The Placer herald., 1870-05-14
FIRE DEPARTMENT.

A Board OF Commissioners was appointed with
full power 10 work the Institution and IL was ex-
pected that they would proceed TO increase the
discipline and eliminate the Republican politi-
ticians who made the department their strong
hold. But several meeting have been held with
out getting through any business and people are
enquiring what is the reason of the delay. In
terest concentrates in the fight for chief. There
are too candidates the present incumbent
Frank E. r. Whitney and Dave Scannell who was
Sheriff in Viglante days and afterwards head of
the volunteer Fire Companies. Whitney Is well
liked by the Insurance agents aud business men,
Scannell has powerful influence and hosts OF
friends so the result is somewhat doubtful. In
the meantime the public suffer. The companies
are througbly demoralizcd, not knowing who
will be discharged and who retained, and the
members Of Engine Company No. sienalized
the first meeting of Commissioners by going on
a wholesale drunk, from Foreman to Steward.
Another much needed reform now inaugurated
was the supervision of
SAILORS BOARDING HOUSES.
For years these have been disgrace TO the
city, exercising terrorism over Captains and
seamen, cheating robbing. and kidnapping with
impunty and in measure controlling the COM
merce Of the port. These dens are now to be
licensed. subject to a rigid inspection and made
to conform to an outward semblance of decency
The police here receive an average of twenty let.
ters per month from people in the interior en-
curing for missing friends, who come to the city
and are heard of no more. The majority Of these
are undoubtedly drugged, robbed and put aboard
outward, bound vessels as able bodied seamen. Oc-
casionaly one of he victims returns with de-
mand for redress, but the boarding house men
have always plenty Of witnesses to prove that
the applicant was regularly shipped voluntarily
signed articles ETC., and in no single instance
have these city frontvillains been punished.
II the State Legislature had done nothing else
during the session but pass these two measures
it would be good showing for the time and
money spent.
RAILROAD BONDS
We have special lection in the county on
the 7th June to decide if certain Rail- DAD com.
panies shall bc subsidized to the amount of 2OO0-
600. The question hangs on the employment of
Chinese labor. II the Southern Paci ic Railroad
will guarantee to hire none but white men, the
vote will probably be in their favor, but if they
decline to make sach promise, decidedly against
them. The Democratic County Committee do
not favor the proposed purchase of lands, and
although party lines will be tightly drawn, their
opposition will so Il great way to defeat the
scheme.
THEATRICAL.
In my last letter mentioned the case of lady
who had been e.communicated from n certain
church because OF her playing in a theatre. Peo-
pie OF enlighi encd nd more liberal ideas are de-
tormined to show their disaprroval of such byp-
ocritical nonsence by rendering the victim of
this intolerance a benefit. Mrs Kate Armstrong
has selected Zone Touch of Nature' as the play
Tor the occasion, piece in which the true life
of our actress behind the scenes is faithfully de-
picted. Margaret Hall has been secured for that
purpose and the result, financially and morally
is certain to be a success. HHs
The picnic mania interferes greatly with the
theatres and reduces the treasury considerably.
If, as is often the case, five or six thousand per-
sons attend one Of these excursions other amuse-
Ipents must suffer, SO it s not the fault of man
ayers nor rctors that the curtains raise to 'beg
gerly account of empty benches. Summer is al
ways dull time for them, and this year unusu-
ally SO. YERBA BUENA.