Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-20
A FEW WORDS LOCALLY.


Just at this time a word concerning Sac
ranento ard its Possibilities, and the local /
reforms for which the people have con- /
tended, is timely. For no one must run
away with lie idea that because of certain /
gross evils this city is upon the verge Of /
ruin. On She contrary, it is an axiom that /
the community capableof self-puri6cation.
not blind to It's own ills, and able and anxi- |
Gus to zectify It's errors is the place above
all others most desirable, most inviting to
the intelligent, and most likely 70 receive
sn influx of capital and desirable popula-
tisn.
The dormant towns; the places that have
not energy sufficient to rise up and dust
their garments; that tremble with fear lest
their local skeletons emerge from NUM-
cipal closets; that are forever afraid of e
black eye" and prefer to cover than-tc
remove filth to conceal than to excise
social cancers, are the least progressive,of
communities the world over. Let us not
deceive oluselves-the world outside of.our
circle is just as shrewd, wise sharp and
exacting as we who are within our gates
Men of business, home-seekers, investors,
cannot be deceived as TO what makes and
what unmakes cities. Money is az arrant
coward; capital is timorous; ii never puts
its foot upon thin ice, it fees before high
taxation, it runs from the mere Suspicion of
misgovernment
We are just now in the formative stage
in California the towns that are to be GEN.
ters of population and prosperity for all
time, will probably be determined within
the next FIVE years. Let us not lose sight
Of the fact thai those which present the
strongest claims, commercially and soci-
ally, win be the winners. Business is not
eli clean society is not all. The two bear
q close relation to each other. Men will
come into city TO invest where both com
mercial and social conditions are inviting,
in preference to towns where but one of
these factors in prosperity is found. These
are truisms-he who denies them is blind
TO the truths of history, and utterly igno-
rant of the annals of progress in this Re-
public
NoV let as look at the facts Sacra-
mento is fair city of almost limitless pos
sibilities. Her commercial prominence is
due to natural advantages, and transpora-
ton privileges that are second to none, and
superior 10 any others in the interior. She
is in the center of vast and rich egricult-
ural region; she is the chief fruit shipping
point Of the coast. We have large popu-
lation of strong, prudent. economic and
high-minded people, who are neither envi-
GUS of booms nor fearful of being out
stripped. She has an industrial popula-
ton of sterling worth Her commercial
output is enormous and steadily aug
menting. Sacramento is railroad and
trade center, the depot of supply
for constantly expanding trade area. She
has an admirable school system. Her
homes are the pride of her people; her
climate is semi-tropical and inviting to all
who flee from Arctic rigors and the vari-
able meteorological conditions of the East.
In short, Sacramento is a community of
prosperous, well-to-do, intelligent people,
distinguished by the minimum of want
and the maximum of permanent prosper
ity.
But like all commercial centers, certain
evils attach to her-but here in undue pro-
portion, and their reduction becomes,
therefore, an absolute prerequisite to true
prosperity. They are a menace to youth, a
clog to maturity, perpetual drag upon all
the people, and an offense to the Eastern
visitor, of which we have not, perhaps, full
and true conception. To eliminate them
agitation is necessary, and hence it is that
especial attention has recently been re-
peatedly called TO them by the press. If
these evils were not injurious to Sacra-
mento; if the city was not worth the effort
to cast them off; if Saeramento's future
was not so fall Of promise; if her homes
were not SO precious, her youth such rich
sources OF pride, and her mature men and
women SO thoroughly representative Amer
leans and typical progressive CaIifornians
it might not be worth the pains taken to
arouse the public sentiment OF the city to
the necessity for removal OF eradicable
evils
1t is because Sacramento is what she is,
aud is destined to be; because she does not
deserve to be retarded, does not deserve to
be the slave OF the ganbling-room, or the
patient servitor of the low rum mill, that
the protest against them is made. Her au-
thorilies have risen up and ordered the ex-
cision of one of these evils, and every man
and woman who abhors the gaming hell
and is cognizant of its bitter fruits, com
mends these officials. The people are for
giving of the past and unite in the verdict
well done" They applaud, expecting
the order 10 DE continued. and sincerely
trusting that it is not mere ante-election
spasm of reform. Indeed, they believe it
10 be sincere, and rejoice that one reproach
has been again removed; one that has
brought upon us the adverse criticism of
nine out of ten of all we have besought 10
come and dwell with Us. Now let the re-
naming reproaches be removed also. Let
the low all-night liquor holes he shut up
in the small hours, and regulated" in all
hours to something ike 81 approach
toward observance of the decenciea OF the
community. Let the number of drinking
bars be redeeed by Incense system that
will draw sharp line between the decent
saloon and tie ante-room of crime, and the
result be reached here that has been at
tanned in nang States and cities reduction
Of taxation By one-half from present rates.
augmentation of income and greatly
lessened expenses in maintenance of ranni-
cipal government. These reforms are not
difficult of accomplishment, since seven
out of ten of the people are to dag demand
ing them.
A USELESS AMENDMENT.
The Senate has permitted that to besione,
in the handling ofthe bill for the support:
of the Home for Eeeole Minded Cklldren.