The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-05
THEY WANT FEDERAL HELP,
Stockton Ladies Take Up the
Fight for Public I'm
provementS.
Will Ask Congress to Improve the
San Joaquin and Erect a
Building.

Mrs. E. Slaughter and Mrs. Joseph
Badger, president and secretary respec-
lively of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Stock
ton Commercial Association, were in San
Francisco Yesterday to ask the aid of in
fluential citizens in securing an appropria-
ton from Congress for public improve
ments at Stockton and vicinity. The
ladies are very much in earnest in their
undertaking and determined to triumph.
"The first and most important thing We
desire" said Mrs. Slaue liter, sis to secure
the Improvement of the San Joaquin River
and harbor. There are FIVE railroads CEN
tering at Stockton. The growth of the city
has been rapid. All we ask is justice at
the hands of the Federal Government"
Mrs. Badger thoroughly conceded with
the remarks of Mrs. Slaughter.
Another object dear to the hearts of the
people OF Stockton" she said, sis to secure
a Federal building for the city. Stockton
has nothing of that kind. Its absolute
need is apparent"
The following letter has been addressed
to Mrs. Phoebe Hearst at Washington:
STOCKTON, CAL, December 3, 1895.
Mrs. Phoebe Hearst-DEAR MADAM: Knowing
you by reputation as women OF enterprise
champion your convictions with influence
second to none other in Washington, the
ladies of Stockton, Cal, appeal to you, through
the Ladies Auxiliary branch OF the CONNER
cial Association OF Stockton, to use your in
influence in supporting our petition TO the
next Congress for an appropriation of $500, 900
for Improvements on the San Joaquin River
and stockton Channel, and an appropriation
of $3.50, 900 for postoffice and Federal build
ing for Stockton. The Government owns
the building site and at present has some
GA 000 n tho hnil6iup flnd remaining from
a former appropriation, which is entirely In
adequate for our needs. We have the United
States Land Office and the Revenue Office OF
the district. The Gaugers' Office and the post
office are scattered in four different rented
locations entirely unfit for the purpose
We have the terminals here of three rail-
roads, operating and building, besides the
Southern Pacific Company, and the roadbed is
graded fourteen miles out 10 Lodi for fifth
railroad. Stockton is the present and natural
outlet and shipping point OF the great San
Joaquin Valley, the southern mines and the
vast mountain trade to the east of US. Our
natural gas and the immense coal veins thirty
four miles distant, upon which are at present
employed over 1900 men, insure Stockton be-
ing the future as well as the present manufac-
turing center of this coust. We have a flour
ing-mill capacity of over l l 900 barrels daily;
woolen-mills, paper-mllls, agricultural nipple,
ments and pottery output in proportion; and
in summing up will say that we are practically
a suburb OF San Francisco. Any courtesy ex-
tended to us from the city OF your pride. your
after not many days.
We have addressed statistical letters to many
of the Congressman, setting forth our COM
mercial i'm portance and needs, and have some
of the largest manufacturing firms in the East,
who annually make extensive sales to our
factories of their raw materials, working in our
Interests, they feeling that our interests are
theirs.
Facts, enterprise, prosperity and the future
are all in our favor, but the millions of dollars
taken from our mines, enriching San Francisco
and the whole commonwealth. have left de-
posits of debris in our channels of navigation
and drainage that without removal would
eventually destroy our geographical adyan-
tages. We need your help. Respectfully,
Mrs. Z. SLAUGHTER, President.
MRS. JOSEPH BADGER, Secretary.
The ladies will write to the Pacific Coast
representatives in Congress urging them to
exercise their influence in advancing the
interests of Stockton, and will solicit Gov
ernor Budd and other State officers to the
eana end