The weekly Butte record. [volume] (Oroville [Calif.]) 1866-1887, 1867-01-26

BRIcx BArs--Low. Recding, Pacheco, and Red
ington, are State Capitol Commissioners: They
are honorable men and Of course, would not state
an incorrect motive for arriving at the determine
ton to chang the material of the Capitol building
from granite TO brick. These Commissioners bel
a meeting in the mudhole OF the State the other
day, and 'whereased'' as follows: 1.-The expert
ence thus far had in the OF granite building
material demonstrates that II is very expensive
and that if continued the progress Of the building
must under the most favorable circumstances be
slow and Whereas the architect designed it to
be Of brick and Whereas in the opinion of the
Board it IS the earnest desire Of the people Of the
State that the building shall be completed at the
earliest day possible, therefore, the use of gran
tie is discontinued and the building is TO be finish
ed of "hard burned" brick Now, in our estinla-
ton although these Commissioners are honorable
gentlemen they have not stated the whole truth
that not only induced, bat compelled, the change
from granite to brick. The granite was pressing
its way down deep into the mud of its found
alton faster than the Commissioners could build it.
Huge creyices opened in the ponderous granite
blocks, and it became necessary 10 prop up the
course was recommen ded by the United States civil
Engineers who were called in to examine the rotten
concern at time when the craft were thrown into
confusion by the cracking and probable falling upon
them of the walls they were erecting. The Com
missoners can go no farther with granite, because
the walls were falling down of their weight Who
doubts it the .whereases. "thereforesh and 're-
solves of these very honorable Commissioners to
the contrary, notw outstanding. Who doubts that
it was because the architect required to erect
the magnificent creation Of his brain in place
that could not sustain its weight, that he became
insane, and died the inmate of mad house? Who
believes that the walls of the Capitol building may
be completed of brick, and stand upon the shifting
mud and sand of their foundation! Has not expe-
rience demonstrated the utter useessness and folly
of the attempt to erect appropriate Capitol build
ings upon the soil of Sacramento Why should
not these honorable Commissioners do themselves
and the people of the State, who pay the cost of
the building, the justice to say that the earth of
Sacramento will not sustain the walls of building
such the State should have for its Capitol-that
the very foundation walls. without the weight of
the upper stories upon them are giving away, and
are propped up-and that it is deemed prudent to
discontinue the work until the people of the State
through their Legisa ture, shall determine whether
the work shall proceed? Are they not speaking
for the great mudhole alone, into which they have
invciged the people OF the State. when they deter
mine to use a lighter and less durable material
than was originally intended? And were they not
induced to that course from the fear that Sacra-
mento would lose the Capitol if some make-shift
building was not erected?
The people should look into this subject in the
choice of the next Legislature. Respectable aud
retiring men who consent to represent the different
counties in the Legislature, bullied into repre-
senting Sacramento alone, by the shameless and
unfair course of the Sacramento Union, to escape
the unjust prosecutions of which, they prefer to
yield to the demands of the insatiate old mudhole
aud generally leave the State after the experience
of single session. If the people of the State not
willing to be cheated with nuisance of building
resembling the Oroville Brewery in its construc-
tion-haf granite, half brick, and topped off with
shakes-let them send men down there who will
not be intmdated in the discharge of their duty to
the people by the selfish and insane houndings of
the Sacramento Union.