Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-18
Suffers FORT.
Robert Williamson Says Two-thirds of 1t
Belongs to the City Already.

hODeTL Williamson Says 1WO-tnirus Oh IL
Belongs to the City Already.
EDS. RECORD UNION: As the time has
arrived when some definite action must be
taken in regard to the old pioneer land
mark Suffers fort), wish to make sug-
gestion as to the disposition to be made Of
it. l noticed to-day that TO open Twenty
seventh street would take at least two.
thirds of the building, leaving not more
than one-third, and possibly not more than
one-fourth, of it on the land of Mr.. Mer.
rill. Now, so much Of that building as is
on the street belongs to the city, and not tC
Mr.. Merrill. My proposition will be tC
take the old fort down and erect out Of
the material in it a monument in the CEN
ter of Twenty-seventh street, within q few
feet of where the fort now stands. 1t is
but reasonable to suppose that Mr.. Merrill
will either give or sell for a nominal sum
the portion of the building that belongs to
him. | cannot imagine that he would re-
fuse to do so, but even if he should, there is
still enough of the structure belonging to
the city to make quite respectable monu-
ment.
| will not here attempt to give plan Of
the monument, but l think very unique
and attractive structure could be built out
of that old material. There is to my mind
several reasons why this would be the best
thing to do under the circumstances.
First-The building, if preserved at all,
would have to be repaired to such an ex-
tent as to make it almost new building,
as everybody knows it is in very dilapi-
dated and decaying condition, and will soon
crumble down if large repairs are not made
on it. Putting the material into another
shape would not destroy its identity much
(if any more than would the needed re-
pairs.
Second-The monument would stand
almost on the identical spot of the old fort
certainly within the limits of the conse-
Grated ground so sacred in the memories OF
the Pioneers, so many of whom were shell
tered fed, and provided for in the hours OF
their sad need.
Third-This plan would make very
large saving. Even if the land could be
bought at reasonable figure, it would cost
large sum to fix up the grounds so as to
make them look respectable. The old
Burns slough, running as it does through
both blocks, cuts them into a very awk-
ward shape. One of the blocks is so badly
cut that it would be impossible to get one
lot 40Xl60 in the whole block that would
be fit to build on without filling up the
slough portion, which would probably be
more than half the lot, and the other block
is not much better, and we all know that
the slough is very deep at that particular
place.
l do not believe that slough could be
filled up and the grounds leveled and fixed
up in good shape ready for planting short
of $4,000 to $4,000. Then the grounds
would have to be planted and cared for
continually, which would entail heavy
annual expense for all time. And who
is to foot the bills? The city will have
enough to do if she will only improve and
take care of the numerous squares and
parks that she now has on her hands.
If my plan was adopted it would cost
but little (if indeed, any, more than to
properly repair the old fort where it now
stands, and then the expense is at an end
except, possibly, to make some trifing re.
pairs perhaps once in decade. / could
| make many other suggestions as to the
style or architecture of the monument
how the means could be raised, ETC., but
will wait and see if this plan is concurred
in by others before boring your readers
further. But there is one thing certain, we
have got to get move on US and do some
thing soon, or the street will be put through
las it certainly ought to be-, and the long
cherished old relic so dear to our pioneer
fathers will be blotted out, and the graft
tude of Californians made hiss and by
word all over the Union.
ROBERT WILLIAMSON.