The record-union., 1893-04-29
SACRAMENTO'S PLAN APPROVED.
What a Retired Boston Merchant Has
to Say Of It.
j. v. Spaulding Declares That Sacra-
mento is in the Right Path, and
Success Awaits Her.


For twenty years Mr.. Spaulding was the
head of the firm of Spaulding, Hay &
Wales, one of the leading wholesale and
retail dry goods firms in the United States.
He Is visiting the coast chiefly for his
health and recreation, although he has
interests in the southern part of the State
which required looking after.
Mr.. Spaulding had made some observa-
tions in regard to the methods of the
Sacramento Improvement Association,
having seen references to its work in the
RECORD UNION, and he was yesterday
seen by representative of this paper.
In reply to questions, the experienced
merchant made some very pertinent re-
sponses as to the projected plans of the
association to get factories here.
After being informed as to the methods
and plans of Offering the proposed
bonuses, and the note system adopted,
he commended 1t in general terms as one
of the best possible plans to carry out. 1t
had came under his notice that several
Towns in the New England States had
been obliged to adopt similar measures to
those proposed here. They were differ
emily situated from Sacramento, and their
resources were far more limited. They
suddenly found business which had been
tributary TO them cut of, and they began
to languish, although in some cases they
had large populations.
These towns had much the same work
to perform in arousing their citizens to
the necessity of cultivating an enterpris-
ing and progressive spirit, but they were
finally aroused. He mentioned as
NOTABLE EXAMPLES
Boston herself, when it was found de-
sirable to get its Collins steamship lines;
Lynn, when it succeeded in making it
self a shoe manufacturing city; Skow-
hogan and Paris, in Maine, and other
towns in New England.
Mr.. Spaulding said It was noticed there
that the old merchants and business men
who had retired, and were large property
holders, almost invariably held back,
and the work devolved upon the young
and often struggling business men who
put up $1,000 and often $4,000, and la
bored industriously and with good re-
suits.
What a town needs, he said, is the spirit
they have in Chicago, to make the most
OF everything. Many property holders
do not realize that an increase in popula-
tion and business means an increase in
valuation for real property and rentals.
The older and more conservative prop
erty-owners, who may not be merchants
or business men, withhold their aid; in
many instances taking narrow view,
saying this or that enterprise will benefit
this or that line of business, and that
those interested should carry it out. This,
he thought, was the great obstacle most
towns had to contend with.
In the New England towns he men
toned he said the business men awoke to
the importance of being
AGGREssIVELY PROGRESSIVE, -
And they not only offered in many cases
bonuses to manufacturers to locate with
them, but often built them factories and
furnished them at a nominal rental,
abated their taxes for number of years
and adopted other inducements.
In every instance coming under his OBJ
servation their efforts always resulted in
success and profit, not alone. to business
men in the towns, but to every property
owner as well. Some OF these towns
were-or would have been-practically
bankrupt without their factories, and a
dollar had come to look to them as large
as a cart-wheel; but the right spirit pre-
vailed, and was invariably rewarded, as
their population climbed up by thou
sands.
AS an instance, he told how Lynn,
Mass, work ed to secure the location there
of the Thomson-Houston electric works,
and by the united efforts of its citizens
and live Board of Trade it succeeded.
That enterprise alone now employs 5000
people, and expects soon to increase its
force to 5000. In securing it Lynn had
rivals in many larger and stronger cities.
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
Mr.. Spaulding has spent some weeks in
Southern California, and he commented
freely upon the towns there, saying that
stranger often saw incongruities and
points that would not so quickly be seen
by citizens themselves. He was greatly
surprised at the prosperity of Los An
geles until ne learned something of her
enterprising citizens and their methods.
knowing some of the leading business
men there, he gained great deal of in
formation in short time.
Los Angeles, he said, was getting a
wonderful start, and that not in the char
acter of a boom; permanent industries
are building the city. y large Chicago
packing company has recently started
there, which paid Sl96, 600 for farm for a
packing place, and advertises for 100000
hogs alone for its first years consump-
ton.
An iron foundry had also started re-
Gently. and while he was there lot with
frontage OF 10 feet sold for Sl2O,0OO
IN REGARD TO SACRAMENTO,
Mr.. Spaulding said it was quickly to be
seen that this city was centrally located,
geographically, with vast, varied and
wonderful resources tributary, and it GER
tainly only needed the proper spirit of
advantages to cause its citizens to be
alive to their best interests.
1t certainly should be a manufacturing
center, and its population should vastly
increase. Diversified industries were
necessary to the best prosperity. In a
manufacturing town with varied indus
tries II brought families to a common
center, whore, ii one resource failed,
others could be turned to. In other
words, an increased number of bread
winners were enabled to work for the
common benefit.
THE NOTE PLAN COMMENDED.
When asked directly as to his opinion
of the method adopted by the Industrial
and Improvement Association for raising
money by the note method, he COM
mended it in strong terms as a very ad-
mirable one. 1t was, he said, equitable
and fair, and put the primal burden upon
those who would profit by its endeavors
upon an equitable and just footing. He
had himself had experience in efforts at
raising money for similar purposes, but
had never heard of better process.
The proper thing to do, he thought, was
to offer bonuses to practical, reliable and
experienced manufacturers, rather than
10 aid purely local or experimental enter
prises by purchasing shares in doubtful
undertakings. He had known stock
companies to fail simply because the
managers of them were inexperienced
and had branched out into fields of which
they knew nothing, or very little.
He had started large number of men
in business himself, and had adopted a
regular credit system with them, based
upcn their earnings and their practical
experience while they had been in his
employ.
MIR. Spaulding bad much to say in re-
gard TO towns being alive TO their own
and raSou rcpS and nla0a cOpa-