Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-09-05
BECOMING HISTORICAL.
SOME REMARKS APRoPos TO THE
ELECTRIC ROAD MATTER.
james 1. Felter Talks of the Suffsrines
of Sacramento Through the Stu
pidity of Officials.

Il am IN full sympathy with the REC
ORD UNION in its depreciation of the re-
markable action of Trustees Mclaughlin
and Wolf in the electric road natter said
James l. Felter, the well-known wholesale
merchant, yesterday to q reporter. "Sacra-
mento has been, indeed, unfortunatein the
selection of men TO manage its municipal
affairs. The same sentiment that prevails
now-that is, with Wolf and Mclaughlin
has bobbed up with painful frequency in
the history of this city.
Now, number of years ago the firm of
Baker & Hamilton wanted to establish an
immense mandatory of agricultural i'm
plements here in Sacramento and made
very reasonable request that the city relieve
it from taxation for stated time, or rather
until the Institution got on its feet. But
why was not this immense establishment
located here? Simply because a majority
of the Board of Trustees. blind and careless
of theinterests of the city, refused to concede
this reasonable request. What was the re-
suit? Why, Baker & Hamilton simply
packed up and left town and located their
establishment at Benicia, whose people had
sense enough to appreciate the good they
would derive. The location of those works
there made new place out of Benicia.
Over one thousand men were given steady
employment, and millions of dollars have
reverted to the benefit of Benicia.
THE NAIL WORKS.
But that was only one instance" con-
tinued Mr.. FELTON,, warming up to his SUBJ
ject where Sacramento suffered through
the stupidity, or possibly knavery, OF its
officials. At another time San Francisco
syndicate desired to establish large nail
mandatory here, and like Baker & Ham,
ilton, asked reasonable concessions in the
way of temporary relief from taxation, from
the city. But they received the same treat
ment as did their predecessors. The result
was the syndicate established its immense
works at Berkeley, and that city is reaping
the benefits that were intended for Sacra-
mento. Everybody in travelling between
here and San Francisco has passed by the
nail works, and good idea exists as to
what those benefits are. Hundreds of men
are gwen steady employment and hun
dreds OF thousands of dollars are expended
in Berkeley"
Mr.. Felter then spoke of more recent
matter which, he said, gave good idea of
the reputation Sacramento has, to her
shame acquired. A proposition, he said,
was made several weeks ago to a number
of Sacramento capitalists, including him
SELF to take hold of a valuable tract of
land in Carbondale, Amador county, which
contains an immense bed of good quality
coal, also fine white sand, suitable for glass
manufacture, and an inexhaustible supply
of magnificent clay-just the material for
the manufacture of sewer-pipe, terra Gotta
work and pressed brick. Over thousand
acres were contained in the tract, and it
was one of the most valuable plants in the
State.
STILL ANOTHER LOSS.
ut was proposed said Mr.. Felter, "to
locate extensive sewer-pipe and brick
works, with a coal repository connected,
right here in Sacramento city. In q short
while big glass mandatory would have
been added to the plant. But they held
several conferences. and although realizing
that it would be grand thing for the city,
finally came 10 the conclusion that they
would not put themselves into position
to be snubbed like the nail works and
Baker 81 Hamilton. They knew what
treatment they were likely to receive
at the hands of the Trustees should they
ask any favors. What was the result?
Why San Francisco syndicate took hold
of the matter, formed stock company and
incorporated with a capital stock of ST.
100000. A couple of Sacramentaus only
are among the stockholders, including my
SELF when the entire concern should have
been made up of Sacramentans Instead
of having its immense establishment here,
where employment would have been given
to hundreds of men, the works will now
be established at Carbonate, with the
main office at San Francisco.
Now this electric road proposition
| concluded Mr.. Felter, sis only going
through the same trouble that all other
desirable investments have experienced
Had Mr.. Henry known as much q couple
of month ago, as he knows now, he would
have sought some place other than Sacra-
mento to invest his $4,000. It's a shame
and disgrace, that's what it is Instead
of inviting foreign capital here, it is driven
off. Look at Tacoma, Seattle, Los Angeles
and San Jose. They all have electric roads
and other moneyed establishments in their
midst. None of these cities should be
ahead of Sacramento, yet to our shame we
mnst admit that thew are -