Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-08
CONDEMN IT.

The communications that have been re-
eeived at this Office within the past few
days, the many offers of money for SUIT
ter's Fort purchase fund that have been
made at our counter, the manifest spirit
and feeling of the citizens concerning the
obliteration of the old relic on the Suffers
Fort tract, the expressed and general in
dignation of the people over the fact that
the owner of the property will not fix a
price upon it, convince us that it is not
the wish of the people that in retaliation
the streets should be opened through the
plat. Besides, the belief is expressed that
by the grant street extensions are forbid
den. What then should be done? There
Is but one response to such an inquiry
condemn the land for public use, and
take it at fair market valuation.
But to do this the city must be prepared
to tender in open Court such a fair market
price, and it will therefore be necessary
TO raise funds sufficient for that purpose
before the City Trustees can be asked to
move in the matter. This must be done
speedily. If there is much delay the
owner Of the property in retaliation for
the threat to seize may himself subdivide
the tract and sell it out in small parcels,
and thus render condemnation more ex-
pensive. Let the people who are enough
concerned in the matter to make their spirit
good by guarantee, come forward and at
the counter of some bank where a SUBJ
scription can be opened, say how much
they feel interested in the preservation of
the plat and its reservation as a park or
market place which may be subsequently
improved by historic museum or hall for
mineral collection, or any other public use
that may be agreed upon. The Pioneer
Associations, the Native Sons SSof the
Golden West, men of wealth and poor
alike, may well contribute to the fund,
since it should be Californian and wholly
voluntary.
1t is not now the time to dwell much
upon the sentimental in this matter, for
there Is practical work to do. But it may
be well to throw out the suggestion that it
is a manifestation of high public spirit,
and testimony to the loyalty of attachment
to country, when the people protest against
destruction of the landmarks of State
building. No people are in danger of los
ing their liberties, or of suffering encroach-
ment upon their rights, that are concerned
in the preservation of the mementoes and
evidences Of the initial efforts to found the
civilization they enjoy. Historic monu-
nents are induces of patriotism in free
country. There is with us no man wor-
ship, no adultation OF heroes, but there is
a deep and abiding spirit of respect for the
men who hewed the way that we might
pass on, and for those who fought to de-
fend our liberties that we may enjoy them.
We bury in the grave of forgetfulness the
faults and shortcomings of the man, re-
meinbering that We, too, are frail and men
as ne was, and tenderly regard the spot he
sci apart as haven of refuge for the early
coming immigrant; the plat he dedicated
by the raising of the flag; the tract from
which he sent out the adventurous spirits
that in the canyons of the Sierras as
unearthed the golden key that unlocked to
the American people the treasure houses
of California; the crumbling ruins where
some of the bravest and best spirits of the
pioneer era struck the blows that carved
the way for California's entry into the
union of sovereignties, and that hewed the
foundation stones for the fairest of the
States. We echo the remark of lady
of the city in a public meeting the
present week: II believe that if the men
Of California have not enough of local
patriotism to rescue so historic spot as
the Suffer Fort block, that the women of
California can and will do it." If the men
of California by inaction are disposed to
permit this historic plat to pass into the
common uses of the town lot, let the
women Of the State shame them by accom-
plishing the work of reclamation.
To the question, can the city take the
property under the statute of eminent do
man? we reply in the affirmative The
sly blocks which constitute the addition
to Capitol Park were condemned and taken
in that manner. The decision of the at
torneys consulted three years ago, when
the matter was agitated, was that the city
had the capacity to take, by the exercise
of the power of eminent domain, the
north side of street, occupied by China
town, Tor any public use of the city. There
remains then no question concerning the
law-it is explicit and wise. 1t involves,
Of course, expense, but not equal TO the
sun that it would seem the owner of the
property hopes to force the people to give
In order 10 overcome his Discrimination to
name price, for under condemnation
fancy price wiz not prevail, but actual
value will determine the cost. The added
expenses Of the proceeding of condenna-
ton vail not then produce an aggregate
anywhere Near 50 large IS tie sum Of
money that the wings Of runner gave cur