Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1892-01-23

SOME DUBIOUS FIGURES.


We have just been glancing over an
abstract of the report of the State Super.
intendent Of Schools for California. The
document makes at least two strange dis.
closures. The first and most important
is the decline in the number of enrolled
school children in the city Of San Fran
cisco. There were 43, 200 in 1885 and
only $4,000 in 1891. This showing ia
the more remarkable when we consider
that 1t is claimed for San Francisco BY
her local press that she is a growing city,
sfact. however, which we do not concede.
1t will be remembered that the Federal
census OF the population in 1890 was
substantially the same as in 1880, about
300, 900 in both cases. We do not be-
lieve that San Francisco has grown in ten
years nor do we believe that she will
grow in the next ten unless changes in
policy shall come TO her relief. She ia
practically a one-railroad town with all
that the term implies. True, the Pacific
ocean and q magnificent land.locked bay,
in which the navies Of the world might
ride in safety. are there, but the McKin.
ley bill has built . wall of protection
across the Golden Gate OF sufficient high
TO keep all m out. The high
tariffs OF the railroad bears down en- the
city in one direction and the high
tariffs of the Mckinley law in the
other. This 10 what ails San Fran
cisco and lie what will hold her back
in the race Of progress until new con-
ditions and policies are brought about.
The thing for the Pacific Coast metrop.
oils to do is to get another railroad Is
soon IS possible and vote the Democratic
ticket to q man for such q lowering of
the tariffs "a will revive ocean commerce.
1t surpasses ell understanding that pro
~tectionists Of the excessive type can be
found among the business men and pro.
perty holders OF q great seaport city. II
would be as natural to find gold mono.
metalists among the silver miners of Ne
vada. But this article was not intended
as an essay, however brief, on political
economy. The n~on-growth OF the city
and the cause Of it merely brought in
these reflections. The other strange
point made by the Schoolmaster General
OF California 10 that the attendance Of
children at the public schools is always
much higher at the beginning Of the
term than later on. He ascribes as Q
probable cause the prevalence Of cpl.
demic diseases among the people OF Q
great city, If San Francisco may aptly
be termed great. 1t is gratifying to
know that the children are there il they
do not go to school the year round. We
feared that q question of morality or
more properly speaking perhaps, immoral.
ity might be in some way involved with
the other causes. The falling off Of the
the baby crop 1000 in the six years from
1885 to 1890 with no increase. and pos
sibly a decline in the population, is sug-
gestive but not deeply significant. Most
probably the records will show q decline
In marriages. and certainly an increase in
divorces and the breaking up OF family
raising ties. Hard times is productive
too OF all sorts Of results in all sorts OF
directions. The suspension Of hydraulic
mining in California for ten years has
kept one hundred millions Of dollars Of
gold out of San Francico. The low price
OF silver has kept out another hundred
million OF bullion from the mines of Ne.
vada. San Francisco owes all she is to
the mines. When she turned her back
the miner and mining she ceased to
grow. The people Of Californis have
changed. They are not what they were
years ago. The spirit OF enter
prise has disappeared. San Franchises
no manufacturing interests worthy
the name and the East has taken from
her trade with the back country. The
state is devoted exclusively to agricul. |
iural pursuits. Pumpkins and rutabagas
ave taken the place Of gold and silver