The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-07-12
SPIRIT OF PROGRESS.
SAN FRANClSCANS ACTIVE IN THE
ciTv'S WELFARE.
Believe In Home Industries and Home In
comes Energy tn Take the Place of Aps-
thy-More People Wanted Of the Right
Kiud-Half q Million In 1900.

thy-More People Wanted Of the Right
Kind-HAIf Million In 1900.
The progressive citizens of San Fran
cisco have formed Half Million club,
population Of the city to 500, 900 by
1900. The sentiments expressed by
member of the club in recent letter
have the ring Of true civic pride and be-
lief in the city's future greatness. The
ideas suggested apply, with modifica-
tions to suit conditions, to any COM
munity. He says:
/ have been asked to express few
ideas in regard to the Half Million club,
which has been organized TO increase
the population of San Francisco to $780,
900 by 1900. have been given to un
derstand that the people whom it is the
wish to bring here are to be desirable
people. They are to be industrious, hon
est and in some sense capitalists, being
persons of sufficient means to make them
measurably independent
1t Is not supposed that all of the peO-
pie who are expected to come here from
other states will be thus independent,
but probably most of them will be- Such
people cannot fail TO be of great advah-
tage to US, and therefore am in favor
Of the Half Million club
Clubs with increased populations in
view have been organized ut Chicago,
New York and other eastern cities. All
these movements are i'll the right direc-
ton. San Francisco has reached q con-
dition where she should put forth more
enterprise. The city, located as it is on
the greatest bay on the western part of
the continent and in the richest state
of the United States, occupies posi-
ton unexcelled by any other in the
world. Vast tracts of rich but unculti-'
waited lands, mines Of gold, silver and
other metals and forests of as fine tim
Der as is grown lie on one side of her.
On the other lies the orient, with a
mighty trade, as yet almost entirely un-
developed in our interest. kmight also
speak of the thousands Of miles Of coast
line, of the states and territories con-
tiguous 10 us, whose trade by right Of
location and neighborly feeling should
come in immensely increased volume to
us.
Practically there is no limit to our
greatness, if we but consider our oppor-
tunities and act upon them. Therefore
am believer in the Half Million club
We have been too slow in the past. We
should now run, and run all together,
for our advancement.
The only thing we want to do is to go
to work. Let us pull all together and
in 1900 we will easily see half mil
lion people in this city. More than this,
California throughout will be more
densely populated, and we will have
such busy mart here as will set the
world to wonder
am in favor Of issuing bonds for the
improvement Of streets and public
squares. The city has neglected this too
long and has in instances lost hundreds
of thousands of dollars worth of prop
erty through the neglect Of her officials
Property owners have been forced to
form Improvement clubs and in many
instances have pushed matters to such
an extent that they supervise everything
that the city has projected. l believe i'll
home industries, home manufactures
and home incomes. 1t is crying shame
that the immense fortunes gathered in
California are to great extent now i'll
the hands of nonresidents, who spend
their incomes east and abroad, with lit
tie thought of spending few thousand
dollars in the interest of our fair state.
The time has passed when our citizens
and press shall unite against various en-
terprises that start here. Eastern and
local capitalists should now join togeth-
er to develop our many resources, as yet
almost unknown. Many eastern capital
lists have turned away from California
on account Of the apathy displayed by
the people of our state against our own
good and welfare We know push and
energy built up Chicago, Denver and
other western cities. We know there is
general awakening Of Californians,
SO that we can look forward to an era of
prosperity never before equaled in our
half century's experience.
We should all pull together, with the
feeling that where every one is interested
nothing can fail. Cur trade used to con-
troll the northwest as far Us Montana
and south into Texas and Arizona 1t
has been wrested from us by new roads
and competition. We must reclaim it,
and we can do it if we work together.
The Nicaragua canal will help our grain
and wine shipments, and more raj lroads
will help our facilities for handling the