The record-union., 1891-11-16
SUFFERS FORT.
The Work of Restoration is Progress
ing Satisfactorily.
One Of the Corners VIII Encroach on
J. Street-A Plan to Overcome
the Difficulty.

There was meeting on Saturday of
the Sutter Fort Trustees to audit bills for
labor and materials employed in the
work of restoring the old fort. The
members expressed themselves as well
! pleased with what has been accom-
| plished. A RECoRD-UNIoN reporter yes
! terday visited the fort and found that
| the work of restoration is being yigor-
ously prosecuted. The main building is
! fast nearing completion. The work of
placing the roofing tiles in position is
now under way. The tiles are being laid
in cement, and when that work is finally
completed it will present very interest
ing appearance which, in its reproduc-
ton of the style of architecture of the
eighteenth century, will offer strange
and peculiar contrast to modern build
! ing.
| Owing to the lateness of the season, the
trustees have decided to defer work on
the outside walls until next spring, as
| the present uncertain weather is deemed
unsafe to permit the laying of proper
! foundation. Some idea of the magnitude
OF the outer wall may be gathered from
the fact that its southern line is 320 feet
| long, While its hight is nearly that OF the
present building. 1t will be restored to
| its original hight and thickness. In order
| to accomplish this there will be required
from $50, 900 to 100000 adobe bricks.
| 1t has been found on investigation that
| the lines of the outer wall would bring
the southeast corner into portion of l.
| Street-ln fact, almost to the middle of
that thoroughfare. AS a result, therefore,
unless some arrangement is made look
ing to the matter of securing additional
ground space whereupon to erect the
outer wall i'll its entirety, the trustees of
| the fort viii soon be confronted with the
proposition of being compelled to leave q
gap in the southeastern corner of the wall
that will not be less than 100 feet in width,
along the southern line of the Sutter Fort
! blocks. The plans show that this gap
| Will include some of the most important
rooms and buildings of the property, for
1t Will prevent the restoration Of General
Suffers rooms, the blacksmith shop and
other portions of the fort that have been
prominent in State history.
When the fact is considered that it was
in General Suffers room that the iFst
gold discovered in California was exam
! ined and tested and its merit made
known to the world by John Marshall,
! the discoverer, and Generals Sutter and
Bidwell, the necessity of action prevent
| ing such a loss to the historical value of
the property can be readily appreciated.
! The trustees are pOwerleSs to spend any
money to extend the lines of the fort
property. 1t is therefore matter of pub
lie interest that immediate steps be taken
III the direction of widening L street at
the intersection of Twenty-seventh by
! having the street moved south one-half
its width, and making a detour in the
thoroughfare at that point, by securing
sufficient property on the south side to
cover the street width.
Tho ~ -,
carrying out such plan would be but
nominal, while the change of the street
| line would be exceedingly beneficial, as
it will insure the immediate and complete
restoration of that time-honored property
so closely identified with tho earlier his
| torical events of our State. The proposed
! change Goes not at all interfere with the
lines Of the street leading into those two
blocks, but it merely makes slight
| curve on l. street at the intersection of
| Twenty seventh. BY rounding the cor
ners of the Twenty-sixth and Twenty
| eighth street ends of the two blocks the
diversion of the street would hardly be
perceptible to the eye, as the fort property
would then present the appearance of an
| oval-shaped park, which in its entirety
will add very muCh b to the value and adj
vantage of the surrounding property
On the other hand, the broken wall would
prevent the trustees from making COM
| plele feSloTdtlOn, WHICH IL is SO earnestly
desired to have.
Here is an opportunity for the display
Of public spirit. The Native Sons and
other citizens secured money sufficient to
purchase the property, and the State has
generously appropriated $4,000 for the
restoration Of the old fort, while the
trustees gratuitously give their time and
close attention to the performance of the
work. A little cooperation with their
efforts will undoubtedly secure the neces-
sary addition of space at Twenty seventh
and l. streets. The RECORD UNION is
earnest in calling the attention of the
public to this matter, as it can now fore
see what will be a matter of considerable
difficulty for the Suffers Fort Trustees to
overcome. The citizens Of Sacramento,
however, have it within their power to
secure the additional ground required,
and probably without cost. for the proper
effort may bring about the donation by
property-owners Of sufficient ground on
the south line of l. street, at the point
named. If the situation is fully ex-
planned they will certainly appreciate the
advantages to be derived by them in the
complete and elaborate restoration of the
LII Il -