The record-union., 1892-12-16
LOCAL MANUFACTURES.

An impression prevails that more man.
ufacturing enterprises cannot be profit
ably promoted here. Believing this to be
error, the RECORD UNION proposes to
make thorough exploitation of the sub
ject. The prevalent notion, we take it. is
largely due to the fact that the older in
habitants of the city do not, or will not,
get out of the rut of the past, either for
perversity or lack of information con-
cerning the city's capacity for pro-
gression.
Were it possible or feasible to ship 100
of our old and young men of brains to
the East for two months tour through
that bustling region, they would return
with such enlarged ideas concerning local
possibilities as would result almost i'm
mediately in local industrial and pro-
gressive activities to an extent that
would insure a new era of prosperity for
the place.
We have grown into the belief that the
introduction of industries here is not
~N'-~AO
jected in the past failed for reasons other
than local. AS matter of fact, as we as
certain by inquiries we are now prosecut-
ing, none of the enterprises referred to.
worthy of any consideration, failed be-
cause of reasons attaching to Sacramento.
On the contrary, they did not fail in the
financial sense. They ceased for three
reasons, namely: There was too much
capital invested in them the time was
not ripe for them, and the management
was not modern. In no instance, save
one, have we been able to find any sub
stantial causes due to location, facilities
or demand, that operated disastrously
against them.
What may make Sacramento a success
full manufacturing place is small invest
ments in several additional manufactur-
ing industries that will meet demands
local to the coast; not the involvement of
great capital in one or two mammoth con-
Germs which would have to command an
immense and widespread trade.
Thus, there would not only seem to be
no reason why manufactures, such as
Petaluma, Alameda, Santa Rosa, Stock
ton and other points now have, should
not find this an advantageous location.
But those cities invited, in some cases
subsidized, the industries. Sacramento
is more centrally located, has more and
better distribution facilities and more
ready capital for investment in
encouragement of manufactures. The
statistics of manufactures, now being
issued in Census Office bulletins, show
that the lesser cities of the Union having
manufacturing strength and wealth are
those where numerous small manufact-
ories are located; the few cities only have
great industrial institutions.
Lines Of manufacture in which the con-
troll can be maintained by great Eastern
concerns. because of the immensity of
their works, the great amount of capital
invested, the volume of business insured
by density of population, the economy
guaranteed by lessened cost of labor and
materials, cannot be proftably under
taken in California in the present day.
But there are home and other products
to be worked up and coast demands that
may be met by local supply, and a num-
ber Of special industries TO be built up, if
we but move in the right direction to Sc
cure them.
What is just now needed is intelligent
searching, business-like inquiry and as
certainment what may be proftably es-
tablished and maintained here, and what
inducement may and should be held out
to that end.
Sacramento has upon the south, east
and north sections that may well be oc-
cupied by such industries as we can in
duce to locate here. Her shipping facili-
ties are of a high order, her relation to
AGRICULTURAL sections is unsurpassed. We
have rail communication direct with all
tie more important sections of the State
and the coast, and we to-day receive and
ship and permit to pass our doors mate
rials that ought to be turned into manu-,