The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-14

the City Hall, is simply blot upon the
fair name of our city.
County Courthouse.In its day this
was a very imposing edifice and well
adapted for the purposes for which it
was erected. At the present time, how
ever, it is entirely untitled for the many
public offices within it's walls. Three
departments of the Superior Court,
with chambers for each, the County
Clerk, Assessor, Sheriff, District At
torney, superintendent of Schools,
County Surveyor, Grand Jury room, law
library and County Jail, with an annex
the Hall of Records-wherein is To-
Gated the offices of Auditor and Re-
corder, the County Treasurer. the Tax
| Collector and the Board of Supervisors.
| All the above named officers Justly COM
plain of their circumScribed quarters,
| but their salaries and fees appear to
serve as balm for whatever inconveni-
ences they are made to suffer.
| The facts herein stated were made ap-
parent to us by thorough investigation
and can be readily verified by any of
our citizens DESTROYS of looking into
these matters themselves. The erec
ton of new public building would seem
to be imperative, and with men of the
character hereinbefore mentioned fill
| ing our public offices, the taxpayers
would interpose no objection to the
amount of money expended in such a
laudable and much needed improve
ment.
COUNTY HOSPITAL.
The Grand Jury thoroughly inspected
Il,
where men are congregated in large
numbers, strong and vigorous fight
must be constantly maintained against
filth and vermin. In the County Hos
pital this fight seems to have been sue
cesSfully waged, and the jury was graf
flied at the cleanly condition that pre-
vailed throughout all the buildings.
The inmates appear as contented as
their own individual conditions would
permit and we'll they might, for the
food furnished is of good quality and in
abundance; the wards are. we'll VEN
tilated and heated, the bedding good
and the clothing sufficient
In an institution of this kind COM
bining as it does both the home for
aged indigents and the institution for
the reception, care and medical treat
lment of the INDECENT sick and wounded,
the cost is necessarily great, and at
times the institution is imposed upon by
undeserving people.
f.. The present system is wrong, and the
Supervisors in continuing to pursue this
course, after repeated criticisms lay
! themselves liable to very grave sus-
picions.
We strongly recommend that the Dis
trict Attorney and the Auditor put into
operation at the proper time the ma
chinery of law that will compel the
Supervisors to strictly comply with the
law regarding the letting of contracts
for furnishing the county with station
cry, clothing, bedding, groceries, pro-
visions, drugs, medicines and all other
supplies.
The Board of Supervisors lets con-
tracts for supplying groceries and sup
I plies for the County Hospital The
schedule of such supplies does not con-
tain hay" grain COAL wood, -
BLANKETS eggs" butter" or .'pota-
toes" During the year 1898 the fol-
lowing amounts We're paid for these ar
ticles: Hay S1,14S.I5. grain $3.50. 40,
coal 81, 705. 40, wood, SS6S 10 blankets,
1925, eggs $56021, butter 81 255.16, po-
tatoes S613.65 making total of
81, 056.S7
The total amount of goods purchased
under contract in 1898 was $13 1913 -,
so it will be observed that the amount
paid for these important articles in the
support of the hospital, without con-
tract, is more than one-half as much as
the amount paid for supplies under con-
tract.
The experience of every State, county
and municipal government in the Unit
ed States has shown clearly the ad-
vantage of the contract system of fur
nishing supplies to public institutions
over the old method of buying in open
market.
While the Grand Jury is Impressed
with the efficient conduct of this in,sti-
tuition, it realizes that the management
is lat oring under serious disadvantages
III not having properly CONSTRUCTED
and equipped room for performing tho
MANY surgical operatio that from ths
very nature of the institution is made
necessary to prolong life OF alleviate
suffering. *
A decent regard for human life rem
ders it an imperative duty Of the Board
of Supervisors to Immediately provide
the hospital with such room scientific
ally constructed and fully equipped with
| all the appliances of modern surgery
and the Grand Jury strongly recon-
nIends that this be done without delay
INSURANCE.
| Here follows statement Of the va
rious county buildings and contents
| showing a total of $1O1 900.
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Believing that the school child should
pursue his studies only amidst sanitary
environments, the jury made a most
careful investigation into the condition
of the public school buildings of the
city of Sacramento.
lincoln Primary-The first school Wis
tied was the Lincoln Primary. located
at Fourth and Q streets, the visit bein-
made without notification to anv Of the
teachers or employees Of the school. This
building was thoroughly inspected as te
It's sanitary condition. The class rooms
are we'll ventilated and lighted, giving
every evidence of being kept in a clear
and healthful condition. The plumbing
work is modern in construction and re-
fleets the highest credit upon Those
whose duty it is to look after the we'll
being and education of the children
intrusted to their care.
Capital Grammar and Harness Pri
mary Schools-These two schools com
bined have an attendance of about ]. OOt
pupils No fault could be found with
the buildings, so far as cleanliness, light
and ventilation We're concerned, but the
L,