The record-union., 1898-10-02
SACRAMENTO'S FUTURE.
JOSEPH STEEFENS AND ARCHI
TECT REID PROPHESY.
Trans-Siberian Road and Mica
ragua Canal as Factors in
the States Growth.

mento realize that it is essentially a
city of homes and prosperity; that
there have never been any failures of
consequence here, and that there are
| several causes that make the city S
| present stability, while other events
about to be set in motion may make it
a much larger city than it is in the next
decade.
One of the best informed men on this
subject is Joseph Steffens the we'll
known banker and business man. Not
| only has he studied business matters
closely for many years, but he has
made Sacramento his home, and has
taken a great pride in all it's enter
prises. Speaking of the outlook for the
future, as we'll as of the striking fea-
lures that characterize the present, Mr..
Steffens said a few days ago:
| sacramento has bright future
though this town, like many others, has
suffered ever since the financial crisis
of 1898. 1t is a fact that many banks
and capitalists are overloaded with
loans; that the people cannot pay them
promptly, and that lands that were
worth about $10O an acre a few years
ago cannot be sold for half that sum
now; but similar state of affairs ex-
lists all over the world, and the future
is sure to be more prosperous.
Sacramento has a fine country back
of it, and besides this and it's general
prosperity it has a surplus of 81, 500, 900
year which is distributed among its
people by the railroad shops. 1t IS
hard to calculate the number of homes
that have been purchased here as a
result of this industry"
| Speaking further of the city and it's
standing Mr.. Steffens said: There
seems to be causes at work that are
sure to make the entire Pacific Coast
better than it is to-day. When the
great trans-Siberian railroad shall be
completed, also the Nicaragua Canal,
which seems certain to be, it appears
to me that We can hardly estimate the
benefit it will be to every city on this
coast. In the first place, the compile
tion Of the Russian road will cause
great amount of shipping, as the Rus
slams are to colonize the entire 1000
miles of the line. The Nicaragua Canal
will bring this coast 10000 miles
closer to New York than it is to-day
for water transportation. Then, in this
connection, there is a vast Oriental de-
cisco, which has heretofore been too
much separated from the rest of the
world, is sure to become a point Of
great commercial Importance.
Il look for the day when there will
be a great change in the worlds COM
mercial map. You see London has al
ways been the money center of the
world, having a monopoly of every
-. Oh 70 lo &,
wonderful place in that line, but have
an idea that New York is to be a
place of far greater Importance than
it is to-day to the world. When that
day arrives-and l do not think it is in
the mysterious future too far to be
thought of expect to see San Fran
cisco be to New York what New York
is to London to-day
This line of thought agrees with the
views of John Reid, the we'll known
architect, of Reid Brothers, San Fran
cisco, who has for many years made
careful study of the growth Of cities
and the development of private for
tunes. To a "Record-Union" man he
recently said: L see a great chance
for any young man who will invest IN
any of the three or four best cities in
Cal1Ornla. YOU ask me why, OIL COuIoe
Well it is for the reason that the
geography of the State is such that 1t
is sure to have several large cities. That
is point number one. The other fact to
remember is that the tendencies of the
age lead men to live in cities, and the
tendency of people in cities is to live
in large buildings. 1t is fact that all
modern industrial growth is toward the
enlargement of trades that call men to
one center, while the railroads are MAX
ing it possible to mass the population
with ease. I think Sacramento is quite
sure to be a city of considerable more
Importance than it's best friends now
believe. and San Francisco will be
wonder. If no other cause would make
Sacramento a great city some day
though there are other causes working
to help tits proximity to the agricult-
ural area and to such city as San
Francisco is sure to be, would be sure
to make it's property values enhance
greatly within the next ten to twenty
years"