The record-union., 1895-07-25
STRANGERS COMING INTO The CITY.
Real Estate Men Note the Revival
of Prosperity.
An Unusual Demand for Good Houses
Sacramento the Liveliest City
in the State at Present.

sacramento the Livel1eSt City
in the State at Present.
That Sacramento is entering on an era
of unusual prosperity is apparent to
everyone familiar with local affairs. The
recent introduction Of vast electric power
from the American River dam at Folsom,
where the water OF that stream has been
brought into subsection for this pur-
pose. is the chief factor in this matter.
Even outside the development OF this
new enterprise, Sacramento has peen
steadily progressing, but now nothlhg
but the neglect of her citizens to take ad-
vantage of the situation can prevent her
from taking such rapid strides as Will
surprise the rest of the State.
Travelling statesmen are human barom-
eters, as far as business is concerned, and
a few hours IN a town enables them to
size its condition up pretty accurately.
They all agree that they can do more
business here than in any other place Oh
the coast.
WHAT EDWIN K. ALSIP SAYS.
There is no man in the State better
known real estate dealer. TO tell when
city or community is prospecting or
likely to prosper. Mr.. Alsip has shown
his faith in Sacramento by returning
here from san Francisco IN order that he
may not lose a place on the crest OF the
big wave Of prosperity that Is rolling on
toward this city.
To a RECoRD-UNIoN reporter who yes
terday called on Mr.. Alsip for an eX-
preston of his views as TO the outlook,
he said:
~ would say that Sacramento to-day is
the business center of this State, as well
as the most thriving and industrious
point. These are not idle words, but
facts, and by comparison with other Ioca-
tions in this statement can these facts be
substantiated. The depression was not
felt here as much as elsewhere. There
was not as much skrinkage III real estate
values as IN other locations. W. do not
know of any property sold III this city
that has been sold at a less price than
could have been realized before the imam
ciRI depression.
This cannot be said OF other locations.
In San Francisco values have been de-
preciating ia the business portion or the
city from 10 to 20 per cent, and IN out
side property from % to 30 per cent. and
even more, and had l time could prove
the facts by citing localities where prop
erty has been sold recently and the
prices that were realized four years ago
in similar locations. The same state OF
affairs exist in Oakland and San Jose.
Oakland, as it is well known, is the bed
chant Der oil san francisco. san Jose VIII
always be suburban town to san Fran-
cisco and only retail place. 1t is true
they have tlrst-class fruit district, but
wholesale business Will never be carried
on to a profit, owing TO It's location.
ut is a weli-known fact that the whole
sale trade OF san Francisco has been fall
ing oil for a number of years, while the
reverse can be said of Sacramento mer-
chants. San Francisco has been cut OFT
from the south by Los Angeles from the
north by Portland and other points and
from the interior by Sacramento, snd she
is rapidly losing the trade OF Japan, as 1t
is going by way OF the Northern and
Canadian Pacific Railroads. There is not
one-Ihird OF the wholesale clothing
houses in San Francisco that there were
five years ago, as most of the business IS
done by travelling and Eastern agencies.
This is all owing TO the lack OF en-
terpriso and energy on the part of
her citizens. Had they reached out
several years ago. as they should
the interior, the city, in meas
ure, would have taken care of itself. 4
certain percentage always flock to the
city. The country can get along without
the city, but the city can not get
along without the country. Living is
much higher in San francisco than 1t is
at this point, and, although there never
was a time when there were SO many
houses to rent in san Francisco, small
tenements still rent for more than they
do here.
'In Los Angeles, while they are doing
a great deal OF building, values IN prop
erty in the counties surrounding it have
\. ai.sffy as.sH hDr
selling there than there is here. except
ing the city. While they have Compel
ing railroads, the merchants complain as
much of hard times as they do in the
rest of the State. Sacramento, as has
often been said, owing TO its geographical
location, Will always be distributing
and business center. Were this not the
case, we would not De to-day where we
are, as up to three years ago we used
very little effort TO build up our city, as
we should have done, but the location
has forced growth upon US. The large
territory that we have as feeder IS to
our great advantage. Our climate is bet
ter adapted for manufactures, and now
that we have cheap power, manufacturers
are bound to come to US, II we use the
proper energy 10 secure them.
mot within ten years past in the sum-
mer months have there been so few
houses TO rent in Sacramento, notWith-
been built in the last three years. Our
firm alone has rented thirty-seven houses
since the 10Th OF June, which IS unprece-
dented at this season Of the year, and we
presume other firms have done as well.
Half OF these rentals have been to
strangers. To-day there Is hardly re-
spectacle house in the city 10 rent, and we
doubt if this winter there Will be vacant
house as at that time our city has It's larg-
est population. There is less idleness and
poverty in our midst than in any other
community, while there is more i'm
provement going on in proportion to the
population than in any other locality IN
the State.
These facts know" said Mr.. Alsip.
s'as | have been TO almost every Import
ant point in the State during the past six
months A tract of 900 acres, recently
purchased near this city, viii all be SET
lied within the next year If half the par
ties come here that are now talking OF
coming.
~ make this statement. without fear OF
being misleading. that in the next ten
years our population will be doubled.
Many of the Eastern papers are talking
about the center OF California as the COM
ing point for the settlement OF the imml-
grafton. They are now realizing that IL
is this portion of the State that furnishes
the bulk of our exports. With electric
Foads that are on the eve OF being Quit,
power SO cheap, and a large number OF
contemplated improvements. our CITY
will be shaken up with an activity that
Will astonish the oldest siIurian."