The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-16
REPORT OF THE GRAND July.

10 fHC IOH0Ifpi' ""I' ~ - NNtOHN ~ II
Uorrio Coqntg, N"r,~hor Term, 1851:
The Grand jury submit the following
report Twelve indictments lave BEEN
found nf character a~iollow<.
Murder |; Robbery, ): using deadly
weapons, >; exhibiting ,i"a'lly weapons, .;
furnishing liquor To Indians. /; burglary,
| assault and hattcry,2; grand larceny,
| AMI one prcScE;nent for keeping Il
bridge dangerous to travellers.
We find 10 prisoners in the county Jail
confined for various Offences, as follows {:
, for murder to keep the peace; on
civil process; / for petty larceny; for as
Sault, and for burglary.
In the County Hospital We find ~ indi.
gent sick, who are being provided with
medical attendance By pr>. Cpokc and
Titus; and who are supplied 10y the county
with all other nrrcSsaic>.
All supplies, Of whatever character, for
county uses, should be obtained by CON
tract from Tie lowest bidder upon advcr-
ti>cment One Of the greatest outlets Of
the county treasury, and sources Of extra
VACANT expenditure, is the careless and
reckless manner in which bills are con-
tractcd by county officers, INCLUDING the
Supervisors.
When bills are made their allowance
seems to follow as matter OF cOuIsc; and
this is done to such an extent as " leave
no hope, until there shall he an entire
change, Of reducing the present enormous
county expenditures.
The indebtedness Of the county on the
81 Of November, 1851, WAS $l23,l15 IL.
The receipts from all sources for the year
ending September Both. 1861, were 1924
GIL 50 against expenditures for the saline
period Of Sl27, 30 0j; showing Il deficit
Of ;S23,92j -, or an excess ul expenses
over income Tor the year, OF that amount.
The above exhibit shows the absolute
necessity for radical change in the man
ageincnt Of our county affairs; and that if
some change tor the better be not made,
only hopeless bankruptcy for the county
can follow. The annual interest upon our
county debt now reaches the large sum Of
about $4,000.
The Grand Jury believe that the con.
tract recently made by tie supervisors for
the care OF the county sick, must lead to
large increase Of public burden. Here
toturc the contracts mlic for the care vi
the INDECENT sick Of the county, included
their medical care aud medicines nrcrS-
>ary the buildings and tncir proper fur =
miturr, necessary the food and servants in
tendance in tact all, except the clothing
for patleuts. The contact recently made
with DrS Cooke and Thus by the Super
viSOrS, leaves the county hereafter ~ Turn
ISL all the food and clothing Tor patients,
the stewards and cooks and provides for
the payment OF the contractors the sum ot
five thousand four hIulrcd dollars Tor the
period of two years. Wcr, gard the con
tract as inpolitr, all bell We that the >y>-
TEN which it ina'lsuYatcs will result lt.ju-
riou>ly To the county finances.
I There has been another contract made
between the county and the same parties
:or the examination Of Insane pvr>onS. the
care Of sick prisoners, anl lac I"ySf m0!.
tom examinations rtNd are tFptcteI Ia h,
matte, for the period Of Two years. The
latter contract exhibits II peculiar care for
both the living and the dead; but the CON
tract is believed to be illegal and impro-
per.
The Grand Jury have we'll consider,
the condition Of the county affairs, and
believe radical change necessary to re-
form. They, therefore, recommend that
the members Of the legislature fOm this
county procure the pa,>asc "f an act re
organizing the Board oi supervisors, in-
cr,aSing their number to not l>> than five
nrmtciS, defining th,i Duties, and limit
ing their powers with cXactucsS, AMI pro-
/ hiLitlnS the exercise of any powers by
them, but tAcSr granted specifically and
paying thcm PR dttm c"mpcu>ation-
They also recommend the passage Of al,
act providing for the care Of the INDECENT
sick, and the panpcrS Of the COUNTY; also,
making provision Iur pcst.house, in
which persons afflicted with contagious,
infections diseases may he treated.
With revenue annually Of about Sl2J..
900, and anything like a proper system d
county government, and the Performance,
Of duty by our officers, the people Should
he secured against lonser-lI, avy taxation
I and ruinous indebtedness.
The examination Of The accounts Of ont
going county officers should he pracIi>.'l
so that thuSc (ii any dc,inqucnts might
be held to proper account, and their bond,
prosecuted; and we recommend that the
Supervisors employ a competent expert t,
make such examination.
The Grand Jury recommend the sale
by the Supervisors, of the county proper
ty known MS the Court House lot in Pla
ccrvillc, at public auction to the highest
bidder; selling the same in such Quantltir,
ms will secure the largest amount to til,
county. Also, the county Jail in the town
Of CUloma.
The Grand Jury call the attention o
the Supervisors to the charge of illegal toll
at the bridge known a> the Chill Ban
/ Bridge, and recommend that the tolls I,
he collected there, he iiXcl at the uniform
rates charged aud collected at other bridge.
crossing the same stream. The rates t.
be charged should also be repaired to bt
posted upin conspicuous place SO thai
travellers may see them.
1t is perhaps proper t" state that tn,
contracts herein referred to, were Signcd
GA the part Of the county by Supervisor,
JabiHc aud Strout.
All Of which is respectfully submitted
JOHN CONFESS, Foreman.
We II. DAVENPORT,
H. Is. DAiNGERFIELD,
/ }. j.. ATKINSON,
q. D. ATKINSON,
| J. J. LAWYER,
J.. ". RUMSEY,