The herald., 1895-04-26
QAM rnnMnIQnN n[nnn[uT
Ohm TkhNUIOUU ULUnULNI
A Correspondents Pessimist;c
View of That City
TORRENT SIGNS PARAMOUNT
Good Reason for the Efforts of the
Half Million Club
~of -
TORRENT SIGNS PARAMOUNT
The Stock Exchange Dusty and Dsserted-The
Metropolis in Need of Much
Energy
SAN FRANCISCO. Anril "a. 1895.

SAN FRANClSCO. April "a 1893.
After visit to San Francisco one
ceases to wonder that half-million club
has been formed. 1t is strange that the
metropolis of the Pacific coast has fallen
so far behind in the race. Down in the
region, where in the palmy days, between
1872 and 1881, every building was crowd
ed with busy brokers and clerks. invest
ors and peculators-and every one cx-
pected fortune from the Comstock-
many large and fine business blocks are
as deserted as if they were in the streets
of Pompei. | walked into the old Stock
Exchange on California street last Sun
day. The doors were unlocked and there
appeared to be no guardian. The room
had been unswept for long time. and
appearances led me to think that some of
the thrifty people of the vicinity are
gradually carrying off everything they
can get hold OF for fi1e wood.
The same dry rot seems to have eN-
tended over much OF the city. In the
residence portions from North Beach to
Potrero and from the Mission to the main
water front on the bay the effect of over.
building is very noticeable. "For Rent,
For Sale" is to be seen on all sides.
The San Francisco real estate agents have
a way of posting these notices 50 as to
most thoroughly advertise the desoation
of the city. A placard is put in each
window and often on TIE sidewalk as well.
The great number of the houses on the
market, for one purpose or the other.
makes many blocks resemble the his
torical whited sepulchre.
When you ask the average San Fran
ciscan what is the reason for this de-
cadence he will tell you it is all due to
the Southern Pacific Company. The
theory appears to be that the great oc-
topus has everything worth having here
and treats the peope like so many
slaves and serfs. 1t IS alleged by many
of the business men that they have moth
ing to do but grin and bear the oppres
sions heaped upon them by the corpora-
tion organized under the laws of Ken
lucky. Attempts at revolution have fre-
quently been made for years past, but
they have all been, thus far, futile and
free San Francisco seems as far off as
Cuba ibre. Just now the straw held out
is the Valley railroad This line, unsur-
veyed as yet is to liberate San Francisco.
1t may be supposed that the octopus looks
all preceding it. Not long ago Oakland
declared that it could. would and should
have competing line across the bay.
But every passenger who crosses now
pays tribute to the Southern Pacific COM
pany. and all opposition attempts have
died out.
San Francisco has more respect for Los
Angeles than ever before. Nearly every
one wants to ask how we have managed
to keep up our end. Los Angeles is re-
ported to be not only the most prosper
ous city on the coast, but also in the
whole country. 1t is to be hoped that the
efforts OF the Half Million club to restore
the city by the bay to its former prosper
ity will succeed. The situation is such
that change must soon take place here.
i q z