
But even those of greatest faith were more
than surprised at the exhibit made. 1t
was another exemplifcation Of the old
saw, Seeing is believing"
Yet that fair was hastily gotten up. 1t
did not embrace more than half of the rep
resentative exhibits that Shasta county
could gather. Still, it proved to the visit
ors that the Redding section is one rich in
soil, bountiful in production, genial in eli
mate, extremely favored in variety of
products, and altogether land most desir-
able to live in, and capable of producing
nearly all supplies needed for the main
tenance Of a thrifty, well-liying and happy
people.
The Redding fair was for an hour. 1t
viii yield thousandfold of profit and
more to the enterprising people who
spread it to view and paid the cost. How
much more beneficial will permanent ex-
hibition be in Sacramento, illustrative of
the climate, soil and produce of fifteen or
sixteen great counties of Central and
northern California? :,
Redding is at the far north, and touched
by but one line of railroad, and by very
little transeontinental. travel. Sacramento
is in the heart of the State, touched by all
the greater railway lines of the State, and
visited by thousands Of tourists and home
seekers. Suppose the Redding fair of an
hour, and projected for simple occasion,
to have been set down in the depot at Sac
ramento last week, where the exhibits
could have been viewed by fifteen hundred
Westward-passing tourists in that week.
Who could estimate the value to Central
and northern California of such showing?
If now, we establish permanent exhi-
bition here at the very doors of the rail
way depot, if possible, not only Redding,
but Red Bluff, Chico, Biggs, Gridley, Co
lusa, Tehama, Oroville, Marysyille, Wood
land, Auburn, Nevada, Grass Valley, Pla-
ceryille, jackson, and all the communities
of all the northern and central counties
will send to that exhibition their fairs"
the proofs to the sight of the verify of the
claims they make. The Board of Trustees
Of the city, in response to a petition, mas
consented to submit to the people OF Sac
ramento the question of levying small
tax for the purpose of providing place
for and maintaining in it permanent ex-
hibition of the products Of Central and
northern California. The people will,
therefore, be called upon presently to vote
for or against the plan. They should, and
we believe they will adopt it. 1t VIII be
the part of wisdom to do so. With the
example Of southern California before US,
it viii be unwise and retrogressive to de-
cline to do so. As mere investment it
viii pay handsomely.
1t is better plan than to trust to sub
scriptions, for such contributions come
from the few, and become burdensome.
The benefits are to flow to all the people.
and all should, therefore, contribute. The
nonresident owner of property is to be
equally benefited with the resident house
holder; under the tax system he will be
cllled upon to proporiionally contribute to
the common good.
The suggestion for increased taxation is
always met by some disfavor. Nor is it
defensible, except by necessity and the
wisdom of profitable investment The lat
ter is the present case. The way to re-
duee taxation is to augment the producing
and consuming capacity Of the area tribu-
tary to Sacramento. This proposed tax is
for that purpose. 1t viii result in more
speedily peopleing our vacant places; in
bringing new capital and energy to the
section; in creating new demands and the
supply for Them in quickening trade,
stimulating industry and enhancing realty
values.
This has been the result wherever such
investments of money and energy and en-
terprise have been made, backed by the ca
pacity of the land notably so in southern
California. We can develop only by ex-
ercise of our powers. This it is proposed
to do. Backed by section of country
that is the peer of the best, and capable Of
maintaining population of three millions |