The morning call., 1892-07-24
CLOUDS UPON OUR PROSPECTS.

Within the last few days much has been
said in relation to the future prospects Of
California, and in connection Herewith
comments have been made respecting the
prospects of our cities and towns. This is
time when we hear also much said con-
cernlng hard times generally and specGla-
ton as to what causes them. One news
paper SAYS protection to home industries
troubles rs. and ii gravely assures our work
men that il would be a good thing IL we
would permit the entrance of the products
OF every country under the sun to come in
free of duty. OF course if this were the
case workmen might make their purchases
for less money, but the question arises
where would they get the money with which
to purchase those supplies? But our object
is not to-day to discuss the national free
trade policy but rather to refer to a diff
Guilty which is already upon US, and which
must be met if we would have good times.
Messrs. Stanford and Huntington say that
free trade is an admirable thing for them.
They only want free trade, however, with
the outside world. They wish to have no
obstacles placed ia the way Of their bring
ing in and taking out Of the country what
products they please; but they would have
protection. which will give them the right
to take a big a toll from every grist which
goes to their mill as they please, and
this toll. unless limited by law, is likely
TO take nearly all we have in the end
Messrs. Stanford & Co. want free trade
in politics They would ike to run
the political machine TO suit themselves.
Money in this direction will 20 a great
way. 1t will control bosses and agents
innumerable And as for money, how
ocfT - Ia oh+a
freight which passes over the road is made
to pay. say one-QuaIter of a cent per pound.
Some classes Of freight may stand several
cents per pound. Our railroad managers
want free trade, as we have suggested,
with tha outside world. but they want pro-
lection IN California. II our orchardists
have fruit TO send abroad, why not tax it
hberally? One thousand dollars per car
load to Liverpool will bring in considerable
m0ney-enough TO hire several politicians,
il the scheme can be made to succeed.
little money spent with Supervisors may
cloud the title TO the whole water front OF
fOurishing city? Would not this be a good
thing? Some tens of thousands Of dollars
may elect members of a Legislature to be
sent TO Sacramento, who might pass lust
such laws as would please our railroad
managers. and it might refuse TO pass laws
which would bene6t the people Even
taxes. which ought to be paid, may amount
to a considerable sum in the aggregate.
Our city may langusb if we continue to do
just what our railroad friends wish us to
do, but 1t is possible the people after little
may take the election of their officials into
their own hands. Here is what a railroad
paper says about empty houses:
careful estimate made by the Spring Valley
Water Company, which has special facilities for
acquiring accurate Information, reduces the
number Of vacant houses ia this city from 5000
TO an average Of 2750, which Is very ferent
proposition. To find POO houses vacant In a
city containing a population OF 800. 600 and
over Is nothing abnormal, and there is nothing
IN 1t to cause alarm for the future of San Fran
cisco.
1t must De borne IN mind that large number
OF these vacant houses are houses that are ont
OF daie-that Is that do not contain the comforts
ana c0nYeniences which are TO be found In
houses OF more modern construction When TO
this is added the fact hat the owners OF such
houses eXpeci just as much rent for them as is
asked FOR modern houses, IL viii hot seem al all
strange that so many Of them are vacant and
likely 10 remain so. San Francisco fs
and viii be all right only the truth is told about
her. bat Il newspapers take special pains to pro-
claim cadence which does not exist tie re-
ally may come to take the place Of the shadow.
All the city needs Is TO be depicted as she is not
as the iaundced eye Of some calamitarian news.
paper sees her.