The record-union., 1897-12-20
A SNAG IN THE FOLSOM ROAD.
NO MONEY TO OPERATE THE
ROCK CRUSEER.
The State Board Of Examiners to
be Appealed to for
Assistance.

There seems to be a serious hltch III
the Sacramento and Folsom macaudii-
lied road proposition that only receh'-
ly came to light, and from present ap-
pearances the question as TO whether
or not the road will be built lies with
the State Board of Examiners, COM
posed of Governor Budd, Secretary OF
State Brown and Attorney -General
Fitzgerald.
When the people of Sacramento Coun-
ty voted to bond the county for S'o,-
600 to construct the road, it was ac-
cepted beyond question that the State
would furnish the rock free on board
the cars at the Folsom Prison, and that
all expenses for crushing, repairs, gran
ite etc had been provided for
After the bond election Warden Aull
of the Folsom Prison, who is Superln-
tendent Of the rock crushing plant,
made q study Of the Act creating the
Folsom Road Commission and defining
its duties, and came to the conclusion
that there were no available funds for
crushing the rock, making repairs, or
quarrying granite for building bridges
and culverts. He accordingly wrote
the following letter to P. c. Cohn, one
of the Folsom. Highway Commissioners:
'P. c. Cohn, Esq, Folsom-Dear Sir:
AS a member of the Folsom and Sac
ramento Highway Commission, l sub
nit for your consideration the follow
ing, and hope you will bring it to the
attention of your board at their first
meeting. as it is important in connec-
ton with the proposed Folsom road.
The Act of the Legislature authorizing
hp ton, oft
Section >. The road herein pro-
vided for shall be built, so far as
practicable, from broken or crushed
stone or rock from the rock-crush-
er at the Folsom State Prison. and
the State Prison Directors are here
by directed and authorized to sup
ply such crushed or broken rock,
together with the necessary granite
orstone blocks for drains, culverts or
bridges. free of cost or charge, other
than transportation, to the Folsom
Highway Commissioners for the
construction of such highway
The Act of the Legislature makes
no provision for the expense neces-
sary in furnishing the broken rock and
granite, and the question arises. from
what funds can such expense be paid ?
1t cannot be taken from the appropria-
ton for the maintenance of the prison,
as that is expressly prohibited by stat
ute. Neither can it be taken from
the revolving fund provided for the op-
GRAFTON of the rock-crusher, and If by
any process of reasoning that fund can
be used 1t would be inadequate for the
purpose.
1T is estimated that 10000 tons Of
macadam will be required for the COM
pletion Of this highway Taking our
experience in crushing rock into con-
sideration, it will take the total output
of the rock-crusher for eight months
say from the 1st of April to the 1st
OF December of next year. The ex-
penSes for operating the rock -crusher
during the present year for those
months are as follows: April. $500 81:
May, S2.23O "a; June. 81 .101 81: July.
S2,2S1 40; August. 81. 90 on; Septem-
Der. S1,41S 53; October, 81. so -: No.
vember, S1,166 40. Total, S14.566 90.
1T is not possible to operate the
rock-erusher next year for a less sum
during that period. The rock is hard
and the breakage of machinery and re-
pairs cost considerable money, which
accounts for the difference in cost in
each month. as shown above
In addition to this expense. we are
required to furnish granite for culverts.
drains. bridges, ETC. This will cost not
less than 5000 additional for the ex-
pense OF getting out and preparing the
granite necessary making a total of
probably $4,000 that must be provided
for before We can proceed in supplying
the necessary macadam and granite
would advise that your commits
sion consider this matter at as earlv a
time as practicable. and consult with
the State Board of Examiners and the
State Controller. and see what can be
done in the premises
Il want you TO understand that I am
heartily in favor OF proceeding with
this work, SO are all the members of our
board. but there are expenses that must
be met, and q fair understanding is
much better in the start than to be
brought up with round turn later on
1t is possible that the Examiners may
construe Section > of the Act creating
the commission in such manner as TO
permit them to draw upon any funds
in the State Treasury not otherwise ap-
propriated, but | repeat that this should
be determined, and at once. before too
much expense is incurred.
Trusting you will accept this in the