The record-union., 1897-01-25
LEGISLATORS GO TO FOLSOM.
Hours Spent in Inspecting the Prison
Rock -CruSher and Dam.
The Visitors Deeply Impressed With
the Importance of the
Great Plant.

Last week the State Board of Prison
Directors issued invitations to the
members Of the Legislature and 10
State officers to visit the State Prison
and the power works at Folsom IN
cluded were representatives of the
press and the ladies whom guests cnose
to bring along.
Yesterday was the day set for the eX-
cursion, and the train pulled out of the
depot at 9:30 with about 80 people on
board. OF these some sixty were men,
bers of the Legislature, the others be-
ing attaches and officers of the houses,
State officers and deputies, correspond
ents and ladies, and a number of citi-
zens temporarily in the city, with
few SacramentanS.
The day was exceedingly unpropl-
tious, being raw, cloudy and cool. Dur
ing the earlier hours a fine, misty rain
fell, but very little after the arrival at
Folsom. 1t was a day to depress and
repress, but it did not have any such
effect upon the eXcursionists. They ap-
peared to understand that they were
viewing the prison and the works un-
der the influence of gloomy weather,
and therefore they resolved to refuse to
be moved upon by the meteorological
conditions.
So we'll was this resolution carried
out that the entire company strove to
tighten and inspirit, and the result
was that really the depressing infiu-
ences were successfully combatted and
the excursion turned out to be one of
social warmth and high spirits.
1t was an orderly, modest and un-
demonstrative body Of people, the con-
duct of the entire number being quiet
and in keeping with all proprieties.
1t was not forgotten that it was Sun
day, and the result of all this was one
of the best excursions that ever went
out Of the city.
The arrival ait Folsom at 1880
brought Warden Charles Aull with sew
eral of his aids upon the scene. He
greeted the people with his usual ease
and cordiality, and took charge of the
excursion from Folsom to the prison
grounds. The first stop was made at
the State rock crushing plant. That
the visitors might have opportunity to
see the works to good advantage, the
power was turned on and the crushers
set at work with a gang of convicts
feeding in the stone.
The visitors ascended to the upper
platform and examined the machinery
with great interest, following the move
ment of the stone from the time of
wheeling it from the quarry and its fall
into the greater cruSher, to its delivery
after screening, into three sizes in the
great bins overhanging the railroad
track. The inquiries concerning the
cost of operation, the cost of delivery,
etc, and the cost to consumers COM
pared with the prices charged before
the crusher was set up, We're very
many and indicated a profound inter
est and an earnest desire to examine
into the economies of the work.
Some one renarking in the midst Of
one group of legislators that the crush
er interfered with free labor he was
met by many voices with the reply
Not at all, it is an aid to It; it gives
free labor a big advantage; it makes
work possible that was impossible, and
as stone can be sold only for roads and
streets, it betters conditions greatly in
the interest Of labor, just as good high
way conditions always do
The money spent for this stone.
said one legislator, not only makes
good roads or street. bettering condi-
tions, but at so low a price that a
larger margin is left to expend in other
work that calls for free labor.
So the debate ran on, ten being for
the rock crusher where one feared it
hurt free labor. Warden Aull and
others explained that greater power is
needed, and hence a. bill now before the
Legislature for another air-compreSsor.
TO enable the crusher to be run to its
full capacity, which cannot be done
now by the single compressor that has
to serve the prison ice and electrical
works, the pumping and drilling, as
we'll as convey compressed air to the
rock crusher.
1t was generally, indeed on all hands
conceded that the additional compressor
Is needed at the prison works, and that
1t ought to be put in as early as posi-
BILE that the crusher may be run 10 full
capacity and thus the sooner return 10
the State the sum advanced for its set
ting up, as well as responding to the
demands for road metal which have
been quite in excess Of rapid capacity
After the rock-crushing plant had
been thoroughly examined and all its
workings noted, the company took UP
the line of march for the prison power
house. where the prison officials and
rnachinisss received the guests and ex-
plained the working of the several
classes of machinery there and how the
water power is applied and for what
purposes. Here it was evident to a close
observer that another compressor is
needed. In case of a break down Of the
great compressor the prison would be
sadly crippled for power. As a mere
matter of economy. it would seem, the
prison power house ought to have it's
large compressor duplicated.
The guests went up the hill to the
,,,ison. where one section of the COM