The record-union., 1895-06-29

the President Of the Board of Education
10 cancel the existing policies. reduce the
valuation of the school buildings, etc.,
some 25 per cent. then insure the same
on three-year policies at the reduced
rate, making all policies expire on the
same date, and no one company to carry
more than $1,000 insurance on any one
building.
POOL ROOMS.
1t is notorious fact that in several sa-
looms in this city pools are publicly sold
upon horse races that are being run over
the various race courses of the country.
These places OF business are publicly ad-
vertised, openly conducted, are in active
operation daily and are literally patron
lied by the young men of our city. This
system OF gambllng IS pernlclOus, de-
grading and demoraliZing to all who en-
gage in it, be he old or young, and should
be prohibited.
Several years ago the authorities of the
city and county of San Francisco pass ed
an ordinance. and have rigidly enforced
the same, prohibiting the sale OF pools
upon horse races at any place in that city
except on the racecourse. The county of
Alameda also passed a like ordinance for
the protection of her youth.
" @ desire to call the attention of the
Mayor and Trustees of Sacramento City
to this important su bject, and earnestly
request that they, in the interest OF good
government and for the protection of our
own young men, adopt and enforce q
similar ordinance.
COUNTY ROADS.
We find on investigation that large
sums of money have been expended an
nually upon the roads of this county
without securing permanent results.
About $4,000 annually have been eX-
pended IN this way, and if this amount
had been properly applied in business
like manner, we should have such roads
as would be credit TO the county.
We also find upon investigation that
the manner OF breaking rock by the
county prisoners Is very expensive, and
that good macadam can be purchased
IN the open market at about one-half
of the cost of material as now produced
by the county prisoners. We find the
cost TO be at this as follows: Granite
chips per ton, 40 cents; freight, so cents;
weighing, . cents; drayage, 20 cents: to-
tai cost III yard per ton, 81 %.
We find the average daily number of
prisoners breaking rock to be torty-fve,
they breaking on an average twelve
cubic yards per DAY, the actual cost of
breaking rock being as follows: Cost of
granite in jail yard to produce twelve
cubic yards. at 81 % per ton. S24 80; two
officers at 81 each per day, IS; extra cost
feeding forty-tiVe men at L! cents. 80 6Z;
total cost one day, $37 90; making cost per
yard when broken. S3 10; cost OF haul
ing on to county road within radius
of three and one-half miles. 81 %: total
cost of each and every yard of broken
granite delivered on the county roads,
exclusive OF grading, S5 66.
Comparing the above cost of broken
granite for county roads With the graveled
streets in the city of Sacramento, we find
that street, the best graveled street in the
city, cost 81 Al per cubic yard for gravel,
surveying and grading included-a slight
difference of only "A % per cubic yard
in favor of good gravel over poor granite
chips.
We suggest that all permanent road
building in the future be done III accord
ance with such plans as may be adopted
by the State Board of Public Highways.
We believe and recommend that all i'm
proved roads, wherever practicable,
should be sprinkled, this being the cheap
est manner OF keeping the roads in good
repair.
We also suggest that heavy steam roll
ers be procured by the city and county to
be used on the graveled and macadamed
streets ana roads, the thorough rolling OF
roads being considered an absolute neces-
sity, making them more compact and
pIOFIuins gOOu SInOOLn surface.
The attention of the Grand Jury has
been called 10 the character OF the work
done, the manner of letting contracts,
cost, ETC., on county roads in District No.
t. We find that this subject WAS very
fully inquired into by former Grand
Jury, who made report thereon.
Ii the acts OF the Supervision of that
district in the expenditure OF the county
money were made in an improper and
illegal manner as charged, the former
Grand Jury who made the investigation
should have indicted the guilty parties
for their criminal acts in letting of fraud
ulent contracts and illegal ex penditure of
the county money.
The alleged acts complained of were
committed more than two years ago, con-
sequently criminal proceedings are now
barred by the statute of limitations
a civil suit against William Curtis,
Supervisor and ex-ot1icio Road Commits
sioner of District No. 4, growing out of
this investigation, is now pending in the
supreme Court. For these reasons we
have not deemed it incumbent upon US to
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