The record-union., 1894-03-31
MALICIOUS MISNTATEMENTO
What the San Jose Mercury Says of
the Decision.
List of Capitol improvements Which
Thoroughly Refutes It's
Assertions.

The San Jose Mercury yesterday con-
tanned the following comment on the de-
cision of the Supreme Court in the Capt.
tai removal case:
For the present time the Capital removal
question is settled. The Supreme Court has
decided that the Act of the Legislature sub
mlttlng the question to the people is invalid,
ana 10 Ihat decision the people of The State
must bow.
Whatever may be the differences of opinion
IN regard to the law points involved it is GER
tain that the decision will be received with
general regret throughout the State. The
question is most important one and affects
the welfare of the Commonwealth in many
ways. SO long as the Capital remains IN Sac,
ramento the agitation for State division Will
go on IN the southern counties. and many
needed developments in the way OF pubic I'M
proVementS will be checked. There Will never
be satisfaction with the present location OF
the Capital and it will be almost impossible
to get an appropriation of money sufficient TO
keep the building in repair. At the present
time it is in bad condition, and will steadily
grow worse. The report made by Secretary
Waite on the condition OF the building IS
familiar TO everybody 1t is badly lighted,
badly pumbed. badly ventilated and badly
constructed. The roof leaks. the chimneys
smoke, the halls are draughty, and fromthe
drainage pipes foul odors arise. The building
is, in TACT, utterly unfit for the purpose for
which 1t is used, and sooner or later q new one
must be provided.
These facts were well known to the State
and there was a general feeling of relief in the
expectation that the Capital would be re-
moved and a new building provided in San
Jose. The proposition to submit the question
TO the people was received, therefore, with
general qualification. From all parts of the
State there came strong words of approval for
the legislation and cordial support OF San
Jose. Had the question been left TO the vote
OF the people the State would have got q new
and better Capitol building without cost to it.
self the agitation for State division would
have been silenced and q new era of public
OI1l6 no vol
After all the proposition was The simple one
OF whether the people OF California shall have
lhe righJ a. TO say where the Capitai snail be To-
Gated. The Supreme Court has for the moment
deprived the people of the right The ques
ton goes over temporarily.
Each and every statement with regard
to the Capitol building is untrue The
report of Secretary Of State Waite. so art
fully alluded to, was made nearly four
years ago, when he entered upon the
duties of his Office, and simply pointed
Out needed repairs and improvements.
These repairs and improvements have
since been made. The building is sim
ply perfect now-one of the best and most
substantial in the land. That it ever was
open to complaint was due to failure to
avail, until in late years, of the best
modern devices and to properly care
for it.
The last Legislature made a liberal ap-
preparation for the improvement of the
building and grounds. which will have
been, by the end of this year expended,
or nearly so, for that purpose
Excepting for the natural wear and
tear of a building, therefore, no more
expenditure will be needed for some
years.
To answer categorically the statements
of the Mercury, the building at the pres
enJ time is not in bad condition and Will
not steadily grow worse. 1t is not badly
lighted, fine electric lighting plant hav-
ing been placed in the building. This
has also had the effect of much improv
ing the ventilation and oxygenation, as
gas is dispensed with, and the oxygen
which was formerly consumed by tie gas
remains in the atmosphere of the
Senate and Assembly Chambers and
the other rooms, for the use of
human lungs. 1t is not badly plumbed,
although it was so at one time, but the
plumbing has been thoroughly over
hauled and is now in first class shape.
1t is not badly constructed, as Secretary
Waite found when he was trying to find
place in which to put the elevator. He
expressed his surprise at the time at find
ing what thoroughly honest work had
been done in the parts that are covered
up from view, and which are therefore
very often 81 lighted.
The roof did not leak drop last win
ter, and the chimneys smoke no more.
The cesspool and drainage pipes have
been thoroughly cleaned and disintected,
and there is no more foul odor TO be found
in the building than in the best residences !
in San Jose.
Inquiry at the Secretary of States Office
yesterday resulted in obtaining the in
formation that the following work had
been done in and upon the building with |
in the past three years:
Archives vault placed in the basement !
and all old archives arranged and in
deXed. Steps put in place.
Granite OF first story cleaned with acid. |
Building painted and dome gilded.
Drip caves put on around the building
to prevent the discoloration by sooty
water.
Copper roof fastened all over so that it
will never become lOoSened again, and
it is now made perfectly tight
Chimneys carried four feet higher and
furnished with hoods, SO that they do not
smoke any more.
Rotunda repaved and pavement ex-
tended. Landings of stairs tiled.
A fine elevator large enough to carry
twenty men put in.
Fourteen hundred incandescent electric
lights introduced. The old chandeliers
and brackets modernized and fitted for
the new lights.
The gas and sewer pipes OVerhauled
and repaired to perfect order, and the
complete sanitation of the Capitol effected.
The State Library thoroughly reno
voted, walls repaired, a splendid new
skylight substituted and the whole
1rescoed in raised work in the best style
OF modern art.
All the Supreme Court rooms and
apartments frescoed in a style to COM
mand the admiration of critics.
Tramways made in the basement from
the coal bunkerS to elevator, and neat
coal cars provided to carry a supply of
coal in the cars on the elevator to the
various stories.
a burglar alarm system introduced.
Water tanks in attic repaired and put
in condition to need no alteration for
years.
Broken plates of glass removed and
whole ones substituted.
Rooms in basement constructed to ar
range State publications on shelves on the
walls, and to store ballot paper.
The boilers are about TO be supplied
with new tubes, and when that is done,
the Capitol will need little more.
These improvements have come under
the knowledge of hundreds of prominent
citizens of the State, and if the San Jose
Mercury man will come to Sacramento
the citizens of this city will take pleasure
IN assisting him to feast his eyes upon
them, unless he is afflicted with physical
as well as moral strabiSmus.
GERTIE CARLEY-AULD.
A Sacramento Girl's success in Europe