The record-union., 1897-01-28

The crushed rock would give employ
ment to many American citizens. II
looked at from the standpoint of the
taxpayers, it would allow streets to be
improved that could not be done other
wise. There will be much more street
work done with cheap rock, and to
limit its use would prevent the i'm
provement of the cities and the en-
ployment of their citizens. He believed
the bill to be detrimental to the inter
eStS of the State.
Powers said that he understood that
the dressed stone was being used by
private contractors.
Lewis did not favor the bill, as he
did not think it a good one.
Trustee Devine said he had been
resident of Sacramento for over thirty
years. The city has lately started to
improve it's streets, and much improve
ment has been delayed in order to have
a chance to use the crushed rock.
Many contracts have been let on the
basis of the cheap rock at the price al
ready fixed, and to change it would be
unjust to the contractors. He under
stood from a large contractor that he
had more orders for rock now than
ever before, and he was the largest
buyer ON the coast. Many contracts for
street work in this city have been de-
Ia
from Folsom. The crusher creates a
demand for labor and will allow the
city to improve. 1t was not good policy
to limit it's opportunities for good.
Not only Sacramento, but Stockton,
has made miles of new streets that
would never have been improved had it
not been for the rock crusher, and this
bill would stop Improvement. In the
next year it will afford employment to
ten times as many men. He hoped the
Legislature would give the poor people
who are now heavily taxed an oppor-
tunity to pay for their streets without
having to mortgage their homes to do
so.
Trustee Bentley said he and Mr.. De-
by the Board of Trustees to appear be-
fore the committee and ask that the
bill be not passed. He was not here to
discuss labor and capitol, but it was es-
sential to maintain the crusher. He had
reason to believe, from his information.
that the Cordelia and other plants sold
more rock since the cruSher was in
stftuted than before. Mr.. Mcdonald
of the Street Improvement Company
of San Francisco says that the Cordelia
plant cannot turn out enough rock in a
year to supply one of the present con-
tracts on the streets of Sacra-
mento. He had had TO buy from the
COrdelia plant. The city is doing work
on it's streets now that could not be
luvial soil of the valley does not furnish
suitable material. If this bill were
passed it would stop the work here.
Cheap rock encourages the property
owners and they now ask to have the
streets improved where before they
begged the board not to order improve
ments on account of the cost
Mr.. Thompson said he owned and
was not selling nearly as much rock as
before. 1t would not employ more
labor because the rock is cheap, as he
quarry. They would have to put on
two convicts where they found work for
one free man.
The Folsom rock would only save the
citizens or cents a front foot over
his rock, which was the best for streets.
He would have to close his quarry if
this bill did not pass. The Bureau of
Highways has done good work for the
State and should find a market now for
the crushed rock
Cutter asked him if the State built
good State roads, if it could purchase
from private parties, and when he an
sWered yes, Cutter asked why cities
should not purchase as well as the
State. Thompson contended that in
cities the streets were to improve pri-
waite property.
IN COMMITTEES.
The Senate judiciary Committee con-
sidered s. b. -, relating to estrays. and
reported favorably on it as amended.
The committee will to-day introduce
bill ceding to the United States juris-
diction over all lands within the State
which have been or may hereafter be
acquired by the United States for mill
tary purposes and a bill relinquishing to
the United States the title of the State
to lands extending from high water
mark to 800 yards below low water
mark that lie contiguous to lands occu-
pied by it for military purposes or de-
fenSe
The committee also considered S. b.
4J2, exercising the right of eminent do
main for roads. either elevated or de-
pressed, for the use Of bicycles. tricv-
cles, cyclomotors and like horseless We
hicles among other things, and also S.
b. lI3, allowing the sale OF franchises
for elevated roads for bicycles and like
vehicles on which toll may be charged.
ard reported favcrably on both
The Committee on Commerce f,r+bar