The San Francisco call., 1907-02-25
Sacramento s Chamber of Commerce Forwards
Caustic Communication to Berkeleyites

the value Of Capital Park which would revert
IN the case Of removal to the city of Sacramento
and the extent OF the value of the proposed
abandonment can be partially understood. Our
only guide for the future is the experience of the
past, and this experience shows that the erect
ing OF great public buildings In modern days
means an outlay out of all proportion TO the
initial estimate We have proof of this in the
State capitols Albany, n. y at Harrisburg
Pa; and the City Hall in Phiadelpbia The
two and four millions Of dollars. the final cost
Of each was ten millions and upward, and the
time of construction was nearer ten years than
two: meanwhile the official bodies were snh-
Jected 70 great annoyance and Inconvenience for
the want Of proper accommodations.
II is pointed out as one reason for the re-
moval Of the capital TO Berkeley that the State
now pays In San Francisco rentals amounting to
shout $50 900 a year which could be saved If
the capital was moved TO Berkeley. Under the
laws Of the State all of >these officials shonld
make their headquarters at the capital. They
do not do so now, nor is there any guarantee
that these officials will do 50 even should the
capital be removed to Berkeley.
SACRAMENTO NOT ISOLATED
II is not true that Sacramento is remote from
the main movements Of the people. you
tering in Sacramento at present, five additional
lines actually building and two projected for the
immediate future making IT the greatest rail
Of Denver, Colo.
You say in your communication that the state
capital at Berkeley woud be visible from every
incoming ship Let us remind vou that i'm the
event Of war with foreign nation. the first
point Of attack the Pacific Coast would be
San Francisco and its vicinity. and the first
point OF attack in San Francisco and vicinity
would be. as you point out. the exposed Capitol
which would make it possible for the enemy
10 reduce 10 ruins in an hour an investment Of
millions on the part OF the State
In view Of all these facts we are utterly at a
loss TO any advantage that is to be gained
10y the people Of the State as a whole by IN
dOrsng the movement you represent; but on the
contrary. we can see nothing but needless and
excessive taxation for indefinite number OF
years. We feel sure that you, IN common with
ourselves, realize that the State is sorely in need
of many public betterments in the way OF
schools asylums and other essential public utli-
ties especially account of the late catastrophe.
which the State must meet and that our great
university at Berkeley is seriously cramped in
its possibilities because the State cannot afford
10 appropriate the amount which, in the judg-
ment Of its representatives Is absolutely essen
tial for its proper maintenance. 1t seems to uS
an absurdity when there are so many urgent
and pressing needs, 10 ask the Legislature to
submit to the people proposition which is in
the nature Of a needless expenditure and which
in the judgment of dsinterested people will look
Ike act OF folly.
WORK OF REALTY DEALERS
Your letter would lead uniformed readers to
infer that this movement for the removal of the
by q general desire The part of the people of
California. when as matter OF fact you know
that this movement was initiated by coterie
of Berkeley real estate spectators who Sc
cured control of a large tract Of land north of
have been laying plans for weeks. and perhaps
months, In advance for making this capital re-
moyal a part OF their real estate campaign. and
that al the interest that has recently been
aroused in this matter is purely artificial has been
very cleverly worked up by those who are so
directly and He6shly interested In this move
ment and who are striving to make the members
of the Legislature and the people of California
merely a tail TO their real estate town-lot kite
Regretting that you should have been led 20
use arguments in your contention which unavoid-
ably must reflect on the great valleys Of the
State and thus injure the best interests of Cali
fornia at home and abroad. are
Yours truly.
TIE SACRAMENTO CHAMBER OF COM
By ALDEN ANDERSON. President; JOHN
G. ING. Secretary; II. WEINSToCK, L. t.
HATFIELD. Committee.
BERKELEYITEs CONFIDENT
BERKELEY, Feb. 24.-Turn their
eyes in any direction they will, the
people of Berkeley who are committed
TO the task Of making their city the
seat of the State government can see
nothing but rosy light, with fair winds
to fill their sails while they navigate
the political waters which must be
traversed before Berkeley becomes the
capital of the State. This feeling is
part of the aftermath of the visit of
the Legislature on Saturday. The hun
dreds of prominent men who inspected
the site for the new capitol buildings
were so palrbbiy impressed with the
beauty and availability of the grounds
for the purpose that Berkeley's faith
in her destiny as the capital city was
nightly strengthened. The launching
OF the capital ship was an indubitable
success and those who know the charts
say that the voyage now to be taken
by the Berkeley men in quest of capt.
tai will certainly result in the bringing
to this city of the sought for prize.
Berkeley men Will be in attendance
at the Legislature tomorrow watching
the fate of the bill which provides for
the submission to the people of the
question of changing the capital from
Sacramento to Alameda County. The
bill will have its first reading tomor-
row A canvass of the Legislature by
citizens OF this county has shown to
the satisfaction of Berkeley that the
votes necessary to secure the passage
Of the bill will be ready when the bill
comes up for vote. There is ap-
parently no serious opposition to the
bill.
Berkeley men have noted the pro-