Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-06
''vALE,p SUFFERS FORT.

An order has been passed by the Trus-
tees of this city, which. if carried into
effect, as we believe it will be, will work
the demolition of all that remains of the
buildings that once stood within the pal
isades of Suffers Fort. The order directs
that the streets be opened through the
property. Not only will the last remain
ing relic of the historic spot be thus OBJ
Liberated, since street line cuts through
It, but the plat will be divided into small
parcels and its identity lost to history and
TO human interest
The inquiry naturally arises why this
must be? The reply is simple and direct
because a dog-in-the-manger policy is
pursued by the owner of the property. He
cannot or will not himself eat hay, and
viii not permit the OK to have his fodder
He is a nonresident of the city, he does
not occupy the property; he derives no
rental from it, unless a meager pasturage
pays him small sum; he will not name
his price, and sell to those who wish to re-
store the fort and convert the plat into
park; he has no sentiment in his soul; he
IS Indifferent to the ordinary courtesies of
life, since he will not respect the universal
desire of the people of California to save
as reserve the spot of ground, only few
- IL
precious memories. 1t would seem as if
he were bent upon proving how much he
can offend the people of the State Had
he the ordinary drop of the milk of human
kindness in his composition he would
name his price, and give the Pioneers and
the Native Sons and other philosophical
citizens moving in the matter an oppor-
tunity to purchase the property.
If all appeals to the owner fail, if he
remains deaf to the hundreds of requests
that have been made, and still refuses to
name his price, we propose, when the
streets are cut through-and the RECORD
UNION will guarantee that the money will
De raised for the purpose-that at the in
tersection of the highways there shall be
planted a simple enduring stone, to mark
the spot where John A Suffer raised the
American flag, and gave shelter to the
early pioneers of California. And that on
the stone there be inscribed the fact that
certain citizen of Chicago him
stubbornly refused to sell the historic spot
to the people for a reserve at any price,
and that all that remained to Californians
to do was to explain to wondering genera
tons to come why it was that they had
allowed the property to be blotted out,
practically.
1t is inconceivable what kind of a spirit
animates the owner. He cannot live in
the hope of receiving fabulous sum for
the property, since the city could con-
demn the plat for park, and take it at
market valuation. He cannot hope to
make more out of the land by sale of lots
when the streets are cut through, for he
can probably now have such sum as he
would realize from that speculation after
the lots on the north were filled. He has
not tested the matter, since he has re-
fused to name any price.
So the streets are to be opened through
three weeks hence, and the bells are to be
tolled, and the people are to hang their
heads in shame, that after they had
reached the point of action a nonresident
property owner has been able to defeat
cherished plans and hopes. But if this
must be let US ascertain if the owner will
not graciously permit the suggestion of
Mr. Eitel to-be carried out, which is de-
tailed in another column, to wit, that the
few rema;ning adobe bricks be removed
and the old ore house that sheltered the
pioneer hearts of the early days be re-
erected in some SPOT set aside for the pur-
pose. If neither of the street railway
companies would 20 this as matter of
self-interest, then til Museum Association,
the only public society we have interesting
itself in historic COT ections, could GER
tainiy undertake the task, and its Board
OF Directors would certainly have no diff
hcuity IN raising the means to that end
But who knows that the amiable Mr..
Merrill will permit the people of the city
to even purchase, much less freely take
the few clods of sun dried adobe that re-
main of Suffers Fort.
A citizen of Oakland has sent to Mr..
MARITIME check for $50 to be applied to
the fund for the purchase of the property.
1t is to be returned, of course, and all
other philanthropic people may thereby
take notice that they must consult the
friend of California in Chicago before
manifesting their interest in the preserva-
ton Of any historic spot in which he may
have realty interests