The record-union., 1891-11-18
THE SOUTHWEST AND THE STREET
RAILWAY.

z Il
RAILWAY.
The southwest section of the city needs
and deserves street railway facilities.
The proposition of the electric railway to
run along Fourth street will bring all the
residence section west of it, and all east
of it below Sixth street, within two
blocks of the line, or nearer than the resi-
dents in the north and east sections not
directly upon J or NJ streets now are to
the electric road. There does not appear
to be any reasonable hope that by wait
ing any nearer or better approach can be
secured to the southwest. 1t would there
fore be folly to put aside the enterprise
and capital proposing this greatly needed
line of carriage.
AS matters now stand the disreputable
section along Second and I streets. and
the character of the block after nightfall
between Third and Fourth streets on K.
operate as walls to bar approach to the
one treasure of the city which it is proud
to show visitors and where alone it can
receive and entertain delegations, grand
bodies and strangers in general. 1t is hui
initiating to confess it, but it is neverthe-
less true, that because of the conditions
named the city's Art Gallery would long
since have been closed, or have been
turned over to political management
which would mean no growth, no expan-
sion, but retrogression-had it not been
for the Museum Association, which has
made it duty to administer the gallery
for the city out of local pride and public
spirit, and to laboriously and persistentIy
push the work ir the face of the obstacles
referred to.
Nor are the residents of the southwest
any better situated. They are practically
cut off from the main body of the city
except by circuitous and tme-losing foot
routes; their property is deprecated in
consequence, their section isolated and
social communication with friends in the
greater sections of the town seriously re-
stricted
But the construction of the Fourth
street line VIII revolutionize the whole
situation. With ease of transportation
six visitors viii come to the Art Gallery
where now one "foots it'; the splendid
property, which stands so much to our
credit in the estimation of all strangers.
will become known to all our own peo-
Oln huOdra6S of yvbop, boxvo ,,o--o, -.
foot within its doors, and strangers by the
hundreds will visit it monthly who now do
not even learn of it. With augmented
attendance the Museum Association will
be able to reach vastly more people and
interest them in its work of building up a
museum of natural history as an addi-
tional attraction TO the property, and
which as it grows will more and more
augment the rapidity of its expansion.
With present conditions it is all but
impossible to get people to the building
or interest them in the School of Design.
cabinets, herbarium or museum colIec-
ton. With ease of transportation the
gallery and work of the association will
introduce themselves. As a result in a
very few years the attractions Of the
building will be immensely increased by
reason of contributions to all departments
in it, due to visitations, lecture courses.
promotion of the School of Design, etc.
The people living in the southwest will
be reunited to the city, and at all reasona-
bic hours they can go to and return from
the business sections, the halls and thea
ter, the parks and Free Library. the
Courthouse and public Offices without
having to walk more than two blocks to
take the cars. or after leaving them-that
is, for the entire residence section between
Sixth street on the east, Second on the
west, r on the south and K on the north.
Every reason bids the people favor the
Fcurth-street petition of the electric road.
If those of the present and the rising gem
Grafton are ever to enjoy the comforts and
advantages Of a street railway into Sacra-
mento's southwest they must credit it to
the grant of franchise as now asked for
is to fulfill its full purpose for the city and
become means of attracting visitors,
continually augmenting museum of nat
ural history and a high educational
agency, the walls that now surround the
Second Ward must be pierced and a gate
way opened for free passage of all the
people day and night; and the only way
to that end is through street railway,
and the only one promising any results
before the present generation shall have
moldered beneath the sod is that asking
for the Fourth-street route.
BRAZILIAN TROITRIES