Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-19
BUSINESS AND PLEASURE.
Legislative Excursion-A Gay Party and a
Gloomy Pr;sou

| Gloomy Prison.
| In accordance with an agreement that the
Senate Committee, consisting Of Senators
| Watson, Nye, Sears, Lampson. Moreland,
! Langford and Kane, and the Assembly Com
mittee, composed of Assemblymen Tyler,
! May, Estee, Brooks, Carr of Sacramento,
| Leach, Nelson, Lane and Mcguire would
meet in joint session and make thorough
| investigation of prison matters, that body
| yesterday visited the new prison at Folsom.
With a kindly feeling for their fellow law
makers, and a desire that they should 60, see,
| and become wise, the members of the Prison
| Committees pooled their legal mileage, char
! tered a train OF cars, and gave them a free
ride to prison-treatment that will be ac-
corded in due time to many worse men
than the Jolly legislators who combined bust
ness and pleasure with such an agreeable
facility.
AT AN EARLY HOUR
Those who were fortunate enough to have an
excuse or invitation to be one Of the party
| had hurried to the depot, some with an TN
pleasant frown fitting across their faces as
! there came regret for a lost nap and a hur-
ried breakfast, yet all pleased with the pros
pect of day spent among the woods, climb
ing the rugged hills, inspecting the half
mysterious tomb-like dungeons, listening to
the lush of the noisy turbulent streams,
basking in the warm sunshine, and inhaling
the pure atmosphere of the country. The
members of the committee had charge of the
train and made every man who mounted the
brakeman's rostrum produce ticket, the
size of which was simply enormous, and ne
cessiJated their being collected outside the
L..
authority, and expressed his determination
to write book on "What l know about
Railroads"
THE TRIP.
The train left the depot at exactly 8
o'clock with three cars well filed with
Senators, Assemblymen, clerks, pages, mem
bers of the press and other guests including
a dozen ladies, numbering in all $50 per-
sons. In one short, heeting hour of pirth
and JOY the train had winged its rapid flight
over the twenty-five miles of this route,
which is a preferred and popular one,
especially for the hauling of gravel. The ar
rival of such a distinguished assemblage was
a surprise to the few sleepy Folsomites who
were standing here and there in the sunny
spots, nervously shaking themselves for pure
amusement, for with his last breath the
dying inhabitant scorns the suspicion that
ague exists in the lovely town. Even the
energetic hack. drivers were absent, and lost
a rich harvest. The confusion and consterna
ton exhibited by the visitors on learning that
a tramp of two and half miles lay before
them was amusing indeed, but the situation
was quickly accepted, and then began the
grandest
GO-As-YoU-PLEAsE
Match ever witnessed The solid men soon
fell to the rear, while the lighter and agile
scrambled onward up the nights and had the
satisfaction of gazing down upon their tagging
competitors. An hour or two of careful and
interested inspection followed, and the ex
pressions of the visitors were varied indeed.
Many expressed horror at the thought of con-
tinement in the gloomy, damp cells, but
Others thought that a more severe prison
regime should be established than that prac
ticed at San Quentin, and that the prison was
good enough for those who would occupy it.
The place, however. being in such an incom
plete6 state presented its most unattractive
features, and when the heating apparatus
shall have been provided and the walls dried
and whitened it will be fully as cheerful as
the average prison.
IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTED.
The members of the committee seemed
pleased with the general style and execution
of the work, but suggested several minor
changes, one of which was a change so as to
have a skylight the entire length of the roof
It is estimated that the work of the present
contractors will be completed in thirty days;
that an additional appropriation of $4,000
will be needed TO prepare the building fer
occupancy, and that it can be completed
within three months. No official action, how
ever was taken, except = resolution to meet
at an early dy, and hear the testimony and
statements of all persons who are interested
or DESTROYS of imparting information. After
the quarries had been visited, the ladies,
members of the committee, and members Of
the press, were given Il
GRAND COMPLIMENTARY DINNER
By General Superintendent j. w. Duncan,
j. j. Gleason, who is one of the contractors,
and !. L. Grant The brisk exercise had
prepared all for an appreciation of the cour-
tesy, and the genial spirit of the usual legis-
lative dinners prevailed. The entire party
then returned to the depot, some walking, but
many others taking advantage of the horse
cars hurriedly provided and even rivaling the
street-cars in rapid Y. The train arrived in
the city about ) o'clock with tired but we'll
pleased excursionis.s.