The record-union., 1893-05-25
THE WHOLE SUM OR NOTHING.

winds.
THE WHOLE SUM OR NOTHING.
There is a lull in the subscriptions to
tie industrial movement-that Is, the
names coming in daily are not so numer-
Gus as at first. That there would be
slowing up in signing was, of course, to
be expected; but that there should be so
many more as have signed should still
subscribe to the movement is not credit
able.
Among those who are still Consider
ing" are some Of our wealthy citizens,
and large number of others who are
we'll to do. These people are making d
grave mistake. What is asked Of them
Is a very small thing of each. Every one
of them expends in directions not abso-
more annually than the sum they are now
asked TO become responsible for-for
what? To supplement the industries OF
the city with others, which can only he
secured by offerings, by bids, according
to the methods pursued successfully in a
score OF cities of this size that can be
named.
This supplementing ought to begin at
once; the longer it is delayed the more
4 fiou1f tho taSIr Tho oo,,,,,,o.ofol oO,,-
tests now going on upon this coast are
likely to make some material changes,
and Sacramento must, i'll common with
other cities, expect to feel them. Strenu-
GUS efforts are being made to divert trade,
70 establish new and augment the busi-
ness of old trade centers; rivalry be-
tween transportation lines, the struggle
OF San Francisco to dominate again as
the sole distributing point-a1 these and
other influences will make themselves
felt in Sacramento to our detriment.
If, now, we sit idly by and make no
counter effort we may be injured ire
parably. Manufacturing upon this coast
is to be built up and we ought to have
our full share of it, and will have it if we
bid for it and command it. 1t is not to
come to us unasked, because there are
Others who will bid, if we do not-who
are bidding now, indeed.
IT amounts to this, therefore, that those
Who are holding back and thus obstruct-
ing the efforts of those who are pushing
forward are not acting wisely; on the
contrary, they are endangering vital in
terests and inviting ills that they will
feel more than others, since men and
omen with property. the value Of which
fuctuates, will suffer most by any de-
cadence. If by their neglect Sacramento
Is prevented from demonstrating and
ayailing Of her natural advantages by be-
coming a manufacturing center, they
will not live long enough to cease regret
ting their present stubbornness.
All manner of excuses are given. One
will sign if the money is used to fill
China Slough; another VIII sign if the
money is disbursed to bring in cheap
motive power; another has taken an
oath never to sign a note; another object.
that he does not want mis- property to in
crease in value-but, being pressed, ad-
mits that he does not want it to decline
in value-and so the objections run on;
some puerile, some untrue, some evasive.
bat all have the same elIect-they tend to
prevent the raising of the $1,000, 600 as
sessment list to what it ought to be, So
100000 or SlO.O0O,OOO.
The sum now subscribed will give. at
One-half of one cent on assessed values,
about 100000, while just 100000 is
needed. a good many favor closing the
list, and proceeding to bid with the $780,
O00. This would be unwise, for S25, 900 q
year for four years will not produce what
is necessary. We should not attempt by
subsidy to bring in and set up one or two
small concerns, the addition of which to
our industries will not be felt appreci-
ably from the start. To do that would be
TO violate the contract with the present
signers, that enough should be had to
give the movement character; it would at
the least be a gross injustice to those who
have signed. Moreover, it would be the
death-knelI to any subsequent attempt to
bring the amount up to the required
standard.
Let US have enough to offer at the out
set, and to enable us by bids of at least
$4,000 year for four years to command
the attention of such concerns as we want;
let us have this much or nothing. In the
way of procuring sites and offering large
industrial interests inducements to re-
move here, $4,000 a year for four years
will not do anything worth while. We
cannot use a straw to lift heavy weight;
We must have lever equal to the task OF
moving the load to be lifted.
CALIFORNIA EXPOsITORY LITERA-
TURE.
Atthe late Western convention at Ogden
California had fOrtv-seyen DELEGATES The