Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-28
THE WIDTH OF THE TRACK.


The following communication has been re-
ceived from correspondent, M. ID. ST."
under date of March 26th: Twill you be SO
kind as to insert the following in contradic-
ton of statement made in the columns OF
your worthy paper this morning, concerning
the width Of the race track at the Park: The
writer states it is 20 feet wider than it was
before. That is not SO, fox it was 40 feet be-
fore, and it is the same now, all except the
first furIong, which is 80 feet. He also states
that the gaIloping track is feet wider than
| il was. which is another mistake, for it is or
z feet narrower than before the change.
There is plenty of proof for my statement. 1t
now lacks II inches OF being 80 feet which
every horseman knows is too narrow for ex
| ercisiug Youngsters Sometimes there will be
no less than 80 or 70 Oh the track at one time
during the State Fair, and boys cannot keep
them in place and avoid accidents in such 8
narrow space as the inside track. There has
been one accident alresdy-the collision
of two young colts in the homestretch of the
galloping trail, for / can term it nothing
else" The item referred to was written on
information obtained from an officer of the
State Agricultural Society, who got his fig
ures direct from Mr.. Pierson, the engineer in
ch 3rge of the improvements. IN. d. s."
will find, if he re-reads the item, that it said
the " first turn not the track-was twenty
feet wider than before. Mr.. Persons fig
ures are that the turn at first is sixty and
then fifty feet wider than before. The second
turn is forty feet-the same width as previ.
ousy, which is believed to be sufficient, as by
the time they reach there the horses in race
are almost invariably well "strung out"
The back stretch has an average width OF
forty feet. At the quarter. half and three
quarter poles there is an additional width, to
accommodate horses starting for fractional
miles. The inside track IS according to MIR.
Persons figures, thirty feet wide, and, he
says, as stated 10 the item referred to, about
three feet wider than before. 1t Is alleged
that heretofore there has always been an
abundance Of room. and that, in fact, the
horses worked there were nearly. always gal
Hoped or walked around in trail close to
the inside fence, one horse following another
until the track was so worn thst 1t could
hardly be used.
MUSICAL AND LITERARY ENTERTAINMENT.
Warren Post, No. 81 Grand Army of the
Republic, gave an excellent musical and
literary entertainment and social dance last
evening st Armory Hall, which was largely
attended. The programme was as follows:
Opening address, w. w. Weyer; duet,
"I4ife's Dream is Ger, Misses Minnie Paine
and Josie Hummel recitation, The Sol.
diers Days" Miss Mamie Blanche Ficks !;
song, "rhe Vidette," Mrs. Addie Carter
reel alton. " MaeLaine's Child" Miss Annie
H. Davis piano solo, Military Fantasia"
Mics Gertrude Gerrish recitation, 1.-THE
I IL L l.. L.
song, 1.-The Position" A. Sanborn reeita-
ton, "Sheridan's Ride" Mr.. Hunter; vocal
solo, Mrs. w. c. Fitch instrumental, violin
and piano. "Mennet, Miss and Mr.. Gwynn;
duet, Mr.. and Mrs. Snibbs," Misses
Maude and Geneyieve Henry; cong, "Some
Day You'll Come to Ne Again."
Miss Cassie Galligsn ballad, F. Rorabacs.
After the literary exercises those who love to
dance tripped this Light fantastic Zoe TO
the excellent music furnished by Fish &
Watson'5 band through the following dances:
March and quadrille, waltz polka. lsncers
quadrilie, sCnotlisChe, variety CALIFORNIAN,
waltz, plain quadrille, waltz, polka, waltz
quadrille. Esmerslds, schottische, medley
The success of the entertainment was due to
the efficient management of the following
committees: Floor Director, Fl. w. Becker
Floor Managers, j. Huntoon. w. B. Oldfeld,
+. Kidder, J. +. Grady, Z. Fourness, j.
Stein; Reception Committee, Z. q. Jordan,
NJ J. Smith, Rudolph Pedier, A. Syme, A.
Williams, J. w. Moore.
SUDDEN DEATH OF \ PIONEER. William
l. HerndoD, California Pioneer, and one
of the esrly residents of Sacramento, died
suddenly yesterday morning at his residence,
on o street, between Eighth and Ninth. De-
ceased was native of Virginia, and in his
sixty.frst year. His health had not been
very good recently, but he ate q hearty break
fast yesterday moraing, and was sitting down
smoking when he suddenly passed his pipe to
his wife, aud almost Immediately fell back
unconscious, death resulting soon after.
Physicians WHO were summoned decided that
death resulted from apoplexy. He was by
occupation a contractor and builder, and
worked upon many of the well-known struct-
ures of the city. He took an active interest
in politics, and was at one time candidate
for City trustee, being beaten by but few
votes. At their last meeting the City Trus-
tees elected him Superintendent Of the City
Cemetery, but he had not entered upon the
duties of the office The fire-bell on
Fifth street tolled on his death becoming
known. he having been member of the Ex-
empt Firemen's Association, and at one time
President Of that organization.
LIVE Stock MOVEMENT. following
stock shipments were made. says the Reno
Gazette of Monday, from Lees corrals Satur-
day night One carload Of young horses,
half-breed Normans, raised by Barney
Clougb, consigned to Sacramento parties
two carloads of fat cattle, consigned to Odell
Il Co., Sacramento nine carloads of prime
beeves, by l.. Brooks to Hayes, Carrick &
Co.. Oakland stock yards. Two carloads of
the last lot were beauties. They were year
hngs past, and raised by Joe Frey en- his
dairy ranch nesr this place. Old stock men
say thsy were the finest youngsters ever sent
off the meadows. They we're of the short
horn and short-legged Durham breed, and
Melted 500 pounds each. Six carloads of
prime steers were also shipped to Grayson,
Harrell & Co, Oakland stock yards, and six
carloads also were loaded and shipped to
Brandenstein 4 Co., San Francisco. -Four
carloads Of horses and mules from Eureka
county were unloaded az the corrals Saturday
night for feeding, and were reloaded Sunday
night and forwarded to Stockton.
METROPOLITAN THEATER.-" Youth"
semi-military melo-drama, was played by
Bert's Company last evening. 1t is piece
lNA4 u IEG LdbAGn4A anu bLi4hlu5 blbuGslOIei
and requires a strong force numerically. It
was for first night well played. Naturally,
some friction must be manifested in piece
so full of business, and in which large
number Of supernumeraries have to be EN-
ployed. The scenery was nearly all new here,
and much of it handsome. The mechanical
effects were well worked, notably the revolv.
ing scene and the steamer departure. Mr..
Msiuhall, Mr.. Ward Fir. White and Mr..
Webster had the leading male parts and
filed them with entire acceptability. Miss
Charlotte Tittle, Miss Bert and Miss Ward
were successful in very trying solos. The
play will be repeated this evening ia well
worth a sitting, and should draw large house,
especially at the reduced prices.
For GRAND LARcENY.-Charles McAsse,
who was arrested on a warrant sworn out
February l2:h by B. w. Thomas, accusing
him of grand larceny, in stealing horse, will
have q hearing before Justice Gilmer to-mor-
row. The defendant has been 10 the County
Jail since his arrest and would have been ex-
amined before but for his assumption of in.
sanity. The physicians examined him re-
Gently, and concluded that he was altogether
too crszy-in other words, that he played it
too strong.
HAD TO SUSPEND WoRK.-It is reported
that the pile-driver has been compelled to