Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-27
BOARD OR TRADE.
IT CALLS A CONVENTION OF SEVERAL
RIVER COUNTIES,
And Decides to incorporate 4OO, 900
Wanted for the Postoffice-
The New Charter-Etc.

dent Z. h. Platt presided, and in calling the
meeting to order, stated that the subjects
to be considered were: First, the incor-
poration of the Board for the purpose of
erecting a building; second, Mr.. Alsip's
resolutions, providing for river improve
ment convention; third, the appropria-
ton for the Government building, and
fourth, the selection of fifteen freeholders
to formulate a new charter.
Mr.. William Ingram, Jr., moved that the
river improvement matter be first consid-
cred and it was SO ordered.
The resolutions introduced by Mr.. Alsip
at the last meeting Of the Board were then
read by Secretary Pickett. These resolu-
tons were published in full in the RECORD
UNION of the oath. They recited the facl
that the river had been neglected in the
past by the Federal Government and should
be improved without delay; also that con-
ventiOn be held of delegates representing
the counties of Sacramento Butte, Yuba,
Suffer, Colusa, Yolo, Solano and San Joa-
quin, together with the Chamber of Com
merce of San Francisco, and that it prepare
and present strong memorial to Congress
on the subject.
Mr.. Alsip moved theadoption of the reso-
lutions.
President Platt then read a letter from
Governor Waterman expressing regret at
his inability to be present, and assuring
the Board of his deep interest in the matter.
The resolutions were adopted without q
dissenting vote.
On motion of Mr. Alsip, Governor Water
man was included as a deleg te to the con-
vention on behalf of the State at large
Mayor Gregory offered the following pre-
amble aud resolutions on the subject of
river improvement:
To the Honorable Senate and House of Represent
dtires in Congress assembled.
WHEREAS, Professor George Davidson, of the
Mississippi River Commission, has expressed
be sentiments of the people of the Sacramento
valley in the following language, to wit what
We should have Is a Government Commission
for the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, to
have full charge OF navigation, leyees and all
Improvements just as the Mississippi is now
managed. L am one of the members of that
Commission. 1t consists of seven members, ap-
pointed by the President of the United States.
General Comstock, of the Engineer Corps, is
Chairman. Three of the Commission are en-
giAeeIs, and four civilians. One is a lawyer
Congress gives US large appropriations, and all
matters relating to the river, from its source to
its mouth, are under its eontrol-leveeing and
everything. That's the way things should be
here. The Sacramento is the chief river of this
great State 1t is The direct line of commerce.
Our great ships now enter Suisun Bay. The
government buOuIu JUST rs properly leNee ana
care for the river as for the Mississippi. Let
the Chamber of Commerce or some of our peo-
pie take the matter up and have the attention
of our Representatives drawn to the matter.
There could be q Commission of three mem
bers, with Government engineer at the head
of il. The river could be leveed and put in the
way of permanent and systematic improve
meDt; ;" and whereas, the Chamber of Com
merce of San Francisco has expressed similar
sentiments in memorial addressed to Congress,
and has added that the neglect of the Sacra-
m = 81 q q ~
of the harbor of San Francisco and to the COM
merce OF the State; therefore, be it
Resolued, By the Board of Trade of the city of
Sacramento, representing the people of the
chief commercial city of the interior OF the
State that Congress be urged to legislate for the
appointment OF a Government Commission for
the Sacramento river, said Commission to have
full charge of navigation, leyees and all i'm
provements, as the Mississippi river is now
managed, with view to securing systematic
treatment of the Sacramento river; said Com
mission to be provided with a sufficient appro-
priation to enter upon the work when it shall
have decided upon proper system of treat
meut.
And your memorialists will ever pray.
Mayor Gregory said that his object in
Offering these resolutions was not to antag-
onize those offered by Mr.. Alsip and al
ready adopted. He desired that the Board
of Trade should place itself on record in
the matter as regards what course should
be pursued in the way of redeemipg the
river. But the Board, if it preferred, might
refer the resolutions to the Convention.
The Government had expended $500, 000,-
600 in improving and protecting the Missis-
sippi river, ard ne could see no reason
why it should not deal as justly with the
Sacramento river, which is as important to
the Pacific coast as the Mississippi is to the
central portion of the union.
Mr.. Alsip said he was in favor of the
Board adopting the resolutions offered by
the Mayor, but he did not think the Board
should take any action in the way of di-
recting the Convention. These resolutions
might however, be properly adopted as in
structions to the Boards delegates TO that
body.
Sparrow Smith moved that the resolu-
tons be referred to the delegation to be Sc
lected by the Board to attend the proposed
Convention.
1t was so ordered.
On motion of Mr.. Alsip, it was voted
that the Convention be called for Friday,
the 18th of January.
The Chair named as the committee on
behalf of the Board, Messrs. Alsip, Ing
ham, Gregory, Weinstock and Smith.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
This matter was next taken up, and
Joseph Steffens, of the committee appointed
to report resolutions to be forwarded to the
Representatives in Washington, said that
before their departure for Washington
these gentlemen had been interviewed on
the subject, and as soon as Mr.. Nick
arrived II Washington he opened commu-
nication at once with the Supervising
Architect, and plan outlined by Postmas-
ter r D. stephens had been considered.
Mr. McKenna, it was telegraphed, had
asked for an additional appropriation OF
$4,000, but the latest he (the speaker had
heard on the subject was the published re-
port that Senator Hearst had introduced q
bill placing the limit of the cost of public
buildings for cities of this class at 100000
The committee had been confronted with
the difficulty of preparing resolutions
naming any specific sum as desirable, fol
fear of conflicting With the ideas and plans
of our Representatives in Congress, hence
it had formulated the following:
WHEREAS, Our delegation in Congress has fol
some time been doing efficient and creditable
work in the matter OF providing Sacramento
with much needed .postofiice and revenue
building; therefore, be it
Rescued That we tender our thanks to oul
members in Congress and urge them to do al
possible to provide for and have constructed, a
as early date as possible, public building
suited to the present and future wants OF tbs
rapidly increasing growth of this the prtncipa
inland city OF the Pacific coast.
Postmaster Stephens here asked permits
sion of the Board to read the following letter
WniCn ne luOugnt WOuIu uelp " Sulue
straight in its action:
WASHINGTON, December 2lst.
Ny DEAR SIR: In response to your favor
beg to say that l introduced bill to increaS'
the postofiice appropriation TO $500 900, an in
crease of Sl50000, instead of $4,000 Thank
for letter. Yours truly, J. MCkENNA.
R. D. stephens, Esq.
Mr.. Stephens said he had read the pub
Ished dispatch to the effect that Mr.. Nc
Kenna had introduced bill to increase th,
appropriation 10 100000, and then wrot
him a long letter, presenting the subjec
fully. and the letter Just read, in respons
thereto, was received by the last mail.
Mr.. Stephens then went on to explain
the history of the legislation on the sub
iect, wilsI all Its perplexities and uncer
tainties, and said that now, however, th
situation seemed to be all right and salts
factory. Our Senators and CongressmeI
had consulted together on the subject ant
were in full harmony in regard to wha
should be done. They have all, he said
agreed upon $500 600 as the sum needed t
erect the proper sort of building here
seemed TO him that the proper thing TO-
the Board OF Trade to do would be to sup