The record-union., 1896-05-21

''The Journal of Electricity" of San
Francisco, containing an exhaustive
and fully illustrated description Of the
works and property of the Sacramento
Electric Light and Power Company.
There was no concealment whatever
that it was the purpose of the hosts to
impress the guests with the Importance,
extent and character of the electrical
works. AS one of the managers ex-
pressed it: I'VE believe that personal
view Of these works is worth tons of
volumes OF description. We wish these
representative men, who handle and in
f1uence capital and aid in molding pub
lie opinion, to see what these works are
and to judge Of their value to the city of
Sacramento and the State. For by
such knowledge our labors and faith
will be better understood, and interest
will be quickened generally in the uses
| to which electricity are and can be ap-
piled, and the large part it is now and
| the larger part it is yet to play in indus
trial economy. Whatever the truth on
| these subjects will do, and that concern
| ing long-distance transmission especi-
ally, will help us and disclose to cap
italists and men of thought the magni-
Electric Company naturally has a
| laudable desire to make widely known
the success attained here in long-dis-
tance transmission, and generally the
economy of employment of electrical
energy in industrial works that similar
enterprises may be encouraged and
capital given faith in them that they
may be furthered.''
Arrived at Folsom, Captain Aull.
| finding that the heavy train could not
| be sent down the canal track with ease
or perfect safety, ordered by telephone
that the prison locomotive and a flat
car train be sent up to Folsom. 1t
soon arrived, and the entire company
| took ''standee' berths, and was trans
ported to the end of the track at the
north of the prison grounds.
The canal, dam, esoape-ways and
| head-gates were then examined, and
| all inquiries concerning them ex-
planned by the officers of the two compa-
nies, by Engineer Knight of Folsom and
visiting engineers present The march
was then taken up for the State power
| house, where the machinery was in
spected.
| Thence the company was escorted
through the State Prison grounds and
buildings by Warden Aull. Return up
the canal was next in order, and on the
way up the now nearly completed rock
crushing plant of the State was seen
and commented upon. AT Folsom the
entire company visited the electric
| company'S poWer-houSe where conSid-
| cradle time was spent
| A or he
train was resumed for Sacramento. Ar
irving here, the company was escorted
/ through the great works of the rail-
road company, and then took it's way
to the sub-station of the electric COM
pany, where the fine machinery was
passed under inspection. The guests
were then escorted to G and Seventh
streets, where a train Of electric street
cars was awaiting them, which con-
veyed them out G street to Nineteenth
and thence up II street to East Park
| From that point the run was made
| to Oak Park via Twentieth, and
| Twenty eighth streets.
| The return trip was via p, Tenth, K
and Second streets to the depot. But
| on the way down a switch off" on
Twenty-first street landed the party al
| the Buffalo Brewery, by request OF
the officers Of the institution, who there
served the visitors with sandwiches and
| Buffalo beer, after which the works OF
the factory were examined. AT the
| depot the Sacramento contingent bade
the San Francisco group good-by, and
| the train pulled out for the Bay shortly
before 8 o'clock.
At East Park there was good deal Of
merriment over the riding of some o1
| the grave and dignified seniors in the
| toboggan, and there was more of the
| same sort when some of the elder!
| mounted the hobby horses at Oak Parl
| and for the time were boys again in the
| merry At both places the
comments of the San Francisco visitor:
was that Sacramento possesses two
| admirable sites for recreation grounds
which ought to be improved, as is now
! suggested by the cycling and the ath-
| letic clubs.
| Upon the growth of Sacramento, the
appearance of homes seen, the thrift anc
neatness of their surroundings, the evil
| dences on all sides of improvement and
! progress, the visitors were pronounced
in their expressions of pleasure and
|
wealth, handsome dwellings, and the
large number of new and modest houses
| going up, came in also for compliments
| and f1attering remarks.
But the truth demands that it be re-
| corded that several Of the more closely
observant and outspoken gentlemen
| We're not slow to express their surprise
| that the authorities should allow such
| 90
| cobbles to "fioat" upon the surface OF
| the streets. Some of these critics asked
with an amused expression in their
voices for what especial purpose these
stones were allowed to so remain, and
what part they played in Sacramento
| street economy. In the presence OF
such inquiries the Sacramentans were
discreetly dumb and bit their lips with
| modification.
| The comments of the visitors at Fol
| som and in Sacramento concerning the
| water power and electrical works were
free, copious and critical. 1t would be
| simply impossible to here give a 1.-THE
| of the comments made, or the detailed
debates engaged in. or of the express
sions of surprise and enthusiasm. This
| however, may be said, that there was
! one accord, one expression one un-
varying lttterance of satisfaction and
| profound interest. The larger number
| of the visitors had not before seen any
of these works, and these were loud and
! enthusiastic in expression of their ad-
miration for them. President Coffin de-
| clared that the water power exceeded
| his expectations in it's extent, charac-
| ter, magnitude and impressiveness He
| deemed it one of the finest artificial