Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-29
LANDMARKS or Pass STUPIDITY.
STATIONERY STREET AWNINGS AND
THEIR REMOVAL.
Eye-sOres that Demand Heroic Treat
ment-A Standing Menace to
Public Safety.

Trustee Mclaughlin is showing consid-
cradle energy in enforcing the orders of
the Trustees concerning unsafe awnings
One OF these orders is that no repairs shall
be allowed to old wooden structures of that
description. Yesterday some repairs were
made, or attempted to be made, to the
awning about the bank building of D. 0.
Mills & Co. at Second and streets. The
Street Commissioner made the discovery
and promptly stopped the work, showing
that he is determined to treat all persons
alike.
This is right. If the city is ever to
emerge from the tumble-down and shabby
condition that now disfgures the business
streets, the rule made by the City Trustees
must be rigidly adhered to. If balconies
that had begun to decay are allowed to
be patched up, the owners will maintain
them as long as they can be made to hold
together, and the day of their condemna-
ton will be indefinitely postponed. The
hot weather season here is usually brief,
and it cannot be urged with any force
that these balconies are necessary to pro-
modern type, such as are used in the
Eastern cities, give far better protection
against the suns rays than do the high,
square awnings in vogue here, and whose
architecture was the outgrowth of the rush
and fury of the days of 40, when people
were more bent on getting rich than in
identifying their property.
Sacramento has been slow to catch ON
to the car of progress that is traversing the
country, but she will "get there in the
course of time. The day of the old-style
wooden balcony has departed, and the cob.
webs, the filth and the accumulated stains
of forty years must go.
The City Trustees are deserving of credit
for the firm, stand they have taken in this
matter and for their determination to work
needed reform. They have done good
work in condemning and removing some
OF the worst-looking and most dangerous
OF these street rookeries, and it is to be
hoped that-encouraged as they have been
by public opinion-they will soon see their
way clear to make an order that shall,
within given time, sweep away every one
of these shabby street sheds. The latter
are not only disgrace to the city, but a
continual menace to its safety. They aid
in spreading fire from one building to an
other, and obstruct firemeE in their efforts
This was practically demonstrated at the
recent fire in the Pacific Market at Eighth
and ] streets. While the firemen were en-
gagged inside the building, the flames were
shot along under the row of balconies on
that block until the paint was scorched
and blistered as far away as the store of P
h. Russell; and the firemen were fire.
quently called from their work inside the
market to fight the fire that was feeding on
the balconies and endangering other build
ings along the street.
The power of the Trustees to make a
wholesale condemnation of these obnox-
ious structures is undisputed, and the
sooner they do it the better will it be for
the city.
There is too often disposition shown to
respect "old landmarks" But there never
yet was an old landmark removed in any
city that the community was not benefited
thereby. Their condemnation and removal
are rendered necessary by the march of
progress. A city that has nothing to which
her citizens may point with pride but a
succession of "old landmarks" is city to
be commIserated and laughed at, and one
that will be avoided by capital in its search
for opportunities for investment
Let the Trustees fix date within which
all balconies or awnings of certain de-
order be enforced without fear or favor.
Then shall be seen city which had given
some evidence of desire to be up with
the times. 1t would be but small and
modest beginning, to be sure, but it would
have good effect. Other improvements
would suggest themselves and as surely
follow. The people must get out of the old
ruts in which they have travelled for forty
years; and If they haven't the spirit and
energy themselves to make the attempt.
let the city authorities crack the municipal
whip over their heads. and if necessary
lay its lash gently at frsD on the backs
of the more obstreperous. A few silurians
must not be permitted to obstruct the pro-
cession. We are no longer living under
the Spanish flag, nor the old Bear flag.
Since the days of 40 the American banner
has been waving over California, and in
that time it has added not a few stars to
its field of blue. New cities have sprung
up in these years and become the seats of
great enterprises. Sacramento has had
great deal to contend against, and yet has
accomplished much, but she has not made
the advancement she should have made.
1t is not too late to make q new start.
I,eI il begin nv heautifvinp tho sfreofs