Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-28
COMMITTEES.

The Folsom Branch Prison Committee resumed
the investigation last evening.
hober 0llOrd was called. He did some figuring in
1878 Tor Mr.. Jordan, and put the stonework at
coo at first, but afterwards more careful
estimate put it at sI4S,ooo or $4,000.
John l.. Cook led and said he figured on
cost Of building the road from ne building down ts
the river. and erecting engine at top Of hill with
more cable to haul the stone. My f.ur,s were
about 81 200, and offered to Secretary Beck TO do
| 1t for $780, Don't know whv the offer WAS not
cepted Had several conyersati ms with MIR. Ben
nett. He was always opposed TO MIR Jordan, and
times he wished Jordan would get out Of there and
the sooner he got out the better for all of as
VIM. Corett, tae expert appointed by the COM
mittee TO visit the branch Stale Prison and works
and to make report OF the same to the committee,
submitted his report in which he said that in COM
pany with MesSrS Jordan, Duncan aud Terrell lie
had Inspected all portions oi the work ami submitted
estimates OF what 1t wou cost to complete it under
the Jordan contract and also as it now stands He
says that the eXter Of the building are good
Also the new approach to tia building, but the set.
ting up and hanging of the heavy iron gate is not
credltabe, anu some recent charges have been made
| in the masonry wolk about the gateway Some of
the jambstones have been reset in bad mortar, and
| showing in contrast with the old work. and some
stones loose, letting the gate get OF plumb.
Concerning the cells he says there are Al first
| floor, constructed OF dimension stone, pien ham
merfd, and cell with floor and three sides of di-
| mension stone with ceiling Of bJiler-plate iron ;
also one cell With MOOR aud sides Of dimension stones
| with boiler-pated iron ceiling; cell with floor
and about hall Of the wall of dimension stones and
with iron ceiling as above. Remaining cells this
/ floor are ruhbie masonry, rough and not done as
! should have been work Of this character The top
course OF these walls are of small stone, the oppo
| site of what they shoul BE-, and mortar used in
| this portion of the work of decidedly low grade
Soue OF the cell doors already out Of order from
| not being properly anchored, and hinges are
secured to too small stones. On the second
| floor there are ~ ~ells of dimension stone, pien
| hammered two cells with floor, roof and one side
OF dimension stones, and the remaining cells
| ruhbe masonry but the work shows that the arti-
| cer losing all iarerest in the work. and the
walls and angles are roughly constructed in many
| cases. And some Of the walls tipped out with ex-
ceeding small stones and in some are left with
piece of lumber partially supporting the heavy
| roof stone covering, which has in two cases
split the top portion of the side walls. One two
joints are left open, that it would not be impos-
| sible to set fire to the roof t:mbers from the
six to eight inches open the under
surface, and narrowing up to the top, making
it difficult task to fllthem. The last masonry work
| done on the work is decidedly the most inferior.
| He recommends that all those cells built of rubble
work have the joints raked out and surplus mortar
cleaned off and entire surface. including the
in the ceilings be plastered with heavy coat Of best
| English Portland cement, to give the iron floor a
| heavy coat of asphatum, which to be covered with
layer of English cement felt, and which put
another coat of asphaltum, and in such treatment
allow for graded pitch to the doors. The cell roofs
should have had more care in construction, as
| the main roof over entire building is Of no
stronger materials tn what are generally used for
a roof of private residence. The lighting of the
central corridor is very deficient caused by seven
eighth-inch redwood board ceiling obstructing the
| light, which he recommends be removed, and also
the wood work between the tops of the cells and
| the ROOF, and the latter space walled with rubbe
| masonry TO lesson the danger Of escape from the
cond-story cell galleries. which at present would
afford but imper ect resistance agaiu deteru ined
effort to make exit by the roof. small panel
with wcs CT in each OF the cell doors would greatly
augment the ventilation and light OF the same
A change is also recommended in reference to plas
teriug substituting iron iath in place Of wood for all
| the ceilings and stud partitions, and TO omit all
turing on outside walls and plaster directly on the
stone walls to make it ire-proof as possible
| The report conmeuds the workmanlike manner il
| which the wrought-iron work, plumbing, timing,
car3snter and joiner work has been done. Attached
TO the report is detail Of estimate for the compile
ton Of the building under the Jordan contract
! Complete cost of one cell built Of dimen
sion stones, SI9l Al; 32S cells, S62, 1872 80 outside
and walls to cells, S4iS 50 approach building,
St,031 81; cell building (outside Walls) So Isl IS
'front.' building, including chimneys, So 905 10 tin
ming, cast and wrought-ron work. S22 800; carper.
ter work, Sl5s66; with other items. such plasser
ing, plumbing, tagging, etc, the total estimate is
| S14062 u. Tie foregoing estimate is made upon
| the basis of cost derived from testimony OF
| witnesses before the commit ee as to work done
| under the Jordan contract, except that
for quarrying, which conflicting and am
| bi-uous that actual computation was made in
reference to that portion of the work The estimate
cost Of building cell in rubble masonry,
structed by the State, is given at $50. The esti-
mated cost of completing the building, including
| changes recommended, and cementing, plastering,
painting, patent stone flooring marble mantels
stone stairs, steam boiler and heater water works
| and well, gas works and fixtures mason work,
and about 5000 feet of boundary wall-S70,0 900.
| The committee then adjourned to next Monday
evening, when full meeting OF the joint committee,
to hear the report OF the sub committee viii be held
The Assembly Joint Committees of Agriculture
and OF Water Rights and Drainage, held another
meeting in the Assembly Chamber last evening,
| which was devoted to another discussion upon AS
sembly Bill No. 1874, to promote drainage, several
being present from adjoining counties, and large
number from this vicinity.