Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-19
THE CITY OF HOMES.
Sacramento, as 1t Looks to Returne,
Old-Timer.


Old-Timer.
In conversation with D. A. Heidelberg,
an early-day Sacramentan, who has since
lived abroad, REcoRD-UNIoN reporter
asked him how the city looked to him after
an absence of many years.
WELL" said he, s. let me do a little talk
ing first. In early days, as you are aware,
PEG; lie came to California to make their
fortunes as quickly as possible. and then
return to their homes. Nobody thought of
staying in California any length of time.
This was as true of those that came to
Sacramento as of all others. Well, people
did not go to much trouble in those days in
the matter of building, and consequently
the structures erected then were of rather
primitive character. That was all right at
that time, but l notice that the business
buildings OF those days are still standing
in this city. The downtown portion of
Sacramento has not kept pace with the
march of events-her business houses do
not compare with those of other cities,
even on this coast"
but, it is claimed, Mr.. Heidelberg, that
there IS some excuse for this. Sacramento.
you know, was one of the earliest settled
cities in the State, and, for many years
was the best built of any, except San Fran
cisco. These building have, in sense,
like to dispense with good-paying property
and erect new and more costly structures"
Yes" said Mr.. Heidelberg, " l know
that is the argument that the owners of
these buildings employ, and presume you
are simply quoting what they say"
Reporter That is ALL"
well, then, it is no argument at all.
Business men ought to take as much pride
in the appearance of their mercantile hab-
itations as in that of their private dwell
ings. Nothing gives town or city better
standing abroad than the reputation of
having handsome business houses. When
strangers stop over in Sacramento for few
hours they do not get any farther than the
downtown portion, and that is all they
see. In face, that is about all that practical
men care to see in order to form an esti-
mate of town."
But you will admit that the residence
portion of Sacramento is creditable to the
enterprise of her people?"
There-now you've struck il. | was
coming to that. l wanted to give your
downtown property owners poke that
they deserve, but | want to say, also. that
Sacramento Is really delightful city OF
homes. Her people discovered many
years ago that they had come to stay--to
live and die here in this favored portion OF
California, and they have built themselves
delightful and pretty homes. Nobody
could reasonably find fault with the enter
prise and taste displayed in this particular,
and / will say that one may travel over
much of the world without finding place
more thoroughly homelike or progressive
than Sacrament1-outside of her business
section"
The reporter was about to take leave OF
the gentleman when the latter detained
| him.
See here" said he in his characteristic
ally blunt manner, II think the California
| legislators land the people that elect them
| ought to be ashamed of their parsimony
in one particu lar. at least. When ] neared
| st. Petersburg in Russia the first indication
| of the city that met my gaze were the
| cleaning domes and minarets of her pub
! lie buildings, and the same was true oil
most of the European cities, also. And
| when | came back TO California and heard
| that she had here in Sacramento one Of
| the most beautiful and imposing State
| Capitols in the Union, l looked-as / ap.
preached Sacramento-for some evidence
upon the dome of that structure that this
was the land of gold, a land known the
world over as the Golden State. But
l
looked like ball on the top of some church
steepie, and when was told that it capped
the dome on the State Capitol building, and
| that the dirty-looking, brown
| colored structure beneath il was the dome
itself, / thought to myself Well,
needn't say what / thought, but | tell you
confdentially, it was not fattering to the
intelligence or pride of CALIFORNIA; legisla
tors. Why, sir, that dome ought to be all
covered with gold Suppose it did ccsl
| $4,000 or $4,000 to gid it-what of it?
| understand that more money than thai
was paid out by the last Legislature to fee
an army of political loafers from the pur
liens of San Francisco by making place:
| for them during the Legislature. 1t is 6
shame that matter of the kind to which
have alluded should be neglected on the
| score of COST
Mr.. Hedenburg seemed to be wound ur
for good long iongue-lashing to the pas
legislators of California, but it was cut shor
| by the reporters call to other duties.
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