The Placer herald., 1859-03-05
The Bulkhead Scheme.

pdpcTS ONcl IuO DuihuOoN fASJSNs AOA sA's's
city. The bill now before the Senate meets
the appreciation Of some of them, but the ma
jority seem to have pitted themselves against
it. We know little Of the merits of the diff
ferent schemes proposed for building the sea
wall, but have long since been led to believe
by the statements of the San Francisco press
that the work was one of urgent necessity
to the commercial requirements Of that city,
by reason of the rapid shoaing of the water
in the principal slips; and we were not lit
le surprised at a statement in the S. f. Her.
aid few days since, that the depth of water
at number of the wharves has greatly
increased instead of diminished within a
year. 1t is also stated now that the work
ofbuilding wall may and should be defer
red for years, although every body seemel to
be impressed with the belief little while
since that every moment of delay was result
ing in injury to the harbor. Perhaps it may
be considered presumptuous in the interior
press to enter into any discussion of this
matter, but it is difficult to pass over the in
consistency of the San Franciscans. They
one day demand Bulkhead and on the next,
because q particular company may obtain the
building Of it, they demonstrate against the
measure. With such an instability of senti-
ment how is the legislature to act' The
only course for it to pursue seems to be to
fected, but to ascertain if such work is
needed Immediately, and if it is, to inrust it
to the hands of responsible parties, who will
successfully prosecute it. All the organized
combinations in San Francisco cannot obtain
the contract, and the Legislature cannot ex,
pect to please the disappointed.
When we think Of the shaky condition Of
the San Francisco wharyes, numerous man
traps, and the temporary and unsafe struc
lures generally upon the waterfront of the
city, we wonder than any opposition should
be made to the direct building of the bulk
head, work that will give character and
permanenee to all :hat par. Of the city.
Any opposition must proceed from interested
and probably unworthy motives
GRAND JURY REPoRT.-This document
appears in another coumn-it is short, but
contains one or two suggestions worthy of
notice. The separation Of prisoners in Jail
committed for misdemeanors from those
under charges or indictments for felony
should certainly be made. 1t is wrong that
men imprisoned for slight offences, not Of a
dishonest character, should be brought in
immediate contact with abandoned men
whose trade is villainy, who delight in teach
ing it, and who neither desire or intend to
live honestly.
The recommendation in favor Of the erec
ton Of fire-proof building for the safe
keeping of the public records, is important
and should receive early attention from the
Board of Supervisors. These records are
valuable to the citizens Of the county, and
becoming more SO every day. The present
building is not a safe depository for them,
and every day they remain in it is day of
risk. The improved finances Of the county
Justify the immediate erection of fire proof
house for this purpose, and we urge upon
the Supervisors to take the necessary action
in the premises at their next regular term in
May.
The Grand Jury report does not pay a
general round of compliments to the county
officials for the excellence of their admins
trations or cleverness generally. This is
wel-for California Grand Jury Reports in
general have principally consisted of stere.
otyped phrases putting the faithfulness and
urbanity of officials, until people have long
since come to consider such talk as all bosh
and have teen disposed frequently to suspec
that officials so much be praisad as not being
as good as in truth they were.
CoNsrIrurIoNALC Conventions tim
, since a bill was introduced in the Legislature
providing for submission to a vote of thu
f people the propriety of calling a Consttu
tional Convention. We have lost sight O
the measure-what has become of it!-
Won't somebody bring it to light and urg
its passage before the session closest
The BENEFIT OF OpposIrIoN.-To-d
the opposition Steamships commence thei
trips from San Francisco The benefits re
sultng from this are already manifest in tn