The record-union., 1896-12-29

ing very slight shipment of rock, we
have been unable to ascertain the
amount collected for this switching
during that month. as well as during
the month of December, for which the
report is not yet in. The sum total for
this switching, therefore, amounts to
S1,102 SO far as ascertained, for four
months. The receipts from this source
are, in our opinion, in excess of the
gross cost of operating the engine for
the purpose, and leave a profit to the
State.
WHERE DOES IT BELONG?
Neither the aggegate charge for this
switching nor the excess over operating s
the railroad has been paid into the
rock crushing revolving fund. We are
therefore of the opinion that this charge
OF sllo should not be repaid from the
revolving fund of the rock crusher, but
II repaid, should be paid from the fund
to which the money collected for such
switching was paid.
For any further information on the
subject we would refer your honora bic
f, body to the honorable State Board of
Prison Directors. We hold in our office
your transmittal to us, subject to your
disposal With our compliments, we
remain very respectfully,
Bureau of Highways,
BY J. L. MAUDE, Commissioner
A GEM PUZZLE
AT yesterdays meeting of the State
Board of Examiners the matter was a
puZzler for Secretary of State Brown
and Secretary Marl1ley of the Board of
Examiners. Secretary Brown said the
matter ought to be investigated, and
that the State Bureau of Highways had
been ignored in all matters pertaining
to the rock-crushing plant, but just how
to come at it was the question.
Secretary Markley submitted that the
report of Commissioner Maude Qor the
bureau) ought to be referred to the
Board of Prison Directors, and Secre-
tary Brown concurring the report was
so referred, requesting that an expla-
nation be made showing why the
amount named should not be refunded
to contractor McKinnon.
If this request is honored by the
Board of Prison Directors, something
Interesting may be expected before the
| matter is finally settled.
WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS SAY.
In speaking of the matter subsequent
ly Commissioner Maude, to whom the
matter had been referred by the board,
said he would have 10 objection to one
half of the expense for switching be-
ing charged against the sales of crush
ed rock, but that to charge up thereto
the entire amount was piling it up too
high. 1t was, he admitted difficult to
fix upon the exact ratio which should
be charged against the plant, but the
fact that more than half the work done
by the prison locomotive was the haul
ing out of granite from the quarry for
use in the construction of the Affiliated
| Colleges was proof that the rock-crush-
| ing plant should not be made response
BILE for the entire amount.
| The records show that in four months
the amount charged contractors for
crushed rock, over and above the con-
tract price, has been 81, 102, or about
| $40 per month. AS a matter of fact,
the Commissioner stated, the actual cost
Of running the locomotive would not
amount to more than $75 per month.
1t is also matter of record that
built the Southern Pacific Company
had generously contributed the neces-
sary rails and the engine used for haul
ing the cars, believing that it would in
| time make up for the outlay by freight
on supplies shipped to the prison.
The State, therefore, say the High
| way Commissioners was out nothing in
| building, except for ties, the labor be-
| ing performed by prisoners. The branch
| road is and always has been the prop
erty of the State, and ever since it was
| opened two trips have been made daily
| to the town of Folsom for prison sup
| plies; and as two trips only are made
| at the present time the extra charge
should not be S215 per month in ex-
cess of what it formerly was.
Then again, it is claimed the en-
gineer who runs the train is said to be
| nothing more nor less than a prison
guard; that he goes armed. and that
the crew under him, consisting of a
| fireman and a brakeman, are '-.ruSty"
| prisoners. The engineer is alleged to
receive pay as a guard, and the cost
for the crew under him is, or should be
| found to be, an item in the daily cost
per capita of the prison.
The commissioners say that for some
time past a squad Of prisoners have
| been kept busy grubbing and clearing
prison lands. and the gruts OF the
manzanita and greasewood have been
utilized for fuel for the engine. 1t is
| believed that the coal actually con-
! sumed each month costs no more than
ST.
Taking this view If the situation, the
Board of Highway Commissioners have
no hesitancy in saying that the actual
! cost for switching and hauling the rock
| from the prison to Folsom is less than
| one-fifth of the amount now charged,
or something less than 20 cents a car
! 1t is net contended by any member
of the Board Of Highway Commissions
ers that the funds of the rock-crushing 9
| plant are not accounted for, but it is
affirmed that the extra charge is made
| for the purpose of making as good a
showing as possible before the Legis-
lature by the present prison administra-
ton. and that the surplus so gathered
| in was diverted from the rock-crusher
| fund to the fund for maintenance and
support of the prison.
THERE ARE OTHERS.
| But the four cents extra per ton of
! crushed rock that the contractor has
| been obliged to pay over and above his
contract price does not alone constitute
! the cause for the rumblngs that have
been heard The bill. as drawn by Com
| missioner Mauie and passed by the last
Legislature, provides: The Governor
of the State, the State Prison Directors
| and the Bureau of Highways shall
-l,n., IA 900