Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-02
ABOUT HER RAILROAD CONNECTIONS.
The Location OF the City-Extent of
the Country Tributary to 1t,
and Its Character.
THE VOLUME OF HER BUSINESS.
The Year 1887 n Good Year foI
Sacramento-The Outlook for
the Future.

In 1928 this journal entered upon the
task of ascertaining statistically the vol
ume of the trade of Sacramento exclusive
of the immediate local or internal bust
ness. After several weeks Of inquiry and
calculation it completed the work and
ascertained that the volume of the
JoBBISG AND MANUFACTURING
Business of the city aggregated some Sl5,-
100000. 1t was, however, a season of con-
siderable depression and the figures of the
season of 1884 proved the volume
to be in excess of S1S,OO0,O0O. These
reviews in 1880 took the form OF
statistical proofs, where before they had
been simply given the text of review OF
the city and State without elaboration.
Under the new system the branches OF
trade were specified and the amount done
IN each was given with specific accuracy.
The first general review of this character
was printed on the first day of January,
1880, and gave the statistics for the year
1879. The trade was found to have ex-
ceeded that of 1873 by over
ONE AND HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
And the volume of the business aggre-
gated S29,273,800. In the review coven
ing the year 1880 ii was shown to be $751;
1l2050. The plan of the RECORD Z MON
and its proven accuracy of detail received
the approval of the Sacramento Board of
Trade, and that body practically adopted
the method and figures of this paper, lend
ing its own aid also in celebrating and
adding to the system, and then issued the
whole IN connection with and as a part
Of its
ANNUAL REPORT.
This official Endorsement had the effect
OF removing any possibly-entertained
doubts concerning the figures, or that they
might have been the result of unskiHed
statisticians.
In 1882, our report showed a gain of
S4,2oO,SS5 for 1881 over 1880, or an aggre-
gate of 1892, 935. This steady increase
continued with little fuctuation. from
year to year, until in 1885 the business of
the city was proven to exceed S4S. 900. 900.
AT this time the detailed statistical re-
ports ceased, because the matter became
heavier to handle than was possible of
adequate treatment in a daily journal
without sacrifice ftoo much time and labor.
but mainly because the fact that
AS A COMMERCIAL CENTER
Had been sufficiently published abroad to
counteract any doubling or adverse infu-
ences, and was accepted throughout the
coast and acknowledged by competing
markets that had heretofore denied the
Importance of the business, or that its
volume cut any material figure in the
commercial statistics of the coast.
The volume of the trade of the city for
1886 exceeded S53000000, and for the
year 1887 just closed, our calculations,
based upon the steady growth of business,
and the best attainable opinions of bust
ness men, together with very careful in
quiry in proper quarters, and the exami-
nation of the statistics of shipment, Justify
us IN placing the volume of Sacramento's
trade in excess Of S55,000,000 annually
This figure is assuredly below rather than
above the true aggregate, but we have
deemed 1t proper to indulge in no state
ment that will admit of any doubt being
entertained regarding its accuracy.
THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY,
Careful inquiry develops, has during the
past year been characterized by the same
healthful tone that has distinguished it
since We first began the researches referred to.
Indeed, the year for nearly all classes of
business has been good one. The sales
in general merchandising very greatly ex-
ceeded those of 1886. More flour has
been made, more exported, more grain
brought in, more produce gathered and
shipped, greater fruit shipments by far.
and tonnage output of freight fully
fifteen per cent. in excess of that of the
preceding year over said lines of trans
portation. We have found that in a few
lines, small manufacturing mainly, the
business was not in excess of that of 1886.
But in all the main branches of trade
Sacramento had better wear than in
either 1884, 1885 or 1856. At the same
time her trade area has broadened very
considerably, and already it is feeling new
forces of expansion in the direction of the
great northwest, owing to the recent COM
pletion of the California and Oregon Rail
read. The city never had brighter out
will continue 10 augment, and the area of
Its influence continue to expand The
coSnic forces that contribute are ire
slstlble. Natural conditions prevail that
cannot be restricted or thwarted. The
future of Sacramento, bv reason of these
forces and conditions, by reason of the
firm footing of present trade, the geogra-
phic and topographic location of the CITY.
pfc :.
climatic and economic advantages, will be
one of progression and expansion to the
attainment of commercial Importance sec
ond only to that of San Francisco.
REASONS.
1t is, however, not the purpose of this
article to treat of the present condition of
Sacramento's trade so much as to repeat the
reasons for the city's commercial import
ance. We say "repeat," for these reasons,
like all fundamental truths, being I'M
changeasle, are to-day what they have
been, and we have frequently stated them
But while they are, as at the beginning,
new factors of transportation and commune
cation, new development and settlement
have intensified them and made them more
prominent than ever before 1t is, there
fore, more than ever important that they
should be restated.
WHOEVER EXAMINES
The typographical location of Sacramento
must be impressed deeply with the happy
situation Of Sacramento. At the junction
of the American and Sacramento rivers.
she is in the very heart of the State. On
the east rise the Sierra ranges, whose fertile
foothills roll to the very threshold of the
city and are in themselves an empire
of wealth and production. They are
indeed developing throughout a longi-
tude of two hundred miles with greater
rapidity than other section of the
central and northern region. Towns.
villages and cities are building in every
part; vineyards cover their gentle sunward
slopes; orchards of deciduous and citrus
fruits are numbered upon their tops and
in their wales by the thousand; vast in
dustry in the growth of fruits of all kinds,
in the curing of raisins and in the culture
of the vim, in these luxuriant rolling
lands is Supplemented by mineral wealth,
the production of
GOLD AND SILVER,
The uncovering of inexhaustible beds of
valuable clays for pottery and stoneware: