The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-07
$500 for the piece of road on the Coulter
vile route known as the railroad grade.

'About this time they discovered,
through the agency of the legal advisers
of the opponents Of the enterprise, that
there was a doubt as to the legality OF the
bonds This was settled by the Supreme
Court in May, 1891-the decision in effect
establishing their validity beyond cavil.
Next they claimed that they were unable
to obtain right of way over the Yosemite
National Park which was set apart by an
act of Congress in 1890, and embraced in
its scope large extent OF territory inter-
vening between the town of Mariposa and
the valley, and only missed taking N the
town by about four miles. This obstacle
was removed by an act of Congress grant
ing right of way.
"Then they solemply averred that they
had received no response to their offer OF
$500 tor the railroad grade owned by the
Mariposa Commercial and Mining Com
pany. James Cross, business manager for
the company who was present, surprised
them by producing a deed not only con-
yeying the property, but rights of way for
both roads over the grant. Their legal
adviser quibbled over an alleged insult
ficiency OF description, but eventually they
settled and paid up.
During that same session Meany,
Rogers & Bigelow served written notice
on the board that they were ready to per-
feet their contract and commence work. 1t
In the fall of that year Meany died.
There was another halt. and the matter
again came up in the spring of 1892. Then
the point was raised that the legal repre-
sentatives of the estate of the deceased
could not carry out the contract. This
formed another pretext for delay. Then,
year or two thereafter-and while this
question was under Amusement and suffer-
ing with the dry rot of postponements-
Bigelow, another contractor, died. The
friends of the enterprise had, during each
session of the Legislature subsequent to
the bond issue, appealed to that body for
State aid. Commencing with the session
of 1889, bill was introduced appropriate
ing $4,000 for this purpose. 1t was pocket
ed by Waterman. Thereafter the amount
was increased to $4,000, and after three
tive approval the act passed the last Legis-
lature by an increased majority and was
approved by the Governor.
sWhen / saw that $4,000 clause | knew
there was more trouble ahead. No man
of ordinary intelligence with the oppor-
tunities for personal observation of seven
years willful delay could possibly be mis-
led as to the mischievouS intentions of the
Solid Three of that Board of Supervisors.
The only doubt was as to their method in
this particular emergency. They rose to
the necessities of the occasion and solved
the problem. No man on earth, outside
the circle, could have guessed the result.
1.-THE grand climax was reached during
a recent session of the board. On the Sth
of May, 1895, by the same old vote of
3 to q they adopted preamble and reso-
buttons, with three 'whereases.' The pre-
amble is brief and expressive. Here is a
copy of it:
WHEREAS, in the opinion OF this board it is
frnr lrQr n bonds
mentioned in the orders and resolutions of
this board under date OF May z, 1888, and jan
whereas, without the issue OF said bonds, the
construction of the roads from Mariposa to
Yosemite and from Coulterville to Bear Valley,
mentioned in said orders and resolutions, can
not be undertaken: and whereas, the PROPOSE
ton of the Legislature of this State granting
an appropriation of $50, 900 under certain con-
ditions is wholly unacceptable and inadmis-
sible as a foundation Tor any serious action
OF this board, be it therefore
ResotUed, etc.
s'The resolutions rescind, repeal and
annul all orders, resolutions and ordi-
nances made or adopted since the
bond election of 1888 pertaining to
those bonds and the roads therein men,
toned, specifically mentioning dates.
There is little twaddle interpolated to
the effect that this repeal is without any
prejudice to anything already actually
done and completed under said orders and
resolutions
'.If this clause has any significance it
means that the stakes of the surveyors
will not be pulled up nor their field notes
burned.
"Their remarkable edict closes in this
language:
Resolved, That the Treasurer be instructed to
destroy all signed bonds of Mariposa County
in his possession in the presence OF the District
Attorney and Auditor.
RESOLVED, That the bond fund be and it
hereby is abolished, and that $1,000 OF said
money be transferred to the general road fund,
and that all remaining money belonging to
said bond fund under previous tax levles be
transferred to the general expense fund.
Pursuant to this pronunclamento, on
the following day and in the official pres
ence named, and with the mock solemnity
incident to the cremation of a batch of can
celed coyote scalps, the bonds were burned.
"There is tinge of the grotesque IN this
pyrotechnic tableau with which seven
years of official malfeasaDce hickers in the
red light of burning bonds, but the conse-
quences are serious. The bonds were
legally valid, and repeated offers have
been made to take them at par. The tax
levied to meet the principal and interest
was in accordance with the law. 1t has