The record-union., 1893-03-11
AN ABSURD REQUEST.
A Texan Wants Sacramento's History
on a Postal Card.
"Squink'' Proceeds to Explain to Him
Why His Request Cannot Well
be Complied With.

There is an unfailing demand for in
formation about things nowadays, and
people are learning where to apply for it.
The following letter, which has been
submitted to me for reply, calls for
large invoice of general knowledge, but,
as it comes from Texas-where most peo-
pie can get along with plug of tobacco
and revolver-I do not feel called upon
to write everything 1 know upon postal
card. AS Mr.. Mason spells "oblige"
with ''d'' and wrote his letter with
homemade ink, will reply briefly. He
writes:
HALLETsvILLE, Tex, Feb. 22d.
Hon. County JWdge of Sacramento County,
California: | write to find out what city
labor is worth in your city (Sacramento).
Give me the hotel prices and storage
prices; send me copy of your city law.
What kind of schools have you in your
city? What does your State pay school
teachers? What is house rent worth
say one with two or four rooms? How
about the situation of your town-high
or low? What about the water-good or
bad You will please give me all the in
formation necessary about your town
generally on the postal card and oblidge,
A. NJ. MASON.
In regard to city labor, Mr.. Mason,
there is no regular or stationary schedule
here. 1t commands, however, more than
1t Is Worth-generally speaking. Your
pay for city labor would depend largely
upon what branch you selected or the
pull you could generate. If you were en-
pIoyed in the chain gang here you
wouldn't get much besides your board
unless you got away. If you worked for
street contractor you would not ac-
cumulate wealth rapidly, unless you got
copy of the contract and watched a
chance. Street sprinkling pays, but that
hardly comes under the head of labor
here, as we wait for the rain to lay the
dust
City labor is worth most in its higher
branches, where less talent is usually ap-
piled. There all you have to do is to be
around and look after clerks and conven-
tons, and tiN your own price.
Hotel prices vary here also. They de-
pend somewhat on the hotel selected, and
whether you call for quail on toast or re-
qulre French bill of fare with a cham
pagne postscript. Charges are made for
rooms according to location-and con-
tents. There are hotels where the price
is no object if you have baggage and pay
for your drinks in advance.
Storage prices are all the way from
double rates On dynamite and babies
down to free gratis, with ice, at the
mOrgue. We would charge you accord
ing TO what you stored, and whether the
property belonged to you or was stolen.
In regard to the city law, we refer you
to the new charter, and wall send you a
copy if you furnish references and pav
the postage.
AS for schools, We have all kinds here.
from kiadergartens to the Legislature,
and State Prison within Il few miles.
You could learn anything here if your
natural qualifications could stand the
press. This is one of the first cities in
the State for schools, and wisdom goes
about seeking victims everywhere, and
generally finds them.
The people Of most communities do not
pay fancy prices for school teachers, and
they do say that in some cities this
branch of industry is badly mixed up
with politics. You should have some
sort OF pull, or be otherwise attractive,
and then the pay averages up well with
other offices.
y house with two or four rooms can be
rented for 500 day.
The town is situated at least fifty feet
above sea level-in the dry season of the
year. When the sea rises we use boats.
What about the water?" 1t is good. of
course, and there is plenty of it. Towns
never have bad water. You can get any
KIND OF water here that you want. We
have Shasta water, Geyser water, Tolenas
water, Napa sodawater, Humboldt water.
Bartlett water, sassafras sour, Appoli-
naris water and river water. These are
all recommended to visitors, but the
natives generally drink beer
You may rest easy on the water oues-
ton. What can Texan care to know
about water, anyhow?
To give you all the information about
our town generally on a postal card is
asking considerable. Sacramento is not
Texas town, Mr.. Mason. l couldn't
give you all the information [ have on
any subject upon postal card. Beside.
the Judge kept the card for his own use
Please send another. Yours respectively,
SQUINK,