The record-union., 1897-01-24
TO KILL THE FOLSOM ROCK.
CRUSHING PLANT.

SNI LAM
1t is more than surprising that q
movement should have developed in the
Legislature to break up the road
matchmaking plant at Folsom and kill
off that beneficence-that, too, in its
infancy and before it has had time to
return from its earnings the sum adj
vanced by the State for its erection.
A bill to kill the work after less than
nine months trial is in, providing that
the plant product shall be used only
on roads and walks around State insti-
tutions
1t is reported that the claim is made
that the crusher runs counter to
free labor. This is unfounded. The
work is upon material within
prison grounds, the labor on
the material is performed by men
supported by the taxpayers of the
State without return. The output Of
the crusher gives large employment to
free labor in street and road making
WHICH OUiICI WISt NOuIQ ilOI pC SiAi-
ployed. If the rock-crusher plant is
abandoned and thereby the sum in
vested in 1T lost to the State 1t Will
result in an advance upon the price Of
road metal that will retard, and in
many cases actually inhibit, road build
ing and street Improvement. Macad-
amizing will then become a luxury
where now it can be enjoyed at rea-
sonable and small cost by all the peo-
pie far up the Sacramento Valley on
the north to far down the San Joaquin
Valley ON the south.
Beyond the area at which the metal
can be delivered at the low figures the
plant does not affect production Of
| broken trap rock for road purposes
The truth is, and it is not susceptible
of any qualification, the State rock
crushing plant does operate against the
large profits of a few concerns, cor
porate and other, engaged In preparing
| road metal. But nothing has given
| greater impetus to the good road move
ment generally throughout the State,
as well as in the valleys, than the
establishment of the rock-crushing
plant at Folsom.
| Nothing is more needed just now by
| California than the active, earnest pro-
| motion of good road building, sys-
tematized and upon economic lines. 1t
will so better rural conditions when 1t
| fully obtains in California as to almost
revolutionize life in the country and
correspondingly better life In the town.
1t will work incalculable good to trade,
and to labor will prove a distinct bless
| ing
| The abandonment of the Folsom plant
will be deadly blow to good road
movements all over the State, and be-
yond the business influence of the plant
| free labor will receive a thrust from
it's abandonment from which it viii not
recover in years. Every pound of rock
taken out at Folsom and transported
| from there for road and street pur-
poses adds TO the opportunity of free
labor; first, directly by giving it means
of employment; secondly. by broaden
| ing the ability of those who foot all
| bills for road and street making to
make more mileage.
The single example of the progressive
city of Stockton is complete refuta-
ton of every argument that can be
advanced in reason against the rock
crusher Labor has enjoyed advant-
ages there in the last twelve months
that would not have been its In the
next ten years but for the Folsom
plant. Property values have enhanced
under its operations with the In
evitable results upon the tax rolls, while
the ability OF property owners to i'm
prove streets has been broadened
wonderfully.
So, too, 1t will be and is, In every COM
munity that can enjoy or has embraced
the benefit the plant opens UP. TO