The record-union., 1896-12-22

There are forty Improvement clubs
in San Francisco alone, and in some
cities the number runs UP to and over
one hundred AS a rule they work III
harmony, very little, if any, friction de-
veloping between them.
Such agencies should be introduced
into Sacramento and at once. Not to
antagonize city officials, not to dictate
to municipal governors, nor to promote
fads and fancies; but to stimulate the
people themselves in several distinct
sections to works of betterment, and to
unifcation of energy, and to enable the
people in improving and lettering the
section to work In harmony and under
systematiZed plans and according to
symmetry Of design in ornamentatlon
To the intelligent there is no need to
further point out how such agencies
can be most usefully employed.
The Record Union" suggests that
there is pressing need for J-Street
Improvement Club, not to ANITA gonize
K-street interests by any means, but
to prevent Sacramento becoming one
business s-thoroughfare city, which it
promises to drift into if something is
not quickly interposed to prevent it.
The desertion of j street need not go
on. There is no conclusive reason for
it. If it is permitted 1t will be due
wholly to failure of property interests
on that street to act in directions that
need not be mere specified, but are OBJ
vious. Indeed, the whole city is inter
ested in preventing street degener-
ating into a mere by-way.
There should be a local improvement
club for the Second Ward. There is
not a district in the city more in need
of it. The conditions are such as to
imperatively demand organization to
preserve to that historic section of the
city a fair degree Of Importance and
reasonably high property values. There
is here an excellent field for good and
beneficial work, and it may be pro-
NOTED without great outlay of money
but not without much personal effort
and general pulling together.
The section known as the Southeast
End" that region lying east Of Twenti-
eth and south Of o streets, should have
a Southeast City Improvement Club,
while across K street above Twentieth,
east to Thirty-first street and north to
the levee, there Is a section presenting
most inviting field for the work Of a
well-organized and intelligently Off
cered Improvement club.
A fourth section very much needing
an improvement club to stimulate the
people to cleanliness Of surroundings
and improvement Of property, and to
foster the rightful claims Of that sec
ton upon the municipal government
lies south of r street and between
Front and Tenth streets.
In each Of these cases a club organ
ization would unity the progressive and
Improvement spirits, give to them con-
genial company, and develop methods,
devices and ways and means that are
not even now fancied by the most vivid
imagination.
The country is full Of examples OF
the beneficial effects Of such organiza-
tions. We know of one city in the old
West that owes all it's present business
Importance and social desirability to
district and Improvement clubs, feder-
ated soon after organization. These
activities took the town up and out Of
a rut in which 1t was running with
slothful content, and in which it prom
ised to remain to the end of time. But
rival new centers Of population We're
determining under progressive influ-
ences, and uncleanliness, unswept
streets and unsanitary conditions men
aced town life and something had to
be done. It was done, and the
result is that not only has the town
been saved from the rut, but was lifted
into an Importance that has made it
a handsome, thriving city, While It's
rivals also grew to fair proportions, but
without absorbing the vitality Of the
old town
These suggestions we have long had
in mind We are aware that they have
been seriously considered by a good
many Of our progressive people. We
venture now to indicate to such that
this is the time to act, to-day is the
day, and now is the hour to begin to
organize for district and common bet
terment. and J-street interests should
break the ice.
The Empress Of Japan and her ladies
have taken to the steel horse, and cycle
on a maze of walks made on purpose
for them in a secluded part Of the im-