The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-18
COMMON SCHOOLS.


He pays 9 closing tribute to our Com
mon School system, but thinks the policy
Of the State IN relation to the School Fund
Is radically wrong. The money from the
sale Of our school lands is expended so
fast as it is received, leaving nothing for
future generations; wherefore he recon.
mendS that the funds received from the
sale Of school lands be made perpetual
fund and only the interest thereof used.
STATE UNIVERSITY
Should be established. The lands dona-
ted by Congress to that end have mostly
been sold, hence the want Of funds can
no longer be used as an argument against
the erection of such an institution.
TIE STATE REFORM SCHOOL
Is in practical operation. The managers
Of the Industrial School, at San Francis
CO, have offered to take all persons EN-
braced in the spirit of the Act under
which the Reform School was established,
and care for them as the State would, for
the sum Of $4,000 a year. This is less
than the Reform School will annually cost,
and for this and other high reasons the
Governor thinks their offer should be ac'
cepted.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The appropriations for the Orphan Asy
lumS, and the Deaf, Dumb and Blind
Asylum, have all been paid and The
money has been well applied. These in
StituliOnS are recommended to the bounty
of the Legislature.
STATE INSANE ASYLUM.
This institution requires the sum o
500. 600 annually, and has become an on
erouS tax. Why 400 inmates should cos
nearly 100000 is beyond his compre
hension. But $500 have been received
from patients. showing that THERE'S sn.Re
thing wrong in the commitmentS-elst
people having property never become in
sane! The salary Of the physician, $4,000
together with house, fuel, light and sub
>iStence for himself and family-is to,
much. The Governor. Treasurer anC
Controller should be Board of Director.
for this institution, aud it should other
wise be reformed. 1t is mOrlifying t.
learn from the remarks Of the Residen
Physician that, notwithstanding the vas
appropriations heretofore made for estab
liShmcnt Of the Insane Asylum. and th'
high hopes entertained of it by the gooC
and the phiIanthropic, he finds it now "a
miserable faisSSr"
THE STATE PRISON
Has been frightful source Of trouble anC
expense. However economical the man
agement may be, the expenses swell int,
great proportions. The Directors hav,
hired out portions Of the criminals to la
Dor at such cmplovments as do not CONF
in competition with our own mechanics
This system has only been inaugurated
and when carried fully into effect thu
prisoners will sustain themselves. Tn,
expenses Of the prison have been greatly
reduced within the past two years, anC
with better accommodations can he redu
ced to still greater extent.
Tue STATE GEOLOGIsT
Reports a synopsis Of progress. The sun
Of $50, 900 has already been appropriated
to this work; and the estimates for con
: tinuing it another year amount to $50,
600 more 1t is for the Legislature to SAY
whether the State can afford to continu
it at the cost.
THE ATroRNEY-GENERAL
In his report recommends codificatiOn o
the laws, and the Governor endorses it
The Supreme Court Reports last year COS
the State $4,000, and the. Reporter ha
the benefit Of the copyright. The Re
porters salary should not exceed 81, 400
and he should have no interest in tn,
copyright.
THE SURVEYOR GENERAL
Sends in a report full as usual witk-valu
able information. Some change shou:C
be made in the law providing for the sal,
of the swamp lands, so as to allow thu
frontage on rivers to be enlarged wher
the interests Of the State shall require it
THE RECLAMATION Act
Has been in force some time, but not ar
acre has been redeemed No district la,
been reported in which the people have
raised sufficient funds to reclaim it. Some
$4,000 have been expended in prelini
narieS, but the Governor can see no ben
etit that has been derived from the outlay
The tarmeES along the river know as wei
as any engineer the height Of bank ne
cessary 10 check the overflow and if the
fund be FILTERED away in salaries of com
miSSioners, civil engineers, and an army Of
ax-men, there will be nothing left for the
performance of the only real object in
volved-that is, practical labor. The
men who have purchased these land,
should reclaim them themselves, without
assistance from the money derived from
their sale; and that fund should be kept
to reclaim swamp lands that are more diff
ficult of reclamation, and which in conse
quence thereof cannot be sold.
AGRICULTCRAL.
The State Agricultural Society has done
much for the benefit Of the State, and ht
commends it to the bounty of the Legis
lature The State might offer premiums
for the cultivation of fax, coffee, tea,
sugar, &c.
TIE GRAPE VINE.
j. j. Warner, of Los Angeles, A. Har.
azthy, of Sonoma, and j. A. Ramirez, Of
MarySville, were appointed under reSo-
luton Of last session to examine and re.
port on the cultivation of the grape vine.
Harazthy went to Europe and has return
ed, and Ramirez visits South America.
They will report to the Legislature.
FARMING AND FENCING.
The farmer of California labors under
one great difficulty; that is, in the procu,
ring Of proper and cheap materials for
fencing his lands. In many localities OF
the State it will require an expense three
fold more to fence his lands and protect
his crops against trespass from live stock,
than the land and crops will sell for
Thousands are nrrYented from cultiYatinp