The record-union., 1893-09-29
THE FUTURE OF SACRAMENTO.

From the time the RECoRD-UNIoN took
up, over twenty years ago, the subject of
Sacramento as trade center with a
promise of great importance, to the pres
ent hour this journal has maintained
that the future of the city was bright, and
that it must become more and more im-
portant commercial point.
In this faith there has been no disap-
pointment. We have seen the city trade
maintain its position and clientage,
despite the most persistent attempts on
the part of rivals to divert it. Sacra-
mento has steadily grown in the matter
of population, material wealth, perma
nent Improvements, and trade. 1t had
no greater drawback in all that time than
local incapacity on the part of many of
its people to understand that the outside
world will not do for place which will
not do for itself
By dint of persistent hammering and
unwavering contention with the non
progressive element, the spirit of mere
content has at last been broken down,
and to-day the city is locally abreast of
its commercial importance, and moving
with its natural advantages as a trade
center, and railroad and geographical
center. Within the period referred to we
have seen a complete revolution take
place in public sentiment regarding local
improvements. Good streets have taken
the place of mud highways; stone side
walks have displaced wooden abomina-
tions; impregnable levees have sup
planted doubtful flood barriers; beautifed
parks have taken the place Of neglected
and weed-grown public grounds; cleo
trical lighting has been substituted for
the corner gas posts; the horse car has
been driven out by one of the most COM
plete and best serving electrical street
railway systems in the United States;
new railroad connections have related
the city more closely to its trade area;
elegant residences have taken the place
ofthe rude structures of the pioneer era;
asweeping reform in the matter of the
construction of awnings and business
fronts has triumphed to the extent that
the business streets are in their new form
almost beyond recognition by old resi-
dents.
A complete fre-alarm telegraphic sys-
tenn has taken the place of the old cry
of fire upon the street; most efficient
paid fire department has taken the place
of the old volunteer system; two large
suburban sections nave been plated
built upon and viii soon come within
corporate limits; all available outside
lands have been occupied and improved;
a clear, pure water system has been con-
tracted for; bituminous pavements have
crowded the last of the old cobbled streets
of any consequence out, and given US
highways not surpassed by any; police
and hospital service have been enlarged
and brought more nearly into line with
modern ideas, though still susceptible OF
great improvement. The old form of gov
ernment which Sacramento had outgrown
has been supplanted by new system
modelled after the best known municipal
governments; the school system has been
greatly enlarged, seven new and modern
school buildings erected, and all of the old
ones have been modernized; commits
sion has now in hand the final reform
drainage and sewage disposal-and these
will soon be realized.
All the time the city debt has been
steadily decreased and the dawn OF its
complete extinction is upon US and Civ
ing assurance of lessened taxation and
enhanced real estate values. In that time
we have seen the city give attention to
the cultivation of art tastes and broader
education: TO the erection of new churches
and public buildings; to the enlargement
of the whole educational scheme; to the
lessening of the number of places thai
absorb the wages of industry without
adeouate returns; to the efiectual sup
nression of vice and promotion of peace
and good order. Gaming has been sue