The record-union., 1895-06-22
PLEA FOR A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
1t is Demanded by the Growth Of
Sacramento.
a General Review of the Past and
Forecasts of the Future-Our
City's Importance.

EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: I have read a
number of well-written editorials and
communications in the daily press OF this
city and elsewhere that should be COM
mended by all of the citizens of Sacra-
mento and not allowed to slumber and
end in procrastination, which is often
fatal to many good resolutions, and usu
ally the result of the majority waiting for
some one to materialize or crystalline
their views on some public matter of gen.
eral interest.
l refer to the question that has been
ably discussed, Shall Sacramento have
Chambe of Commerce established as
other cities have, some ranking far be-
low us in commercial importance and
population, not only on tho Pacific Coast.
but throughout many of the new States
with less than half our population? The
great and varied business advantages
that this city naturally does now and
must always enjoy from its prominence
as a railroad center. the Capital of the
State, and point that ali the business OF
the great Sacramento Valley IS tributary
to. both by rail and water, are matters OF
vast importance.
thirty-hVe years to realize what Sacra
mentO was then, with one railroad to
Folsom, twenty miles-the only one
in the State. % then had plank streets
on J and * to Tenth; few cobbled blocks
were laid where planhs were liable to
float OFT in the winter; low dyke, called
a levee, TO protect us from floods, vol
unteer ire department, m' nned by noble,
brave pioneers, who pull ii and worked
The machine and risked Il cir lives TO help
their unfortunate neighbors. Insurance
rates were almost beyond the reach OF the
masses.
1t was then claimed that we had pop
ulatiOn OF q, coo, which was possibly cor
rect. Judging by the great number of
votes cast at the city election, but that
was glorious time for the politician, for
every body voted then, even the Captain
and crews of the hundreds of prairie
schooners engaged in hauling freight to
the mines in Northern and Central Cali
fornia, as well as to Nevada
Now, just pause for a moment, you
that have been SO long residents of Sacra-
mento, and compare notes and see where
we stand to-day. What great interests
have been built up in our midst, and
what vast wealth Is pouring in from the
country tributary to this city Why, we
can truthfully claim that we are the rail-
road center OF the state, running north,
south, east and west, and built by and
through the business sagacity of four or
five pioneer Sacramento merchants, Civ
ing employment now 10 over 5000 men
in our city alone, various manufacturing
interests
Now we have fine streets with the mod
ern and latest improved pavement; a
system Of local street electric railways
unsurpassed in any city; electric street
lights have taken the place OF the gas and
old oil lamp, perfect steam fire depart
ment; telegraph offices and telephones; a
S3,000,00O Capitol building; large num-
bers of fine schoolhouses and parks; a
half-milliOn Art Gallery; an impenetrat-
able system of levees surrounding the
city, and double the population within
our city limits.
And now we are shortly to have one of
the grandest business enterprises in
America completed within q few weeks.
The whole progressive people of the
United States are anXiOusiy looking and
waiting Tor the successful operation OF
the Sacramento Electric Light and Power
Company, the promoter OF which is one
of our early Sacramento fortunate mer
chants and President of the great enIer-
prise. spending hundreds of thousands OF
dollars, together with his associates, in
what must prove in the immediate future
q grand boom, giving an unlimited power
at a minimum expense. Coal and steam
will i'll q few years be like the old stage
cOach-a thing OF the past, as can be seen
by visiting Sutter's Fort in this city.
Manufacturing interests will takes new
start, and 1t Is easily seen that we have, |
may say, the whole press of the State
watching and commenting on the wealth
that this enterprise must bring to the
manufacturing and commercial business
OF this city.
Now let us keep moving. We want
and must have Chamber of Commerce
established, There are many varied in
terests to be considered which will be of
incalculable benefit to us when discussed
and understood, and can only 6e ac-
cOmplished by and through proper or,
ganization. There is plenty OF good and
available material here-gentlemen who
ever stand ready to give their money,
time and talents for public good. Note
our improvement in the past three years
| have gathered statistical and valuable
information OF the work from several or
ganizations giving their proceedings, the
various works they foster and aid by
their councils. We had Tor many years
our Board of Trade, put that has vir-
tually been closed. 1t could not take In
the scope OF varied interests incidental
and belonging TO Cham ber of Commerce
work. We have our Sacramento I'm
provement Association, but it cannot do
the work OF q Cham Der of Commerce.
Let the grand work of the Electrical |
Carnival Committee proceed vigorously, |
ana on the 9th of September next-a |
very proper time for the whole people OF
California to celebrate-we will witness |
one Of the grandest sights ever thought
of. There are many in Sacramento whom |
l had the pleasure OF meeting in Denver
two years ago at the time Of the Masonic |
conclave. Everything for miles was |
electricity-suspended across and IN front
OF all buildings, magnificent arches. and !
even the horses hauling the floats had |
electric lights on their head and harness. |
Now, with our grand and extensive |
electric system, we should eclipse the |
world in all past efforts of similar char |
acter. JAMES ]. FELTER.
EVERYBODY'S COLUMN.