The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-14
SEVENTY CENTS.
That Is What State Quarry Rock
Will Bring.
Contractors Get 1. for Seven Cents Ton.
Director Sonntag's Opinion.
Mr.. sheerin's Say

The recent quarrel among the spectators
who have leased the stone quarry of San
Quentin was an engrossing topic of CONVEX
sation in political circles yesterday. Consid-
cradle admiration was expressed for several
Of the politicians named, who had managed
to get hold of something which promised
tangible results so soon after assuming the
mantle of the late William Higgins.
Charles Sonntag, one of the State Prison
Directors, who objected granting the con-
tract whereby the State leases its stone quarry
and allows the stone TO be removed for cents
a ton, was seen by a reporter yesterday.
81 believe now as l have always believed"
said Mr.. Sonntag, ''thaJ there was no war
rant of law for the granting of the contract.
If the matter is brought up again, as will
probably be the case when Mr.. Hart, the
Attorney -GeDeral-elect, takes his place, of
course l shall vote as | did in the outset.
My idea is that if the Board of Prison Direc-
tors lave a right to rent out those three
acres on which the quarry is located they
have a right to lease the entire State Prison
at San Quentin and everything connected
with it, as well as everything at Folsom. In
this connection l will mention that at one
time syndicate of jute importers tried to
lease the prison iute-mills, but l objected to
the scheme. believing that it would have a
tendency to give them a corner on grain
bags, and l thought if anybody was to be
benefited by the States mills 1t ought 10 be
the farueIs.
Daniel Sheerin, the marble-cutter and
stone contractor, is the only person known
to the board on the lease. | don't know
anything about who are his partners, IL he
has any. My understanding is that the
| lease is subject 10 amendment whenever the
2 rison Directors see tit to take such action.
| Ii that is not true 1t ought to be-"
MIR. Snnntag was asked what he thought
OF Mr.. Harris remarks concerning unneces-
| sary expenditures al san Quentin.
i have always had idea that the
| prison might be run for less money, but you
| know it is hard to get men 10 agree. How
ever. if | can get two other Directors to
stand by me we viii endeayor to cutdoWn the
| expenditures without lmparlng the efli-
| cheney Of the management"
| MIR. Sheerin, in whose name the contract
| stands, was found at his marble works at
western end of Ellis street. 81 wish that the
part about our meeting to divide profits had
| been correct" said he. I'VE have had no
| profits yet but OF course we hope 10 have.
| The difficulty is 10 get the right kind OF
| barges to transport rock. We an get 20
| cents a ton for ii from the sea-wa!l cnntrac-
tors. b 1t have not delive red any yet"
| Mr.. Sheerin's attention was drawn to the
| fact that the quarry is reported to be very
valuable.
That's true" he said, sit is valuable,
| although tie stone is not first quality.
| There is none of what we call dimension
| stone there; nothing for fine buildings. 1t
| is mostly for foundations, bulkheads and the
| like. Or course it would be good for the
seawall. The price offered leaves mighty
little margin, but the great quantity we
could turn in would make it an object
| to u.s."
| Mr.. Sheerin was asked il his lease was for
term OF years, or whether it was subject
! to the will of the Board of Prison Directors.
| Il think the Directors may rescind the
contract whenever they WISH" he replied,
but | shouldn't think they would want TO
| be so unfair as to do that after what | have
done. have paid out over $1,000 in improve
ments. and if we get the barges we are after
that will be another big expense. 1t seems
to me that everybody ought to want to see
that quarry opened, because it will benefit
this city greatly, and for that matter will
| benefit the whole State. A quarry near this
| city is greatly needed and everybody ought
| TO help along its development, instead OF
| wanting TO have the lease anuiied.
| 80 lar as | am concerned, up to the
| present time, it has been great deal OF work
| ana expense. with no profit"