The union Democrat., 1870-02-26
SACRAMENTO CORRESPONDENCE
SACRAMENTO, February 10Th, 1870.
FEE AND SALARY BILL.

SACRAMENTO, February 18th, 1870.
FEE AND SALARY BILL.
This State mill is now grinding away a
the Fee and Salary Bill. 1t is as long as the
moral law, and of much more importance tr
the 10 odd Clerks AID Sheriffs who are in
attendance nursing it into life.
DEMOCRATIC noTEL.
A Legislature in session is grand and
golden era for the Capital City. The princi
pal hotels here is always full OF these, the
Golden Eagle crops out most prominently in
the elements Of real Democracy. The bar,
Office, man hall and reading room are con-
nected together by wide and ever open en-
frances At night this human corral is full
There is great, box stove with an iron rail
ing about it whereon the American freeman
may brace his boots. Every half hour the
porter pitches in wood enough to last small
family dav. There is an immense and free
lunch spread every evening at O'Clock and
no one ever in the least degree interferes with
the operations Of the lunch fends.
THAT LUNCH.
1t is Brobdignagian lcnch. There are
huge roasts of beet, shoulders of mutton, sides
of pork, ham bread. crackers, cheese, salads:
often duck and fancy side dishes; the glory of
the lay ont is a great bowl of baked pork and
beans. The Pariah's, the people who have
Rad this lunch in their minds eye perhaps oil
dey draw heavily on that dish. 1t is the one
first exhausted; il is evaporated by ii o'clock;
the meats are in too strong force to go 50 soon;
indeed have never vet seen that table de-
pleted of provision save Of beans. The beans
20. There is an organization of lunch tiends
formed expressly 70 operate on that dish of
bcans.
Seedv. lvand ragged as are the mem
hers Of Il Lation. so long as they are
quiet. the D. r.etors do not disturb them
fhe ragged and broadclo;h coat. warm at the
same fire, eat from the same table, perhaps
from the same dish, and reed the same paper
by the same light. All this is Democratic.
Some Of these vagrants are as well known
on Montgomery street as the Emperor Norton.
They have come up here to attend during the
session. Where they sleep is n mystery.
Such lives have C. sort of fascination for me.
See them stand reiiectively on the corner.
You may imagine them intent on some i'm
those brains is concentrated on one point.
from what quarter shall come the next drink
or meal They rank only second to the En-
peror. He stands high, because he makes no
concealment of his plan for getting through
life. He acknowledges himself an out and
ont tax on public charity. He is honest
The rest cover up their design by a protense
of business.
CALLAHAN S DOGS.
There are many dogs lying and standing
among the crowd at the Golden Eagle. They
are grey-hounds, long lean, sharpnosed, vel
lowish animals. belonging to Callahan, the
proprietor. lie owns they say. about thirty
A dozen or so are always in attendance shov
ing about amongst the crowd for n warm
place by the stove. The porter sends them
yelpipg out of doors every half horr with a
black-snake. They are in again in so sec
onds and stand noddinc about with half shut
eyes; they are ia everybody's way; then toes
and tails are trod upon; it matters not; they
endure it all for the sake of warmth.
Callahan is a lover of hunting. lie lives
one would Judge from external observation ir
and atmosphere of dogs. horses. guns and
coursiuc matches; the clerks, hook-keepers
cooks. chamher-mads and walters run the
hotel! Callahan collects squad Of old spor:
ins veterans about him ana they talk dog md
hose and enjoy their tnidv ut one end of the
bar. And still the Golden Eagle runs. Stran.
gers enter with valise and overcoat; register
their names aud are sent to their rooms:
strangers leave; pay their bills; step into the
waiting omnibus at the front door; are whirl
90 to the depot; and close hv Glands the bic
lotel haegace wagon full of Callahan's grey.
hounds tied therein, snme standing IN, some
lying down. nli shivering in the cold foggy
morning mir and waiting for Callahan and his
congenia sports to put off for the scene of the
davs coursing match nine miles away on the
Lower Stockton road.
on THE LOCOMOTIVE.
Through the courtesy of q conductor on the
Western Pacific Railroad l enioyed while
coming up from Oakland last Sunday, a ride
on the Locomotive. 1t is not the gliding mo-
ton Of the car. You are on an immense NOV
ing mass of iron crashing and crunchine
along the rail and through the atmosr here
You have to hold hard to steady yourself
The engineers eye is constantly on the track
ahead; his hand on the steel lever which
I" gives her steam" Tho resistance of the
atmosphere as we rush along seems to make
it biow gale; pat your head outside the glass
enclosure and your hat becomes an object OF
deep solicisude. From the summit of the Di-
ahlo range we look across the great San Joa-
Quin Valley; the snow clad SUBMITS behind
Sonora loom up sharp aad white against the
sky; looked with curiosity along the lower
line of foothills in your direction, wondering
IN which one OF those darkly shaded gaps Law
,he quiet camps of Tuo!umne. From the
summit TO Corral Hollow some % odd miles
Is a down grade" of IS feet to the mile.
Here said the engineer, "we shut of;
steam aud run Wv ourown momentum" Aud
sq'we thnndered md twisted in and out Of
.he deep rock cuttings, sliding down the long
hill. the speed being regulated entirely BY
the brakes. oae has 10 repeat the somewhat
worn observation, as be is thus brought 81
near the seat Of motive power. Well steam
IL, ~,l