The record-union., 1895-05-07
THE CIFY'S TOUGHLOIN DISTRICT
That L-Street Barrier to Neighbor-
hoods Progress.
A Growing Demand That the City's
Barbary Coast Shall be Put
on One Side.

There is rapidly growing demand that
barrier from Second to Fourth, actually
cutting off the southwest part OF the city
from all the remainder of the place,
shall be abandoned by the present occu-
pants. The response to this just demand
OF the residents OF the southwest end Is
only this: "Where will you locate the
quarter? The reply is simple and effec-
tive: Suppose the same condition ex-
listed on street, would it be any reason
for refusing to correct it that no other
place for the occupants could be readily
suggested?"
The simple truth is this: The southwest
end, from Second street east, south Of l.
street. is inhabited by people with homes
which they love as much as do those OF
the east or north. They have in their
midst the most valuable property the
and improved and the homes all of good
character. A street-car line runs into and
accommodates the district. But :his en-
tire section is cut Off from easy and de-
cent communication with the rest OF Sac
| ramentO on the north; strangers are re-
pelled from coming into it and properly
is knocked down 70 per cent. in value
simply Rnd solely because Bar barry
Coast street intervenes between the Sec
| tiOn and the business portion of the city
below Fourth street.
That is to say, residents object with
every reason in the world to coming to
the business section along Second or
Third street with their wives and
families, and especially at night and for
reasons that need not be stated. Strangers
on their way to the Art Gallery are
shocked and amazed that they have to
pass through such quarter as that at
Third and l. streets to reach the city
property. Women and children in the
region of the Art Gallery and that whole
section very often 60 up to Fifth or
Sixth streets and commonly to Fourth in
order to reach an upper grade street and
then come down on it to point below
Third to the depot and to the business
sections Of lower and X streets.
1t is a monstrous shame that such
| things should be, that a Barbary Coast
section should cut through the heart OF
the city and be maintained as a wall and
q barrier to decency and convenience and
to human right. The residents of the
southwest end say that they do not pro-
pose to enter upon crusade against the
! social evil; that is not their purpose,
but they do propose to see to it that the
locality where it is 10 he tolerated shall
be taken out of the center Of the town
and from beneath their caves, and put at
| one side, or anywhere except in place
so as to be wall between residence Sec
tions and an otfense and shame to the
homes that lie behind it and on either
side OF it.
This protest is modest; it has been de-.
layed many years; it is decent; it should
have instant recognition. Indeed it must,
If common justice is done. The officers
in charge of the Art Gallery say that
lower l. street is the most serious difficulty
that confronts them in the matter OF induc-
ing visitors to come to the gallery, while
the Museum Association says that it is
impossible to have lecture course for
the same reason. These are constantly
called upon by visitors to the property at
Second and streets to explain why the
city permits such barrier, and why
| strangers-men, women and children
are compelled to Cross through helltown
to reach the Art Gallery, of which the
city is SO justly proud. The conductors
of the School OF Design say that the evil
omplained of hampers them constantly
and that parents give as q reason for not
sending children to the school that they
do not wish them to cross lower l. street.
But the case argues itself. The Trus-
| tees have simple duty.to perform, and
no time is better than the present for it,
namely, to notify owners of property on
lower l. street that the law will be en-
forced, and that they must move their
tenants TO some other quarter where
their presence will not be forced upon
the people. Stockton passed through just
such an experience. That city had the
courage to compel removal to the out
| skirts of the town, and Sacramento cam
not afford to do less.