Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-05

held it annual meeting al The permanent
exhibit building last evening. The attend
ance was quite large, several ladies being
present. The fruit exhibit looked very fine,
and quite number of visitors called to see
it. E. F. Aiken, of Glen Gardens, an
active member of the Association, brought
in a fine box of early fruit.
After calling the meeting TO order, Presi-
dent DR.. G. L. Simmons read the following
exhaustive and interesting report of what
had been accomplished by the society since
its organization
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT.
To The Members Of the Sacramento city and
County improvement ss0cidtOn-GENTLEMEN A
year has passed since, by the authority of
large meeting of citizens, this association was
organized and began its active labors. In ac-
cordance with q resolution passed at the last
meeting of the Executive Committee the
following report of the work of our organiZG-
ton during the past year is presented for your
consideration with such remarks as would seem
to be appropriate to make in connection with
the various subjects.
1t viii be remembered that twenty standing
committees were appointed to take charge of
all matters coming within the scope of the or
ganiZatiOn. few of these committees have
failed to properly organize or to take sufficient
interest IN their departments TO present reports
to the General Committee, but large majority
have been most active, and with sub-divided
labors have devoted both time and money to
the work of the association, Special commit
tees upon variety of subjects have also rem
dered valuable aid, and were it possible, special
credit should be given to all earnest laborers in
this field.
CHINA SLOUGH.
The first committee specially selected from
the importance of the subiect,.with Frank Mil
Ter as Chairman. is that 4" On Filling in China
Slough and Repairing Wharves and Sheds upon
the City Front. Another committee was also
appointed " On Chinatown, but as the work of
the two appeared closely connected the first
named carried cut all that was possible to do in
this direction TO endeavor to abate so con-
spicuous and long standing nuisance
eradicate Chinatown required bold Chair
man and IAN active committee and both
were found anxious to do the work. At the
very outset the question of filling the slough
| was found not to rest with the Southern Pacific
| Railroad Company, but with the owners of a
narrow strip OF land extending from Third to
| Fifth streets upon the north side of | street
| From this region came the nuisances, and if
| this property could be secured and filed in we
had the most satisfactory assurances that the
whole lake would be speedily improved. I'm
| fortunately our committee soon found that the
owners were not favorable TO improvement and
being perfectly satisfied with the large returns
received upon small investment, no salts
factory arrangement could be made with them
for its acquisition. At this juncture the neces-
sity for
PUBLIC MARKET PLACE,
Where producer and consumer could be
| brought together, was suggested and the idea
advanced that the people of our city would
vote the necessary funds by which the property
could be condemned for public use. With great
unanlmlty, and through the favorable action of
the City Trustees, the question was placed be-
fore our citizens, and although the proposition
called for special tax of fifty thousand dollars
the voters by a clear majority of sevenlhundred
in total vote of three tlOnSoud
with our committee and with the Trustees upon
this important question. As the organic law re-
quired a twothirds vote in favor in order to
carry the proposition, We failed of success by a
little less than hundred votes but we can look
WIN satisfaction upon result which indicates
that large majority of our citizens are favor
able to public improvements Those who op-
posed and thereby defeated the proposition
have the satisfaction of knowing that by their
action one OF the most disgraceful and active
nu1sanees that ever existed in any city will con
t1nue to throw out its deadly germs of disease
and that they have prevented the establishment
OF great public convenience, such as market
necessarily would be. They have also indirectly
enabled the Chinese to hold almost exclusive
tenancy for an indefinite time, of a por-
ton our city which, from its position near the
railroad depot should be occupied by more
legitimate business. During the coming wear
let US hope chat the people will aid the city au-
thorities and the work of our Association in a
new effort to eradicate this blot on our good
name.
WATER WORKS.
Our second committee is that on water works,
machinery and plans for supplying pure and
clear water for domestic purposes and motive
power Tor machinery. l.. Lewis. Chairman.
This committee has been most efficient, and
through its special committee have examined
into the question of necessity for clear water
and the sources from which the same may be
procured. Its elaborate report, now upon the
| files oil this Association, and its experiments to
determine the full nature of asupply from aries
ian wells near the city, thoroughly exhausfS the
subject, and may be at any time referred to with
profit by our city authorities whenever it shall
| be deemed necessary to change our present
| supply.
At later date, this committee also examined
into the merits OF a proposed supply OF clear
water by filtration of the Sacramento river
water and reported favorably to the CITY Tr,ls.
tees The adoption of either plan will undOubt-
eddy give our city supply of clear water and
| as sample calculation will show that the cost
of introduction can be easily met by slight
increase IN water rates, not in excess of that
! paid in Oakland or San Francisco It is to be
hoped that we may speedily receive the inesti-
mable blessing of full supply of clear water
throughout the water system OF our city.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
Our committee No. 3. Oh opening gravelinp
matchmaking or otherwise improving city
streets and alleys, with Colonel Hamilton as
Chairman commenced its labors with an active
campaign on NJ street. This principal avenue
OF the city, with the great Capitol building
looking down upon its mud-holes and irregular
surfaces, which had endured in this way for
effort on the part of the Association for its i'm
provement. 1t is needless to speak of the rebuffs
and personal invectiye received by this COM
mittee, and those who aided them in their
house to house visitation along this thorough
fare. 1t is enough to say that by the influence
OF your body the work was successfully carried
| through in its greater part, and that now a
small portion which held out against the scheme
of improvement is being gravelled and graded
according to law. Some who originally opposed
the work, now that il is done, manfully acknowl-
their a act,.a
and state that to-day the street presents an ap-
pearance worthy of its position and central i'm
portance The effect also Of this improvement
| IS 10 De seen on several of the cross streets
which formerly presented an appearance un-
favorable to the growth OF the city. Fifth
street, between L ard NJ, is the most mott .eable
OF these minor improvements. Said an earnest
citizen to us: " If the Improvement Association
committee had effected nothing else but the
change in NJ street, its members should CON
| slider themselves well paid for their time and
trouble"
Before closing this branch of the subject we
desire to refer to the fact that from the time our
city was organized the authorities have had to
contend with class of property holders who
profess not to believe in the absolute necessity of
good winter thosoughfares. No attempt at grad
ing or raising or graveling has ever been made in
this city but that some citizen rises TO say that
the natural rich mud of the Sacramento valley
makes good enough street for him, and that
the example OF all progressive towns and cities
in this State should be ignored But the favor
| lite argument of these silurians is based upon a
want of means to so improve that during the
rainy months passable condition may be OBJ
tanned Persons who own frontage valued at
| thousands OF dollars have been to the Trustees
and your committee pleading poverty and stat
ing that if compelled to improve absolute ruin
would stare them in the face. The fallacy of
this line of talk eau be easily,showu by proving
to these people that the cost of such permanent
improvements will amount to absolutely
nothing, for the reason that no such improve
ment has ever been made in our city which has
not enhanced the value of the property more
than the total cost. of the improvement But
allowing that there might be. in extreme cases
temporary hardship in the payment of a
proper street tax, let us ask have not those
who live upon well-settled streets. and who de-
sire TO travel upon them in winter no rights to
good highways? Shall an enterprising man be
compelled to look into deepm hole for four
months of a rainy season, when he has public
spirit enough to desire an improvement The
question for Sacramento city and county is not
lor eight months summer travel, but TO include
those four months when the beautiful skies OF
FEBRUARY invite outdoor life and draw toward
US the wealth and population of snow-clad
Eastern regions.
SHADE TREES AND SIDEWALKS
Your Committee on Shade Trees and I'M
proving Sidewalks, with s. Z. Darlington as
Chairman, have held several interesting ses-
slons and mad a full discussion of the subject
matter before the general committee. Through
their efforts not only has there been more care
used IN the selection of evergreen trees for
beautitying ou< streets but there is an increased