Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-21
ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
PROPOSITION TO SPRINKLE ALL
ROADS LEADING TO THE CITY.
The Wild Orange to be Planted on
all the Roadsides-Talk About
Sacramento Streets.

acted as Secretary. The meeting was largel
attended, there being representative citizen
from all portions of the county present, a
also county and city officials and Sacra
mento business men.
In calling the meeting to order, Nj
Fassett stated that there were two things +
consider. First, the subject of tree-plant
ing second putting the highways in tn
best possible condition, and then keeping
them sprinkled during the dry or summe
season.
Mr.. Williamson asked to see copy o
the ordinance introduced by Mr. McMulle1
and passed by the Board OF Supervisor
November Stb, relative TO tree-planting. I
reads as follows:
Ordinance No. 19-The Board of Supervisors O
Sacramento county do ordain es follows:
ANY owner or occupant of land adjoining
public highway in this county not less thar
three rods wide may plant shade and orna
mental trees in and along the highway, on the
side contiguous to his land.
The trees must be set in regular rows, at dis
lance of at least twenty feet from one another
and not more than five feet from the boundary
OF the highway.
If the highway is more than eighty feet wide
the row must not be less than six nor more thar
eight feet from the boundary.
Whoever willfully Injuries any such trees is
liable to the owner or to the occupant for the
udlltSe LHeTeUy sustained. ana TO encourage
the planting and cultivation OF such trees, the
supervisors of this county shall pay for each
tree so planted and cultivated. that shall be
living at the end of four years, the sum of 81.
In connection with the above the follow.
ing resolution was adopted by the Board
Resolred, That all parties who comply with
Ordinance 10, relating to the planting of shade
and ornamental trees along the highways re-
port the same to the Board of Supervisors not
later than the LIST day of May of each year.
Erskine Greer, road overseer in District
IL, said that they had made many improve
ments in the roads in his district. had
rounded them up, placed gravel upon them.
The roads were in good condition for many
miles in his district and would remain so
if sprinkled during the summer or dusty
months. 1t seemed like waste of money
to round up and gravel roads that would
cut up into dust and blow off into the
grain fields with the slight breezes from the
south. No matter how high they raise
them, few summers travel would cut
them up, they would disappear in clouds
of dust, and after awhile it would leave a
depression. The roads that have been
sprinkled had remained intact all summer
and were excellent highways in winter. 1t
was money well expended. The farmer
could haul heavy loads, and there was
some pleasure in travelling over them. He
thought that all the principle roads leading
from the city should be sprinkled. The
test given last season showed conclusiyeIy
that it was money well expended, and thai
the roads could be kept in better repair in
this manner at less expense to the county
than in any other. They pack solid,
remain so all summer and do not
cut up SO badly in the winter.
Messrs. Williamson, Aiken, Hancock,
ellis and Coleman all made speeches upon
the subject, fully coinciding with the views
of Mr.. Greer. The cost of sprinkling a
road of five miles in length was only 500
per month, when the water-tanks were con-
veniently located-say one every mile.
The cost of windmill, boring of a well,
pump and 3,500-gallon tank was only
$273.
The question of expense was discussed
for long time, all agreeing that it was
money well expended, and the roads could
be kept in better repair by sprinkling than
in any other way. Mr. Fassett and Mr..
Greer gave itemized statements of the ex-
rense of last years sprinkling of the Upper
Stockton, Lower Stockton and Freeport
roads, which showed conclusiyely that five
or six miles of road could be we'll sprinkled
during the dry season for $500. The only
expense would be the locating and putting
in of water-tanks on roads not already sup
Piled
Mr.. ellis stated that Mr.. Mackey. who
has charge of the Haggin ranch, volun-
teered to bore and pipe wells along the
road leading north from the Twelfth street
bridge as far as Arcade. Mr.. Mackey also
recommended the use of small steam
pump, which he says would fill the largest
tank in ten minutes, and which could be
put on wheels and hauled along by the
sprinkling cart. This steam-pump. which
costs but Sl75, has suction pipe that can
be dropped in the well, steam can be got I'D
in five minutes, and it will throw a 6.inch
stream with the force of fire engine.
After considerable discussion it was de-
cided to recommend the sprinkling of the
following roads, for distance of say six
miles from the city limits: Upper Stock
ton, lower Stockton, Jackson, Grant, Free
port and ] street. AS Jackson and j street
run almost parallel, and come together at
Brighton Station, some suggested that but
one of them be sprinkled. This, however,
did not meet with much favor. These are
the principal roads leading to the city, and
one is entitled to as much consideration as
another. 1t will cost say s., 500 to $1,000 to
do the sp!inkling, and quite little sum to
equip the roads with water tanks,
Mr.. Coleman moved that committee of
five be appointed to investigate and report
at the next meeting, which will be held on
the 2Sth inst. the probable expense of
sprinkllng and the cost of putting up suit
able and convenient water tanks along the
half dozen roads named.
The motion was carried, and the Chair
appointed the following committee {:
Lower Stockton and Freeport roads, E.
Greer upper Stockton road, L. F. Fassett
Jackson road. George C. McMullen; Grant
road, Dugald ellis J-street road, Edward
F. Akin.
The farmers present then took Land in
discussing the streets of Sacramento. They
said they could get to the city limits. but
could not get into the business part of the
town, owing to the sorry condition of the
streets east and south of Fifteenth and NJ.
Supervisor Tebbets Joined in with them.
and said the streets of Sacramento were
simply disgrace TO the commonwealth,
and gave as an example Twelfth street,
north of II. A man can get along there
with buggy in the winter time, but that
is about all and still it is the entry for large
travel. He said the Sixteenth street people
were willing to gravel, and if the Twelfth
street citizens did not wake up it would
force the Supervisors to trestle the overflow
so as to make the entry for the northern
portion OF the county through Sixteenth
street. 1t would cost but few dollars, but
" old sllura seemed to have the call on
Twelfth street, and its residents were in
ciined to be mossbacked.
The subject of tree planting took up an
hours time and was somewhat a repetition
of that of the evening before. All those
present favored the Florida sour. orange,
and Mr.. Williamson, if he gets enough en-
enlargement, will bring out carload of
several thousand in time for this year s.
planting. He thinks they can be sold here
for so cents each. They are nursery-grown
and about five feet in hight.
A resolution was passed requesting the
Board of Supervisors to grade the follow
ing streets: J to Thirty first; Twenty-first
from to y, and Twelfth from H to B.
This will give the farmers chance to get
in the city and when they get in, to get out
As it is now it is difficult to get in and once
in they are in doubt as to their ability to
get out.
Resolutions urging everybody to plant
trees and recommending the sour orange
were passed.
Mr.. Gillett, of Florida, addressed the
meeting giving the members many points
regarding the planting of oranges, etc.
The meeting adjourned to 1:30 P. NJ, Sat
urday, January 2Sth.
CAUTION. - "Mathusheki is the only
piano that has the tuning pins pushed into
a solid iron frame, and which has success