Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-22
OUT FOR PLEASURE.
THE VISITING CHANGERS TAKE THEIR
FIRST EXCURSION.
Pleasant Trip to the Folsom Prison and
the Great Dam-How They
Enjoyed the Day.

excursion to the Folsom State Prison and
the Natoma dam across the American river
at that point. The train was under the
charge of conductor Knight, and State
Grange Commissioners William Johnston,
George " Hancock, Frank Walton, W. L.
Overheiser and a. T. Dewey were along to
look after the welfare of Eastern visitors
and see that they behaved themselves,
which latter task was not a very onerous
one, as the young men, though somewhat
scottish, were quite easily handled. DR.,
w. B. May who is to accompany the visit
ors on their round of excursions) was also
along, and aided the Commissioners in
keeping the strangers informed as to all
they saw ard heard on the way.
Although the sky was obscured by dull,
Ieaden clouds, the air was soft, fresh and
balmy, and this fact. coupled with the
Verdure Of the fields, made the trip very
pleasant one 10 all.
No incident worthy of note occurred on
the outgoing trip, except the raid made by
the Changers on vineyard near Reuters
Station, where the train was side-tracked
for several minutes to allow another to
pass. The grape crop had been gathered,
but in the usual California style, several
DuUCucS Vi lfull udNlDR DeeD lett on edcQ
vine by the kind hearted owner for the
benefit Of hungry tramps passing that way.
Somebody who had a good nose for
grapes scented the game and made rush
for the vineyard, and soon there was mob
houndering through the puddles of water
and mud and heading for the vines There
were fat men and lean men, old ones and
young ones, engaged in the onslaught, and
blue and red badges were soon seen fash
ing from the manly bosoms of their wear
ers as they rushed from vine to vine pluck
ing the storm-shriveled punches of Mission
grapes.
The great Natoma vineyard, stretching
away southwark over the rolling hills, out
of sight, and for miles on either side of the
railroad, was revelation to the Eastern
Changers; and little farther on toward
Folsom they caught glimpses here and
there of Chinese miners at work by the
roadside washing out the gold from the
earth with the old style rocker and long
Tom" that q few of them had used in the
winter of 40 and the spring of So"
Reaching Folsom the party was Joined
by Warden Aull, of the Prison, and en-
gineer Humbert who built the great dam,
who ccompanied them up the road to the
Prison gate, where the train was halted.
This portion of the ride was greatly en-
joyed by sll-Grangers, Pioneers and plain,
common citizens. There was good volume
of water in the American river, and it
rushed and tumbled along over its rocky
bed and through high walls of granite,
with ripple, and foam, and spray"
mighty cataract. The hills rising on either
side, with their green trees and verdure-
clad slopes, made beautiful picture to be-
hold, and il was enjoyed by all.
On arriving at the Prison the aYcursion-
lists left the cars and walked up the river to
the dam, over which the yellow water was
dashing with the roar of miniature Nj
agara.
why, il doesn't look like water at all !"
cried pretty daughter of Michigan. at
looks more like molssses candy"
While all admitted that the sight was
grand and beautiful one, few of the more
practical-minded gentlemen of the party
were loud in their expressions of admir8-
ton for such grand water-power for oper-
atiDg factories. The nature of the work
already accomplished, and the prospective
plans of the Natoma Company were ex-
planned 10 the visitors by Mr.. Humbert
and others, to which the former listened
with deep interest.
On the way to and from the dam the
ladies busted themselves in gathering quartz
and other pretty stones to be kept as souve-
Mrs of the trip. Seeing in the decomposed
granite by the roadside shining pyrites,
some of the ladies gathered up handfuls of
the fine, sravelly-like stuff under the firm
belief-which was stimulated by their gen.
tlemen companions-that the yellow flakes
were gold. One of the natives" who
Joined the party, happened to have in his
pocket piece of real gold-bearing quartz,
which he laid on the ground and deluded
young Grsngeress into the belief that she
had actually discovered the outcroppings of
a gold mine.
Another gentleman of the party pro-
cured from Folsomite a speck of gold
amalgam, which he presented to another
of the lady visitors, and when she showed
it to one Of her companions the latter said ::
"Pshaw you can't fool me in that way.
That smart young man picked that out OF
one of his teeth l wouldn't keep it J"
On returning to the prison, the entire
party were conducted through the besuti-
full grounds and also inspected the interior
of the prison, under the guidance of War
den Aull and his officers. The tender
hearted ladies evinced much sympathy for
the prisoners (who were all in their cells),
and asked all sorts OF questions OF them
through the wickets in the cell doors. One
old lady adjusted her speciacles, and tip
toeing so as to converse with the occupant
of one of the cells, whose innocent blue
ewes at the wicket had enlisted her sympa-
thies, asked him:
"My poor young man, for how long are
you in here?'
"Sev' nteen years, mum" was the laconio
reply.
''And what did you do that they should
inflict such awful punishment on your
~ only killed a man, mum. Say, you
haven't any terbacker about yer, heb ?"
The nd-hearted lady gave the prisoner
look of disappointment and Joined the
moving throng of sight-seers.
Everybody was pleased with the condi-
ton of the prison, both inside and out. 1t
was as clean and neat as could be, and the
prisoners all seemed TO have comfortable
quarters and to be satisfied with their treat
ment
One gentleman from Kentucky became
80 deeply interested in the system govern
ing the prison that he was 10th TO leave
until he could inquire more fully into its
workings.
1--WE in our State are Just now deeply in.
terested in the problem of prison manage
ment,n said he to RECORD MON reporter.
1.-THE great difficulty has been to keep our
convicts employed at profitable and health
full industries. There is class of dema-
gOgueS IN heOtuCky, anu lUueeu III uOSt VI
the States, who are eternally crying out
against convict labor, and the result is an
awful burden on the taxpayers to support
the men in idleness."
"There has been considerable opposition
to convict labor in this State, also, replied
the reporter, "but the authorities have
managed to find something for the pris.
oners 10 do, as you have SEEM
ayes, ! see about me the evidences OF
good MANAGEMENT and thrift in the grand
improvements made here. Look at those
green terraces and beautiful hower-gardens
Smiling right at the prison walls under
which they lie; and look at the lovely hills
and scenery in full view, with the pure
soft air that sill can breathe Why, sir
this beats anything ever heard of in the
shape of prison or in prison manage
ment.'
An hour or more was spent at the prison
and on the return to Folsom the tirst and
only mishap of the trip occurred. The
track between these points is not very
solidIy constructed one, being intended
only for fat-cars, and the rains had soft.
ened the ground so that the ties were mol
very firm in some spots. The train was
running very slow, when the rear truck Of
the third car slipped off the rails
and bowled along for few
yards on the ties before the
train was stopped. Most of the excursion
4 ,a5 81 he frv