Daily national Democrat., 1860-12-06
A Question of Location.

Appeal, in regard to the representations
which it has made. But, the editor of the
Appeal mas also been upon the ground, and
seen for himself that he has been most gross
ly misinformed on the subject. The Appeal
Of Tuesday, says
"Mr. Steele intends to commence laying
the foundation for the building one week
from to-day So far the weather has been
remarkably favorable for his operations, and
the indications are that it will remain so un-
Ill the walls are well under way. For the
interests of the State and the future success Of
the school it would be better if the elements
Immediately interposed to stop the work -
The site chosen for the building as we have
lately ascertained, although a very pleasant
looking one, is exceedingly unwholesome. 1t
is on the tank of Guba river into which puts
a mosquito and ague breeding slough; while
the opposite side of the stream is low, marshy
ground, and likely to remain UNI eclaimed for
years As proof of the sickliness ofthe locali-
ty we can mention that about half Of the men
employed by Mr.. Steele were down with the
ague at once, and some refused to stay with
him on that account. AT one time he was
sick himself, and almost sorry he had ever
taken the contract. Persons owning and
culuyatng the land along the river long ago
abandoned residence near its banks, after
undergoing a most painful and discouroging
experience with fever analogue. With scarce
ly an exception they have removed to the
high land half mile or mile back from the
stream, where malarious disease is almost en-
tirely unknown"
"For the interests OF the State and the fu-
ture success of the school it would be better
as ne think, that the elements should not
interpose to stop the work. "The site chosen
for the building" is not Exceedingly un-
wholesome" 1t is not con the bank of the
Yuba river" but on the Feather. Neither
does "a mosquito and ague breeding slough
nut into the river. So far as we could dis
cover from personal observation, there is no
slough at all near the location, unless it is a
little channel of water during the high sea-
son which runs no more than few hun
dred yards, and speedily subsidies and evapor-
ates Such slough is scarcely worth the
trouble of noticing. As to any malarious
swamp on the other side of the river, we are
positively informed that nothing Of the kind
exists
The location Of the State Reform School
Building is on the upland though near the
bank Of the river. The site is Oh ground as
high as any portion of the tract purchased for
the institution The Appeal states that far
ther back, the location would be healthier
Why it should be, we cannot see. The level
of the ground is the same, and whatsoever
malarious influences there may be must ex-
pand over the whole plain between the
Feather and Yuba rivers. The character of
the land is the same, and the general inhu-
ences operating upon the atmospheric ee-
ment are the same There can be no great
difference between one portion of the plain
and the other, in respect to health, because
there are no conditions which could produce
any difference Of the kind We think it is
idle to say, that the bank Of the Feather river
Is healthier, one half mile from the shore, on
the upland than it is directly on the shore.
The ground is on the same level. There is
Feather river on the West, Yuba on the East,
the Honcut on the North, end Bear river on
the South. In whatsoever direction, the wind
may blow, the deloterious influences from the
Honcut or the Feather or the Yuba, or Bear
river, viii be felt to a greater or less extent.
The Huncut, the Feather, and the Yuba, with
their intermediate sloughs, are sufficient
source of disease by their proximity to each
other, to account for any i'll health that may
arise in the valley. But the same causes ex-
ist all along through the whole extent of the
Feather river, Sacramento and San Joaquin
Valleys. There is no difference. Fever and
ague occurs all along the water courses, and
the fever and ague which exists in the neigh
borhood of the State Reform School is the re-
suit, not of the particular conditions of the
location but of the general conditions of the
entire Feather River, Sacramento and San
Joaquin Valleys.
The only point in controversy is this Is q
location one halfmile from the river. bealtbie,
than one near the bank ? We say the hall
mile will make no difference, because it is all
upland and on the same level, and, if there
be malarious influences, they must at least
extend half mile out, the land being level
and all things being equal.
The State Reform School, according to
present arrangements, will stand in a space
adjacent to a grove Of scattered evergreen
oaks, natives of the high upland, facing the
plains, but having from the rear windows a
view OF long stretch Of the Feather River
with the blue and silent Buttes, rising in the
distance to finish the picture and cut off the
vision. A more beautiful location could not
have been selected along the whole extent Of
the river, and we are decidedly opposed to
having the site removed. We know of no
cause that should make it healthier half
mile out than within a hundred yards of the
river, the ground, as we have repeatedly
urged, being on the same level for miles upon
miles,
The expense of a removal would be very
considerable and would require total
change in all the arrangements now entered
into Contracts would have to be annulled
or modified, new bonds entered into, aud
everything begun anew. 1t would upset
nearly all that has been SO far done, and
probably retard the work in hand for many
months.
The fact is, the site is well enough. The
Commissioners selected it with view to
health and beauty. The people generally are
satisfied with it, the foundations of the Build
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