The Placer herald., 1868-04-18
BRANCH STATE PRISON.

For many years the want Of branch
State prison has been sadly felt. Too many
convicts have been immured at San Quentin
for crimes Of every class and grade. not only
for thsir moral welfare, but for the interests
Of the State. 1t was long ago demonstrate.
ed that branch advautageously located and
occupied by those who we're not vicious be,
yond the hope Of reformation might be made
self-supporting, and the ends Of justice sub
served, without compelling the man who had
some self respect left to become for years the
companion Of the most hardened villains
The last legislature, among other good acts,
for which they deserve our thanks, passed a
bill authorizing the State Prison Board to
locate at Folsom or RockIin. as may be most
suitable, in their discretion, such an ins,itu-
ton. 1t has the approval Of our excellent
Governor, and only waits the action Of the
Board to 90 into effect. The bill appropri-
ates $4,000 to defray the expenses Of re-
moving and caring for the prisoners, and
contemplates the erection of suitable build
ings by their labor. The claims Of these
two towns for its location rest upon advan-
tages that one holds in common with the
other. Both are accessible by Railroad. At
both places granite for the construction of
the buildings is very abundant, and of the
same quality, and the quarrying Of this rock
for sale would constitute the principal occu-
patton Of the con,icts, but while they could
find employ ment in and around the prison
at Rocklin, if we are not under misappre
hension they would have to be taken to and
brought from the quarries, one or two miles,
morning and evening, at Folsom.
But consideration above sll Others is the
healtbfulness of the respective places. 1t
would be monstrous to weigh the pecuniary
interests of the State against The health and
ives Of those whom the State has deprived
Of their liberty, just as their incarceration
may be. Every man would say if their
crimes justify it hang them, don't send hem
where they would be burden TO themselves
and the State, if death does not come in as
blessing. Folsom is VIGOROUSLY sickly.
Rockin is the reverse. The former supports
four or five physicians. The latter, With a
large farming population about it cannot az
ford one This is bad for tie Doctors, but
the other is bad for the doctoed. But, say
they, we will put the prison a mile out of
town, on a hill. That is just what should
not be done, for every tyro knows that marsh
civilizations are more poisonous for being
deprived Of the watery vapor. which dilute
them, aud that as they rise from the earth,
and ale concentrated by The rays Of the sun
they are the more deadly, Some of their
friends say that they have only the Ague,
but Doctors say that whatever produces
Ague causes vast number of other diseases.
as fevers Of different kinds, dysenteries,
cholera morbus, and many others.
No no! In charity, if the poor fellows
are to be got rid Of let the process be quick
not long, lingering one. How much labor
would the State get from convicls sick one
half the year and debilitated the other half
why we predict not enough to complete the
buildings 10 keep them in. There would
therefore be 20 economy in the choice of
Folsom.
The gentlemen who compose tho State
Prison Board are humane and considerable
men, who commsserate the prisoners if they
DO not condone the crime, ard they have
themselves no little at stake 10 deciding this
matter. They are not likely to put i. where
an appropriation would have to be made
every year to keep it up, and then have it re-
moved at last. They want to do that which
the public will applaud not curse them for,
and they will do it or we very much mistake
Gov Haight, Gov. Holden and DR.. Nichols.
CONGRESSIONAL CANp1DArEs.-1he Dem
ocratc Central Committee of this county
passed the following resolution on the sub
Ject OF nominating congressman at the
State Convention to be held at San Francis
co on the goth inst, and we feel very con-
tident that the County Convention will re.
adopt the resolution aud instruct her deIega.
ton to oppose any attempt at nominating
Congressman or Congressional Electors until
after the National Democratic Convention
to meet 10 New York on the 4th of July
next, shall have given us National platform
and a candidate for President. and Vice
President:
Resolved, That we deem it improper for the
coming Democratic State Convention to nomi
nate either Congressman or Congressional Presi
dental Electors but that Congressional Central
Committees be appointed whose duty it shall be
to call Congressional Cow entions, to nominate
Congressman and Congressional Electors in each
81 rictn Ctor Tho 0f