Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-04-16


| pie OF Folsom at the proposed speedy COM
pleton OF the leng-looked-for canal.
THE GovERNoR's VIEWS.
After the examination of the dam foun-
dation and site, the canal route and the
prison grounds had been carefully exam
med and the proposed work considered.
RECORD UNION representative sought the
Governor's views in detail upon the SUBJ
ject, when he said
:" received a visit from Warden Aull on
Ihursday, when he explained to me con-
| cernlng this water power, and came up to
look the matter over. have been over the
premises thoroughly with Captain Aull,
ana md that the work that had been
done in the way of building the foun-
daflon tor the dam across the American
| rlyer and excavating for the canal amounts
to over $4,000. OF this the Folsom Water
Power Company and the Natoma Water
and Mining Company expended over $42.-
O00, and State has furnished about l !, 600
| days OF convict labor, under its old con-
tract concerning labor to be furnished as
compensation for the lands of the prison.
md large amount of dimension stone
already quarried for the dam, besides that
| now in the work. / find the cut for the
canal nearly through the cliff of rock ada
cent to the canal. The cliff is from 25 to 50
feet high.
Captain Aull explained to me fully the
proposition of Mr.. Liyermore, which is to
be submitted at once TO the Prison Directors.
Under this proposal it is contemplated to
cut the canal down to the prison 40 feet
wide, instead of 30 as originally planned
This will give flow 40 feet wide, feet
| deep and a 6-foot fail perpendicular, in
stead of 80 feet WIDE 5-foot depth and s.
foot fall, as originally contracted. This
will double the capacity, making it about
| 600-horse power.
"1t appears to me that if an entirely salts
factory contract can be made right away
with Mr.. Livermore the work can be taken
| up by the middle of May-next month.
There are now 410 prisoners at Folsom,
| 300 of whom could be spared from other
duty and put at work on the dam and
| canal. With this force it is believed that
with favorable season of low water so as
to work advantageously upon the dam, the
entire work can be completed to the prison
grounds by the beginning of the next rainy
| season. AS soon as this is accomplished
| and the necessary machinery is put in
place to handle the power, its advantages
| will at once accrue to the State. Let us see
| for a moment what these may be made to
amount to-
"First-An electric plant, we can save
| 81, 900 per year for lighting prison and
grounds, and ten times greater light than
| now afforded, and the security of the pris-
| oners be greatly enhanced.
"Second-It will save $4,000 for coal now
| used In pumping water and for various en-
gines about the quarries and prison grounds,
all of which would then be supplanted by
| this free water power.
Third-The entire 4S3 acres in the
| prison grounds could be amply irrigated by
| lifted water, and enable the prison officers
| to raise all vegetables, fruit, grain and hay
| (for stock, etc., necessary for the prison,
| making large saving annually, besides
| opening an opportunity to work prisoners
| at something that would teach them self
| supporting occupations and not conflict
with free labor.
Beyond this there would be power
| enough left to run machinery sufficient to
| give employment to from 1,0OO to /, 500 con-
yicts in jute manufacture, or any other in
dustry the State may see fit to employ its
| convicts upon.
Is In connection with the prison there is
room enough on the grounds to build an
ample State Reformatory, so much needed,
which would be independent of the State
Prison, and which, after careful investi-
| cation of the location, / shall most heartily
recommend to be done.
| These are some of the immediate ad-
vantages to be derived by the State and
| beyond these scarcely any one can COM
| pute the value the work would be to the
| county, the city of Sacramento and the
State. The river here affords almost un-
limited power Cor manufactures, and it is
| not beyond the probabilities that from this
| commencement manufactures would in
| the early future, be seen extending along
| the American from the prison grounds TO
Sacramento. With this grand, unused
power the region from here to Sacramento
can become the Lowell of the State and
coast.
Il regard it thus; that if arrangements
can be made with the Folsom Water Power
| Company for the State to enter upon the
work, the dam and canal will be worth
half million dollars to the State the
| moment the canal is completed to the
prison. The advantage to accrue to the
prison and grounds will more than pay
interest on that amount nOig, and in the
| future on double that amount As soon as
it is completed to Folsom, this water power
! at low estimate will be worth million
dollars, and make Folsom great industrial
center.
" am already in correspondence with ,,
ii. 7. Liyermore, of the Folsom Water
Power Company, with view of aiding in
making an arrangement between him and
the Directors. l shall request the Presi-
dent OF the Board of Directors to call
special meeting of his Board at Sacramento
on the 9th of May, to specially consider
this subject | hope to have the PROPOSE !
ton of the water company in due form to
| lay before that body. If contract is made
| 1t must be, of course, SO clear that there
will be no possible chance of its ever being
the cause of litigation.
"As have said, if this great work can be
commenced next month, it can be COM
pleted next fail. 1t all depends upon the
State being able to obtain a contract which
shall be IN the interest of the State
Now that my attention has been called
to this, the wonder with me is that so i'm
portant matter, out of which so much
benent must accrue to the State, has been
allowed SO long to slumber.'
VIEWS OF JOSEPH sTEFFRNs.
Mr.. Steffens having been asked for his
opinion concerning the scheme, replied to
| the RECORD Union representative substan-
TALLY as follows:
Having accompanied Governor Water
| man over the the entire ground and exam
ined much of the data regarding this water
power, and also made myself somewhat
| familiar with the States interest in that
power, it seems apparent to me that the
Governors conclusions in regard to the
prompt and proper development of that
| property provided that proper arrange
| ments can be made with other interested
pdfueS,J Is uOt only wise ana Jud1C1OuS, |
but of great importance to the people of
! the. entire State. 1t seems singular that
| such an important measure has apparently |
| received such limited attention from those
who have heretofore had the interests of |
State in charge. The proper development
| of this immense water power property
| must have wonderful effect upon the in |
! dustrial interests of the entire State, and |
| especially on that large and important
| portion having such close relations with |
the locality in question. The time now
seems to be opportune to take the matter |,
| well in hand on the part of the State au- |
! thorities. The large amount of money
already invested here, the immense inter- |
| ests involved and the evident great benefits I,
| to promptly accrue to the people at large, |
| calls for prompt and thorough action on |
the part of the State and broad and liberal |
| concessions on the part of those who have |
such important interests at stake"
Mr.. HENDRICKS VIEWS.
We regret that the exigencies of time
! and space for this issue prevent us from
presenting the views of Secretary of State
Hendricks in fulI at this time He was