The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 14, 1896, Page 5

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1896. — . m eenlonnch G R BE IemiRe b e 0 0 . s SACRAMENTO IS THE GREAT ELECTRICAL CITY OF CALIFORNIA. A Year of Magnificent Advancement in the Capital of the State—Manufactories | C. H. Hubbard, Mayor of Sacramento. SACRAMENTO, Can., Feb. 13.— Im| early days Sacramento, being the cen- | tral point.of departure for the mining dis- | tricts -throughout the Sierra foothills, | vroved a greater attraction for the invest- | ment of mercantile capital than any other | point on the coast, and fora few brief | vears her growth was phenomenal and | the wealth of her merchants in- creased without parallel. Thencame a | period of dull times when the mines | became exhausted, when thousands, ! rich beyond their wildest expectations, forsook the hurly-burly of California life for their peaceful homes in Eastern States. Then many of the larger and wealthier firms deserted for the greater advantages of the Pacific metropolis, and then for a veriod came almost utter stagnation in | business circles. But not for any length of time could this continue. at the outlet of one of the richest farming and fruit-producing valleys on the coast, Sacramento soon became the shipping center of these industries which sprang | into life like magic, on the decline of the | mining industries. Possessing six lines of railroad which ra- | diate in all directions, and direct river com- munication with the metropolis and all | foreign countries, the city can but be- | come the leading commercial city of the interior, and that such is becoming a recog- | nized fact is evinced by the wonderful | growth and prosperity of the business in- | terests of the city and the rapid erection | of i ificent 1 is municipality. | en the downtown precincts are rap- | dences in all portions | idly recognizing the benefits accruing through the increase in trade and the in. troduction of new blood and enterprise, | and many firms have been compelled | to erect new structures and additions in order to_accommodate their growing in- | terests. Notably is this the fact in the case | of Wemnstock & Lubin, one of the large and most enterprising firms on the coast. But a few snort vears since they ereated a magnificent three-story building and now | find themselves so crowded that they have | been compelled to build as an addition & | four-story building to accommodate their | monthly increasing trade. In fact, inall | directions and on nearly every block of | the main buosiness portion of the city | there huave been erected either some | magnificent new structure or some sub- stantial addition which will long prove | monuments to the enterprise and push of | Sacramento’s solid business men. | The business fraternity of Sacramento | to-day are men of brains and inteilect; | men who fully appreciate the unparalleled | advantages possessed by this city; men‘ ready to seize every advantage which may arise that will prove advantageous to this | locality and who are always willing to | contribute substantially in a financial way | to everything beneficial to the community | at_large. During the past year a Chamber of Com- merce has been organized, the object of | which is to foster trade, commerce and the | economic interest of the city and county of Sacramento; to assist and encourage home industries and manufactures; to in- duce immigration and the subdivision and | settlement of lands, and generally to pro- | | only this city, but also of Central and | formed and far-seeing financier he has al- | cumstances. | machinery driven by this power has been | the intention of the manasers to extend May Be Conducted Without Befouling the mote development of the agricnltural, horticultural, mininz and other resources of Central and Northern California. It is proposed to procure a site and erect a suit- able building for the use of the chamber, and it is claimed that the building will be a model of architectural beauty and finish. The chamber has standing committees | on commerce, manufactures, immigration ana lands, mines and mining, ways and means, statistics and library, laws and legislation, hotels, parks and public im- | provements, exhibits, reception and county and municipal affairs. Toe members forming these committees are sterling busi- ness men of the city and county, who have | been carefully selected for their individual aptitude for performing the duties en- tailed upon them. The president of the chamber, Hon. Jo- seph Steffans, has long been identified with every enterprise which has been, in- troduced looking to the promotion of the growth and prosperity of this city and bas always been foremost among the lead- ers, Formerly president of the Sacra- mento Board of Irade he hasaccomplished a great work in the development of not Northern California; a thoroughly in-| ways been foremost in contributing to the | welfare of the community at large. One of the leading attributes to the future prosperity of this city is the mag- nificent electric power, which affords facili- ties for manufacturing not exceeded in any city in the United States. This power is penerated at Folsom, some twenty miles | distant and is transmitted to this city over | em of copper wires to an immense power-house lately constructed, where it 1s received and distributed to any part of the city where it may be needed. In preparing their plans for the intro- duction of this power into Sacramento the promoters of the scheme foresaw the neces- sity of guarding against any possible stop- page of the plant under any and all cir- To attain this object they provided for two lines of transmission, each entirely distinctive from the other. These consist of ten lines of copper wire erected on separate rows of poles, and either line possessing a carrying capacity sufficient to transmit the entire product of the plant situated at Folsom to the Sacra- mento terminus. By this precaution, should one line become disabled, the cur- | rent can be instantly switched on to the other system withouta moment’s cessa- tion of the main piant, and the same mount of precaution has been displayed in the arrangement of the various genera- tors and dynamos within the interior of | the power-house, everv one being so ar- ranged that should breakage occurin any one machine it can be instantly detached from the main plant without stoppage. Through these precautions a steady, never- failing source of generaticn has been as- | sured, and the chance of stoppage to the | reduced to a minimum. At the present time this great plant has acapacity of 4000 horsepower, although as yet but one-fourth of that amount is being used. But the company is rapidly extend: ing its facilities of introduction, and ev day new contracts are being made with | various local industries. The draw in the new bridge which spans the Sacramento River at this point will be | operated by a motor connected by wire with the power-house, as will be the large | fruit elevator of the Southern Pacific Com- pany. Negotiations are under way look- ing to the introduction of the power into the immense shop plant of the Southern Pacific Company, and it will be a matter of but a few months until the mysterious fluid entirely supersedes steam in the ope- rations of this vast mechanical plant. In all parts of the business portion of the city the interior of the stores are lighted by incandescent lights furnished from ihis source, and as the huge plant is operated night and day light is obtainable at ail hours. At the present time the company has over 2000 incandescent light< in operation and are also highting the streets of the city with a system of 229 arc lights. There are also 80 commercial arc lizhts in constant use in various business houses, and it is | their system of residence lighting as rap- idly as possible. Over thirty local business and manu- facturing firms are now using motors ope- rated oy this power and there are numer- ous applications on file from other enter- prises for power facilities which will be furnished as rapidly as the necessary mo- tors can be manufactured. This power can be positively obtained in steady and sufficient volume and at a price rate that will reimburse Eastern enterprise suf- ficiently to warrant the abandonment of old-time plansand%ocations. The present ratio of prices adopted by the electric com- pany has been based on the standard of vower prices in Kansas City, conceded by all authorities on the subject to be the cheapest attainable power in the United States. This ratio ranges from $10 per month for single horsepower to $5 per month, depending altogether upon_the amount required; and as a further induce- ment the company is prepared to offer a reduction of 10 per cent on these rates for the introduction of new industries, thus placing the power at such a low figure as to be atemptation not to be slighted by any manufacturing enterprise large or small. Another great inducement to investment of Eastern capital already employed in localities where only expensive power can be secured isthe action which has been taken by the Citizens’ Industrial Improve- ment Association, with the hearty co-ope- ration of the property-owners of the city, in formulating a fund by an assessment of J40f 1 per centon all taxable property, sa:d fund to be used in assisting to defray the expenses consequent upon the re- WEINSTOCK, LUBIN-& COJS ANNEX. | extensive and excellently conductea sys- | office to his home in a few minutes. | residence portions, are lined with rows of | magnificent elms and other shade trees, | | of the bicycle asa means of locomotion, | and there is no place on the coast where | sequoia_ giganta, moval of plants to this city, and to assist in procuring suitable locations for the same. Although the Electric Power and Light Company has an immense surplus of un- used power at their disposal at the present time, yet they Lave positive assurance that within a few brief months nearly the entire amount will be profitably em- ployed, and they are already making preparations to double the capacity of their plant, which can easily be done by using their second fall at the original power-house situated at Folsom. This will give them 8000 horsepower in all— sufficient to meet all manufacturing and other needs for several years to come. Sacramento is essentially a city of homes, the tenement system of the East never having been introduced in this lo- cality, and from the wealthy business man and capitalist whose magnificent residence is surrounded by extensive snd handsomely adorned grounds, to the more unpretentious cottage of the sturdy artisan with its miniature lawn, flowering shrubs and semi-tropical plants, each vie with the other in adding to the beauty of the city. It is apparently the ambition of every mechanic and laborer to own his own residence and to beautify its sur- roundings as far as his time and means allow. In point of costly mansions and elegant cottages of the wealthy Sacra- mento excels any city of the same popula- tion on the coast. Nor are these latter edifices grouved in any one locality; on the contrary, they are scattered throughout the city and are con- cost came from other localities; is pro- ductions will in the main benefit this lo- cality. 5 7 The fruit-canning industry is largely represented in this city and affords in sea- son employment to hundreds of women and children, but there is always\room in this field for the introduction of capital with a certainty of abundance of material at reasonable rates which will yield a fair return on investments. On the outskirts of the city there isan industry which is more than an important factor in the furtherance of the city's growth and an added incentive to the | establishment of manufacturing interests | at this point, as it insures anabundance cf building material at rates as low, if not lower, than can be procured elsewhere— the brick-making industry. In one yard alone are produced nearly 30,000,000 brick annually, and all the modern appliances are possessed by the owners of the plant to manufacture any grade of this building material desired and in any quantity. Without doubt what will eventually be an important factor in promoting "the growth of trade in this city is the contem- | plated electric line of railroad which is | shortly to be built for a distance of over | twenty miles into one of the richest farm- ing and fruit producing districts of the surrounding country. Theassurance that this road would be built in the near future | has resultedjin the establishment of a large colonization scheme a few miles from the city, which has already a substantial nucleus of bright, energetic Eastern men, Atmosphere Wit tribes hold counsel and smoke the pipe of peace. The Grand Army of the Republic is represented by six posts, circles and corps. The United Order ot Druids, Native Daugh- ters, Good Templars, United Workmen, Chosen Friends and sundry other orders all have representation in the city. while the energy and push of the Native Sons of the Golden West of Sacramento have been | fully exemplified and are appreciated from one end of the State to the other. if there is any one attribute of the city in which the citizens take deserved pride it is the magnificent educational system which has been fostered and promoted by their enterprise and devotion to the en- couragement of learning. From the kin- dergarten to the high school the system is absolutely complete, and the laiter in- stitution, under the able management of Professor Pond, is becoming known all over the State forits thorough course of ed- ucational advantages. At the beginning of the present term 1t was found to be an impossibility to ac- commodate all the applicants for admis- sion, many of whom came from other cities. The system at the present time embodies ten primary schools, four free kindergartens, four grammar schools and the high schools. Besides these there are several private institutions of learning | and business colleges. The School of De- sign, under the management of Ww. Jackson, has attained a State-wide popu- larity. Tt was organized for the purpose ! | | | | | of teaching designing ard the pictorial art, and has facilities for all desirous of Interior of the Sub-Station of the Sacramento Electric Power and Light Company. nected_with the business portion by an tem of electric cars, which, running atan average rate of speed of eight miles an hour, convey the business man from his This electric car system threads the city in all directions and is so carefully planned and ' laid out that there is scarcely a residence | which cannot be reached in a few minutes’ | walk from some car line, the entire system | being operated by power generated at the Folsom power-house. | In all Sacramento there isnot one rough | narrow street. On the contrary, the thor- oughfares are broad macadamized or bi- tuminized avenues, which, throughout the which add greatly to the city’s beauty. To a great extent the smooth sireets of Sacra- | mento have contributed to the popularity | the silent steed is more universally used. One of the greatest points of interest to the visitor, one of the chief outing resorts to the resident and a substantial adorn- ment to Sacramento is the great white Capitol_buildine, with its surrounding park of thirty-five acres artistically laid out in walks and drives, terraces and lawns, and containing trees of rare beauty, whose foliage remains perennially green. Gatibered from every portion of the known world, here side by side may be found cedars from the Himalaya, pines from | Asia and South America, the native bananas, fan palms, magnolias and other species too numerous to mention. Under the efficient manage- ment of State Gardener Dunn, who is one of the best-informed men on floriculture in the State, these grounds have been made a dream of beauty. This is the favorite evening resort of all, and its attractions are enhanced on sum- mer evenings by free musical concerts. The city vpossesses other breathing spots, also deservedly popular, but not to com- pare in the affections of thie residents with this. One of the most important adjuncts of the city's prosperity in the past has been the shops of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, probably the most complete plant of a like nature in the United States. These shops and yards cover forty acres and are equipped with all the latest modern machinery, and employ in the neighbor- hood of 2500 men. The motive power used in running these extensive shops consists of twenty-five stationary engines having a capacity of 1500 horsepower, sixteen large steam pumps, twelve steam hammers and twenty-five stationary steam boilers, all of which, it is expected, will shortly be super- seded by electric motors. Among the many manufacturing in- terests which have been attracted to Sacramento by reason of central location and shipping advantages but few are of more importance than the Buffalo Brew- ing Company, who give steady employ- ment to-over 100 men all the year round and distribute over $75,000 in salaries. Frank Rubhstaller’s City Brewery is also an important factor in the city’s indus- tries, being one of the largest steam beer plants on the coast, giving employment to over 100 men and baving an output of 100,000 barrels per year. This is not only one of the largest breweries, but one of the most comylete in all its furnishings, the entire building being fitted throughout with refrigerating pipes, so that even in the hottest weather the interior can be kept at any desired temperature. The entire plant is under the personal super- vision of Captain Ruhstaller,whose palatial residence is in such close proximity that he can be reached at any moment if necessary. The mitling industry of Sacramento is important and no locality in the State is better adapted to fulfill all the require- ments needed, the city being a railroad ceater and situated on the Sacramento River, that magnificent stream which connects it with the greatest grain-pro- ducing area of the State. There are al- ready some of the largest milling plants in the State situated at this point and the field is by no means exnausted. The meat-packing interests are already well represented in this city and their products are becoming known throughout the State. The lumber-planing mills and - box fac- tories of this city form a source of great revenue, which will be largely en- hanced by the extensive. plant of the American Land and Lumber Company, situated at Folsom, whose yearly output must center in Sacramento. This isan entirely new enterprise, originated in con- junction with the Electric Power Com- pany, and whose yearly log drive down the” turbulent current of the American River consists of millions of feet of the clearest sugar pine lumber taken from a district of virgin pine forests which have never before echoed the ring of the wood- man’s ax or the buzz of the crosscut saw. ‘This successful enterprise, already cross- ing the thresbold of completion, has been projected on an extensive basis that will successfully vie with any other of a like. nature on the entire Pacific slope. 1t has cost millions; it will proauce millions, Its whose brains and brawn will add materi- ally to the welfare of the city, and whose glowing accounts of soil and climate sent to home friends 1n the East are rapidly re- sulting in inducing others to abandon their homes and settle in this favored locality. This electric line taps a fruit-producing area second to none in the State, where not only all the ordinary fruits can be pro- duced, but where the orange and lemon grow and mature with but little if any danger of blighting frosts. Vegetables can also be grown with but little irriga- tion, and the rapid facilities of transporta- tion to a central market can but prove a source of immediate revenue to any who may engage in their preduction. This will also afford an added iacentive to the establishment of canning and fruit- drying establishments at this place. This city is_probably the best squipped on the coast in point of local telephonic com- munication. The recent incorporation of the Capital Telephone and Telegraph Company, which has been organized by a number of pro- ressive citizens and " business men of this ocality, and is in successful operation, has raised a spirit of competition between it and the Bell Telephone Company, which has resulted in such a reduction of rates as to place the instruments within the reach ofall,and they are heing rapidly introduced into the residences .in all portions of the city. In point of social, religious and educa- tional advantages Sacramento ranks in the foreground in comparison with any city of Northern California. Over tweénty-five churches and religious societies, of almost every denomination, own handsome edi- fices within its limits, and the newly erected studying drawing and painting in all its branches, as well as the rechnical details of art. This school is under the management of the California Museum Association, an in- corporated society for_ scientific, literary and artistic pursuits. It is not conducted for profit,and the entire income is devoted to tie school. 1t is located in the Crocker Art Gallery, a beautiful building on spa- cious grounds, filled with works of boti modern and ancient masters, besides thou- sands of studies. Its art school and rooms are the finest in the countr; collection of casts and school appliances is complete and modern. This is also a fa- vorite place of resort for citizens. One of the handsomest business houses which has been erected during the past { year is the Joseph building, erected by Architect James Seadler, who for years past has ranked as a leading architect of Sacramento, and has many evidences of his skill scattered through various counties of Northern California. This building is. sit- uated on the northeast corner of Sixth ana K streets, and is three stories in height, with a basement. The structure is of brick, faced with Redding stone. the first floor there are three stores. - The second floor has sixteen office-rooms, and | the third is arranged for three apartments of five rooms each, with baths, etc. | contractor who is well known through- |out Northern and Central Calfor- | nia, and who has constructed the ma- | jority of the handsomest buildings in | the city of Sacramento. He has also | | been identitied with large building inter- ests of various kinds—flumes, bridges, | etc.—and probably gives employment to | as many skilled artisans as any man in Catholic cathedral is famed throughout the | Sacraméato County. State for the beauty of its architecture and the completenessof interior arrangements. The secret and benevolent societies of | the city are legion. The Masonic frater- nity is represented by ten lodges, chap- ters and commanderies. The Odd Fellows have thirteen lodges, encampments and cantons. The Knights of Pythias possess eight departments of the order. The Im- proved Order of Red Men of four separate The building in question has a very com- plete system of ventilation and plumbing, this work having been performed by | George Stack, who is considered one of the | leading men in the plumbing line in this city. | All the glazing, both in the Joseph buiid- |ing and the Weinstock & Lubin annex, was done by the Sullivan-Kelly Company, one of the largest giass and paint houses | On | tive This | | building was erected by Silas Carle, a | [in the ranks of progress. h Smoke. on the coast. The upper portion of the building is furnished throughout with | | leaded glass, of which this firm makes a | specialty, possessing one of the most com- plete plants for manufacturing this product of any firm on the coast, and giving em- ployment to a large number of men. Their manufactory is situated in Sacramento and is the best equipped plant of the kind in the State. The Joseph building when entirely com- | | pleted will cost $25,000. The same parties are erecting and finishing the annex to the Weinstock’ & Lubin store. This annex is a four-story brick structure 60x160 and will cost when completed $27,000. It will | be used for general warerooms, depart- ment offices, etc. i It is impossible to make mention of all | the magnificent structures which have| been erected during the past year, some | 400 in number, or over one per day, all of | which are monuments to the push and | enterprise of their owners and show the abiding faith they possess in the outlook | for the future of Sacramento, which has | so fitly been named the Queen City of the | interior. | There are four libraries and reading- | rooms in the city, to nearly all of which | any one may obtain access. The main library is owned by the State and is situ- | ated in the Capitol building. This is the | third largest library in the United States, | containing over 98,000 volumes, many of | which are rare and costly. The Odd Fel- | lows fraternity also have a large collection | of literary works, and the Public Library, | which has been lately enlarged and im- proved, contains about 27,000 volumes. 3 The public affairs of the city are pre- sided over by a Mayor and Board of nine Trustees. Charles E. Leonard, pres- | ent President of the board, is a thoroughly practical business man, conservative and | sound in his convictions, unfaltering in | his duty and 1n his faith in the bright | future of the city. The other members of the board are men of like brains and capac- | | ity, and they are all combined as a anit to | forward the best interests of the common- wealth. C. H. Hubbard, the present Mayor, | although but lately inaugurated, has | already fully demonstrated his ability in directing the affairs of the city, and is a | financier who without doubt will solve the | problem of an economical administration. Sacramento possesses a Fire Depart- ment, presided over by a Chief who has | amply demonstrated in the' past his ability to cope with any conflagration, and in consequence insurance rates throughout the city are as low, if not lower, as in any other ¢ity on the coast. The Police Department, presided over by | Chief M. M. Drew, is composed of active, | conscientious men, who, although few in number, have proved themselves capable of handling such of ihe criminal element as may be hardy enough to attempt to gain a foothold in the city. H In conjunction with the police station there is a receiving hospital for the treat- | ment of accidental cases of injury, and | | the patrol wagon, which is in service at | all times, is fitted with all the approved | appliances of a modern ambulance. The County Hospital, situated on the outskirts of the city, affords accommoda- tion for 225 patients, and under the effi- | cient supervision of Dr. White bas the reputation of being the best conducted in- stitution of its nature on the coast, admis- sion being eagerly soaght for by the un- fortunates of all surrounding counties, and it is an authenticated fact that more appli- | cations for admission to the institution are | | received from the sick and afflicted of these than from within the boundaries of the county which maintains it. There is within the city limits a private hospital where all home comforts are pro- curable, and the Railroad Hospital is also situated in this city. Much has been wrongfully said in the past of the preva- lence of malaria in the city and yet veri- fied statistics prove that Sacramento ranks as the second city in the United States in point of health. Of banking institutions Sacramento possesses five, namely: The California State Bank, with a capital of $350,000. Its president, Frederick Cox, and cashier, William E. Gerber, stand foremost amon, the progressive element of the city, Shd are already among the ranks of those | anxious to promote and foster the intro- | duction of new manufacturing interests | in this locality. The Farmers’ and Mer- chants’ Savings Bank has a guaranteed capital of $500,000, and to its president, B. U. Steinman, formerly Mayor of the city, may be traced many of the existin, reforms in the city’s government, an nearly all of its late public improvements. | The National bank of D. O. Mills is one | of the most substantial institutions on the | coast and bas a capital of $600,000. Its president, Frank Miller, is also included The. People’s | | Savings Bank has a paid-up capital of Charles E. Leonard, President of the Board of Trustees. $225,000 gold coin, and its president, Wil- liam Beckman, is strongly identified with the city’s best interests. The Sacramento Bank possesses a guar- anteed capital of $500,000, and is the oidest institution of its kind in Sacramento. Its enterprising president, W. P. Coleman, is quietly in accord with every progressive plan presented and is unsurpassed in en- terprise and advancement. The real estate firms of Sacramento have done and are doing much to forward the material interests of this city and its immediate locality, and no class of citi- zens in the city are mere prominent in receiving and entertaining strangers and affording them opportunities of closely examining the many advaniages offered by the locality for settlement; nor is it essential that the visitor should be a pros- pective purchaser. The mere fact that he 1sa stranger callsforth all their hospitality, as it did with their forefathers in the days of old. Among the foremost firms in this line are E. L. Hawk and Edwin K. Alsip, The latter firm at the present time 1s handling the interests of the Sunset Colony. There are others of great worth and prominence. The tax rate on city property is not now aslow asin some few other cities on the coast, but with the steady income derived from the water works, which more than suffices to defray all the current expenses, it is an assured fact that within two years the city’s debt will be wipea out and the tax rate will be reduced to a minimum. Such is a brief list of the manifold ad- vantages offered by this locality to those of our Eastern brethren who, weary of the constant struggle with frosts and droughts, seek openings for the establishment of a home in this favored clime. 4 Such is Sacramento, a city with the Joseph Steffan, President of the Chamber of Commerce. brightest augury of any in the State of California, a city whose manufactories will before many years produce all the necessities which to-day are rocured from the Fast. Nor as a manufacturing city will its clear sky be darkened with clouds of smoke, the buildings grimed with soot, for the motive power will be electricity, that quiet, clean, mysterious agency, whose capabilities are just begin- ning to be understood. E. CoLLiNGwooD RUTHERFORD. DY iy i g ./ § g3 e sap— Mo —— 2@ = 'Sl i 1! i |'HUHIIIW\IMH'UHII i v ||l THE JOSEPH BUILDING AT THE CORNER OF SIXTH AND K STREETS.