The record-union., 1891-09-02
RESTORING SUFFERS FORT.
How the Work is Progressing and
What is Being Done.
Making Adobe Bricks on the Ground
How the Old Armed Bastions
VIII Be Replaced.

California pioneer civilization in this
State-commenced last month, and is
now being carried on in good earnest.
Owing to the dilapidated condition of
the building now standing, the work of
restoration is necessarily of q delicate and
peculiar character. The ravages of time,
and the inclemencies of many winters,
have made sad inroads into the original
stability Of the walls and foundations, to
the extent that the building presented but
the appearance of well-worn relic Of
the lively scenes and incidents that SO
vividly connected thd names of
THE ARGONAUTS OF CALIFORNIA
With the now worldwide history of SUIT
ter's Fort. 1t stands as a silent, gloomy
monument to the integrity of these men
who sacrificed all the Ncomforts of early
home-life in the search for gold in the
new "El Dorado'' of the West. In its
broken, withered and dilapidated condi-
ton 1t offers sublime evidence OF the de-
vastatiOn Of time, the memories Of by
gone civilization, of unwritten laws, and
the protection of personal rights through
the exercise of personal prerogative.
In its palmy days Suffers Fort was in
decd a scene Of excitement and activity.
Within its confines were created the
precedent, by common usage, Of many
laws under which our State is now gov
erned, and by force of example the stub
born fidelity and loyal sentiments which
actuated the energies Of its inhabitants
has been handed down to the present
generation, until the latter have become
thoroughly imbued with the laudable
ambition Of restoring the old fort to its
original condition, and thereby transmit
to future ages imperishable evidence of
the fact that the achievements of the early
pioneers will ever be cherished in the
memories of their descendants.
REPLACING THE FOUNDATION.
The original walls, being of adobe, have
become badly scared and cracked by the
influence of the rain soaking through the
center of the same. The first step in the
work of restoration was that Of placing
brick and cement foundation underneath
the whole building. That is being ac-
complished only by taking a five foot
section on one side Of the wall, and brick
ing up the outer half; and then joining
same with foundation of corresponding
dimensions Immediately inside Of the
inner half Afterward, when that par
tiCular pier is finished, another is COM
menced and finished on the same princi-
pie, five feet distant from the first,
leaving a five foot space untouched
between the two. Finally, when the
two piers have become firmly set the
remaining part is then built up to cor
respond with the other two.
By that means solid foundation Will
be placed under the entire building and
without disturbing its unsafe and rick
city walls.
MAKING ADOBE BRICKS.
a force of men are busily engaged in
making adobe bricks on the ground
This work, to the uninitiated, is pecu-
liarly interesting, for, in order to Gupli-
cate the original strength, il necessitates
H., L.,
same line Of operation that was adopted
by the original builders. The earth is
mixed with water and tramped into
proper consistency by the bare feet of the
workmen. 1t is then nodded into
proper shape and placed on the ground
10 dry. After being turned several times
II soon becomes hard enough for use.
Inasmuch as only adobe bricks will be
used in restoring the fort it will require
the making of quite large quantity of
that material.
Previous to the laying of the Counda-
ton, however, the building was tied to-
gether with anchors, braces, etc, in order
TO keep the whole structure intact
AS soon as practical the present roof.
which, by the way, is not the original
covering of the fort will be removed and
replaced by tiles in accordance with the
original plan of the fort building.
ENCRoACHEs on L STREET.
Owing to the fact that the south corner
of the outer walls extended to where the
center OF l. street now is, the Restoration
Trustees have decided to abandon the
work OF restoring that portion 1t is.
however, the intention TO restore the two
baStiOns-OHc at the west and the other at
the east angles Of the building, and show
the profile of the outer walls iuttinp from
the bastions, and gradually breaking
down to the ground. Limited space in
the two blocks viii not permit the restor-
alton of the entire outer walls, but by the
foregoing plan the exact outline of same
can be shown.
The bastions VIII be mounted with
cannon as during the time of the fort's s
early history, and the effect will be Dict-
uresque and realistic. In this connection
1T may not be out of place to state that
John StOber, an old pioneer resident of
this city, has in his possession a cannon
that was originally in position in one Of
the bastlons, and which was presented to
him in 1854 as
THE LAST LIVING MEMBER
OF the Swiss Rife Cuban organization
which was founded in this city in early
pioneer days. The presentation was
made by General Sutter at the old Tivoli
House-then as now conducted by a.
Meyer. The ceremonies were impressive
and were attended by Governor Bigler
and other prominent citizens. In honor
OF the event Mr.. Stober personally fired
the cannon, and has since retained the
time-honOred weapon as valuable
memento of the occasion.
He now proposes to donate it TO tho
Board OF Trustees of the Sutter Forth the
near future, but with the understanding
that he shall personally load and discharge
1t on the fort grounds. 1t is needless to
say that his proposition meets with the
hearty approval of the trustees. There
are many important relics of a similar
nature scattered throughout the State
which the trustees hope 10 secure and re-
place IN the fort grounds. The restora-
tion of the original weapons. tools, arms
and other articles will add almost as
much to the interesting features of the
property as will the restoration of the
walls and building.
WILL LOOK LIKE ITSELF.
The trustees have under consid-
Grafton the restoration of the original
Mexican -four mill and the blacksmith
shop, also the room in which
General Sutter, John Bidwell and J. w.
Marshall examined and passed upon the
genuineness Of the first piece OF gold dis
covered by the last named pioneer
Taken as a whole, however it is the
intention of the trustees to make the
Sutter Fort property a spot Of peculiar
interesting historical significance 1t is
not proposed TO convert the grounds into
Hover gardens, but to adhere strictly and
firmly to the policy Of bringing the old
tort and its attendant peculiaritieS strictly
before the light OF the present age.
That Is the basis ofthe present intention.
After the work Of restoration is finally
conSummated then the details ofimprove-
ments and additions will be determined
upon. The latter offers q wide range
FOR instance, many valuable suggestions
are oitercd-Some of which are merito-
TlouS-eSpecialIy the idea of restoring the