Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-01-27
THE COUNTY ROADS.
Who Can Tell of the Work
Done on Them 2
IT SEEMS TO BE SIMPLY GAIN.
What the People Say About the
County Roads that Run to
the East.

The HERAID's special road commits.
sioner arose early yesterday and through
Boyle Heights found the boundary line
of the city and thence struck the county
roads, which through a vast extent Of
territory are to be looked after and kept
in repair. 1t was found that this exten-
sive tract in the past twelve months was,
as regards roadmaking, thing in which
Messrs. Bell and Thompson were off,
cially concerned. They drew some 50 900
or So 900, making together some 1000
out of the road fund and which has been
exhausted in repairing the county high
ways. Leaving the boundary line
of the city by East First street
the HERALD's commissioner struck an ex-
panse of road which had never, In the
memory of man, been worked by an
overseer and his gang. This dreary
waste of roads is in the San Antonio Dis
trict, and one may go anywhere if he
dares. From the boundary line of the
city to the San Gabriel River the
HERALD's commissioner failed to find
any evidence Of work done in the past
year. Some work was done, it is re-
ported, but it was done in the summer
time and therefore valueless. Mr.. @. G..
Haigh, who has lived number of years
just this side of the college,
said: "I do not like to talk
about this matter, but as q
citizen who desires justice done, 1 must
give the HERALD my views and my
knowledge of the roads hereabouts.
have been here for the past six years,
and during that time have no knowl.
edge of any WORK being done by the road
overseer of this district. For the past
year the simple putting in of culvert
would have done deal of good; but for
the want Of a culvert which would have
perhaps cost two dollars of proper expen-
diture, the road was impossible for more
than year. l hear that some grading
was done on piece ofroad some distance
from here, but 1 am told that no team
has passed over it, because it was
done in the summer time, and
is now simply a piece OF hubby
road which no one with q team would
pass over if he could help it. The bot.
tom of the ravine leading to the Laguna
Rancherio in wet weather is two feet
under water and is impossible. Why
during last year the Road Overseer
would bring nineteen or twenty men up
to some spot in the district and they
would fool around while he was in town
having glorious time. Bis men
did but little work outside of smoking
their pipes. tell you honestly that out
side of four or Ave loads OF straw, which
I suggested, there has been no work
done in this district for years. Ride over
it, and you will see for yourself"
Squire +. Root, who for many years
has travelled the roads of the districts
circumscribed, said very emphatically:
"I often have to travel three and four
miles out Of my way to get home. The
roadmaster and the Supervisor who
audited his bills ought to be strung up
by the heels"
The HRRALD's commissioner, ,as in duty
bound, rode over this extensive district
on which many souls thrive, and in the
course of his travel came to the Laguna
Rancheria. Why repeat what they
said there? He did not find,
on this, his third tour of in
spection, but that the county roads
were Just as the wheels of the wagons
had made them. Will some overseer Of
the county roads and receiver of the
county funds, direct the HERALD's com
missioner to the examination Of an ex-
cellent stretch Of road?