The Placer herald., 1857-05-16
News of the Week.

lhe wagon Road Convention, composed
of delegates from the counties of Sacramento,
EI Dorado, and Yolo, met at Sacramento on
Monday last and continued their session two
days. As was to be expected, they deter
mined that the road through FL Dorado
county to Carson Valley, was the best route
into the central part of the State, and pas
sed resolutions and appointed committees for
the procurement of means for putting it in
good order 1t was recommended to follow
the line of survey made by Sherman Day,
under authority Of an act Of the Legislature
in 1856. They resolved that it was expedi-
ent and necessary to obtain the sum of
$4,000 for ;he purpose of the work, and the
opinion was expressed by members that that
amount might be raised. Mr. Goddard, En-
cineer, who has been on the road, believed it
could he surveyed and built for $75, 900. Mr..
Harvey from information he had received,
believed that $4,000 expended on a portion
of the road about twenty five miles in length,
would make passable road, but not good,
practical stage road. The action of the Con
vention was harmonious throughout, and a
general desire manifested for a speedy com
mencement of the work. 1t remains to be
seen whether the sum of money required
will be forthcoming.
The citizens of Orovile, being dissatisfied
with the action Of the Marysvile Wagon
Road Convention, have called meeting of
delegates from the counties of CoIusi, Teha-
ma, Butte and Plumas, to meet in Couven-
tion at Orovile, on the 23d of May, to take
into consideration measures for the construc-
ton Of an linn grant Road from Honey
Lake Valley to the Sacramento Valley.
In another column we publish the start
ling news of the massacre of Henry A.
Crabb's party at Corvorea, in Sonora This
sanguinarv act of butchery has sent thrill
of horror through the people of California.
The names of Crabb, McCoun and Wood
were familiar to the people of this State, as
men having occupied distinguished positions.
The terrible fate that has befallen them, calls
forth the sympathy of the whole people, and
it will not be strange if speedy, strong and
fearful measures are adopted to avenge their
deaths. More than fifty men were cruelty
shot down like dogs; and, as if this were not
enough, Crabb's head was severed from his
body, and the bloody, ghastly trophy, ex-
hibted to receive the hootings and iibes of
blood-drunken popuace. Truly, the Mex
leans have had a revenge most tiendish
In the matter of r. E. Woods, Treasurer
of the county of San Francisco, who was
committed to Jail by the Board Of Super
visors for contempt in refusing to let them
examine his books after business hours, a
writ of habeas corpus was issued by Judge
Hager, and the delinquent brought before
him. The commitment of Woods, il seems,
was in the name of the Finance Committee
of the Board of Supervisors; and after the
hearing Of Counsel on both sides, the Judge
said: "the courts have again and again decided
that writs must run in the name Of the Peo-
pile Of the State. This order of commitment
is in the name of the Finance Committee
OF the Board of Supervisors. They have no
authority to issue such, nor have courts any
power to do SO. they may order writ to
issue, bui cannot do SO in their own ,ala2e."
The prisoner was accordingly discharged.
STATE pRIsoN CoNTRAcF.-1he Sacra-
saea,to Iuioa learns that James N. 31s.ell
has sqlb-let his State Prison contract to Nc
Caaley, Siaas g. Co, at the rate OF $4,000
per Month. Estel's contract is for $4,000
pen month BY the above operation he
pockets sn,'g little SUM monthly, for which
he RENDERS no service, and the taxpayers
f,,,a TIE bill