The herald., 1897-01-31

the building north and south is 2s2 feet.
The main halls are 222 feet long The
base Of the rotunda is SO feet across. and
its circumference 100 feet. The size Of
the senate chamber is IS feet by 56 feet;
Of the sembly room, 73 by rs feet Each
room Is 48 feet in height The distance
from the junction Of Tenth and M
streets, on which the building fronts,
to the top Of the dome Is 223 feet, and to
the huge ball above the crown Of cleo
trio lights 240 feet. The average size Of
the various offices in the edifice Is 2S by
% feet. The foundation of the super
structure and the basement walls are of
brick and concrete. The first story
abov6t the basement was built Of granite.
1t was the original intention to have all
the walls Of granite, but the plan was
subsequently changed. lest the super
structure should prove too heavy for the
foundation. So the walls from the first
story to the roof are Of brick covered
with concrete The great white build
ing also contains spacious offices and
private rooms for the governor. lieuten-
ant-governor, secretary OF state. ad-
jutant- t-general, l,attorney-general, Judges
Of the supreme court and few other
state officials. 1t also contains the state
library, of which may give condensed
description in another communication
The state also has established and is
now conducting no less than twenty
public institutions. each Of which is
either educational, charitable or penal
in its character. The list comprises five
insane asylums. one large agricultural
pavilion and park, two penitentiaries.
three normal schools. one university
two reform schools. one home for feeble
minded persons. two deaf, dumb and
- Ax.ev Att t%.@vr Co.
the adult blind, one state printing Of
fee, and last though not least, Suffers
Fort, a time -honored relic Of the days
when California was considered the
jumping off place of the wild and woody
west, and when rough miners, bold for
tune hunters and untamable grizzly
bears were prominent features Of Sac
ramento county and the surrounding
territory
It goes without saying that all of these
important institutions require great
deal of care and the appropriation Of
considerable money to maintain them
in proper condition. Yet they are
doubtless, with one or two exceptions.
beneficial to the state in many ways. 1t
is sad to think that in this list Of i'm
portant institutions SO large a percent
age of them must be devoted to the pun
ishment and restraining Of criminals
ate and helpless human beings.
THE END IN SIGHT.
The adoption by the senate of joint
resolution to adjourn March 4th, gives
very general satisfaction, except to such
classes of persons as profit by the pres
ence of the legislature and its numerous
camp followers. 1t Is to be hoped that
the assembly will concur in the action Of
the senate. The fact that all pay for the
members will cease at the expiration of
the constitutional 60 days Is an import
ant consideration in the question of final
adjournment Two months time Is
surely long enough for an industrious
legislature to furnish the people with all
the law-making really necessary for the
two years to come. Should the session
be extended to the 1st Of July, the mem
bers doubtless could find something to
do every day, because there would be
citizens of the state towering around
the capitol seeking special legislation
and urging the adoption Of new laws
with scarcely any limitation. The pros
pect now is that the 4th day OF March
may witness the final adjournment or
the Thirty-second legislature OF Call
fornia. And the people will say. Amen.
RALPH HOYT.