San Andreas independent., 1858-04-10
Removal of the Capitol.


Houses oft the present Legislature to visit Oak
land, have reported favorable to removing the
capitol to that City. The Committee made a
thorough examination Of the subject, the place
and the inducements and facilities offered, and
in an able report, lay the result of their obser-
vations before the Legislature, and with it
introduced bill for the removal of the capitol
The whole subject was made the special order
of the day for Friday, April 9th, by a vote of,
ayes 40, noes 80. We think Sacramento is
not the proper place for the State Capital and
if moved at this time, the liberal offers of the
citizens of Oakland, and the natural advanta-
ges of the place, should be duly appreciated
We are in favor of Oakland because it is the
proper place for the capital; because the State
would then secure enough ground to build the
public buildings on, without paying two or
three hundred thousand dollars to a bankrupt
city, for the privilege Oakland is the proper
place for the capital and no stronger reasons
could be given than the Committees Report.
The facts there presented cannot be gainsayed
We are opposed to Sacramento because her
citizens made the most liberal promises to the
State in case of the removal of the capital to
that city, which they failed to fulfill, but are
now taxing the State, annually, $4,000, in
the shape of rents for public Offices, old court
house, &c. Residents of Sacramento, not sat-
isfed with these perquisites, advantages and
| ON n ont bava fl,a e;o
of the Legislature, made two Intellectual at
tempts to bleed the State to the tune of two
or three hundred thousand dollars, in palming
off an old court house on the people, for
capitol, at that price, or to build as good
building for the same money, on Capitol Square.
Such trickery is unworthy great city, and
the sooner the capital is removed to where the
people appreciate it, the better. We are
glad to see the Calaveras delegation favorable
to removal. State expenses must be reduced,
Taxpayers demand it,-and the duty of
the Representatives in Legislature assembled,
is to attend to this matter Immediately, and
stop the 100000 year leakage. The follow
ing is the Report of the Committee
Mr. SPEAKER: The Joint Committee of the Senate and
Assembly, appointed to visit the city Of Oakland with
view of ascertaning its advantages site for the
location of the of government and to
ceve such proposals the citizens of Oakland might
offer with reference to that object beg leave respectfully
to REPORT:
That they have. in the discharge of the duty confdd
to them, visited the city of Oakland and the adjacent
country and present the result of their investigation
the following facts and considerations
The natural advantages of the site in point Of alubrity
genial temperature of the climate, dryness of soil and
beauty of scenery believe are cond those of
other point in t!is State.
Its location may be considered as the focal point of
navgabe waters of this State we'll of every system
of internal improvement and communication by railroad
and telegraph which may hereafter be carried into prac-
tical effect
1t is situated sufficiently near to the commercial
tropois to enjoy all the advantages of early Information
from the Eastern States and foreign countries well as
from the terior and remote counties of the State is
convenient of to the best and most extensive IL
braries wi lie sufficiently removed from the noise and
hustle of TIL city to preserve all the benefits OF quiet
suburban location.
In the event of removal of the Seat of Government
to the proposed point the material for the construction
Of permanent building for the Capitol, could probably
be Lad c aper at Oakland than any other suitable point.
If bricks ite is selected they both be procured
of superior quality at San Quenti by h labor of the
prisoners and slipped by water distance of about ff
teen miles, w lie at disance of about five miles back,
at the foot of the range Of hills tie eastery side of the
Bay is found grey sandstone, which is pronounced by
experienced quarrymen to be very suitable building
material of which the proprietor assures us the State
could much she might need for public build
legs, free of charg-
In reference to economical considerations. your Com
mittee submit the following facts. to wit: The State is
paying rents for the accommodation of the Legsa
Supreme Court &c. State offices and Committee
rooms, annual of about twenty five thousand
dollars and for mileage of Legislative Committees to
visit San arcisco tine State Prison and Lunatc Asylum
annually about five thousand dollars more-makiDg q
annual cost to the State of about thirty thousand dollars
1t will be seen by the accompanying proposals, made
under the guarantee of responsible property holders of
the City of Oakland t. at t. is large annual expense. until
the erection of suitable State buildings, will be almost
entirely saved to the State which in three
ing that at the period required for the erection and
of this growi and populous State, will amount to
y one-laf Of the probable expense of such building
The same parties propose under the like guarantees to
convey to th- State site for th erection of public
buildings twenty of land, to be selected by the
State wit in the corporate limits of the city, free of
charge
Your Committee deem these proposals extremely liber
al and advantageous to the State if the policy Of remOv
ing the seat of government be decided afatively by
the Legislature and they of opinion that the charac
ter and standing of the and the binding char
acter OF the proposals the Legislature
that their undertaking will be strictly and honorably full
filled on their part.
Your Committee also of the opinion that it is the
Imperative duty OF every member of th legislature if
while the public wants and interests equally guarded
To so esate as to save to the people of the State
ucabe, SO large sum that annually expended
for State buildings and other necessary accommodations
In accordance with the views your Committe have
adopted in relation to the subject submitted to them
they herewith present bill for to provide for the
of California at the city of Oakland and recommend the
passage thereof