Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-30
4 VOICE FROM AMADoR.
IT IS RAISED AGAINST OUR BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS.
A Citizen Reviews the History of the
Obstructed ROad-Traders Shut
Out of Sacramento.

oOr line. Inc subject directly interests
Sacramento business men. The writer
says:
For some two years there has been sew
eral efforts made by the citizens of Amador
county to have removed certain gates (near
the eastern boundary of Sacramento
county, obstructing the Michigan Bar and
Plymouth road. The road has been used
as public thoroughfare for from thirty to
thirty. five years. During the last few years
traffic has gradually increased, and the
gates maintained upon the last three
eighths of q mile IN Sacramento county
have become nuisance which has lead to
determined effort on the part of the Am
ador people and an appeal to the Sacramento
Board of Supervisors to remove them.
A history of the struggles over this road
may prove of some interest, not only to
Amador people, but to Sacramento, and
especially to the merchants of that CITY,
who through this avenue receive large
and valuable trade.
Some three years ago Mr.. Prothero, own.
ing land through which the county line be-
tween Sacramento and Amador county
runs, erected wire fence across the high
way, and upon protest the Sacramento
Board promptly ordered the wire cut A
gate was then established, but the Board
ordered it removed, and the Road Overseer
posted notice to that effect upon the
same and it was thrown open. About the
same time Mrs. Dickinson erected a gate
at the western terminus of the road in
question. This was also ordered removed,
but tor unknown reasons the Road Over.
seer Jailed to carry out the dictates of the
Board. AT meeting in April last a pro-
test was received and an order made by
that body to remove the gate within thirty
days. Afterwards majority of the Road
Committee instructed the Road Overseer
to allow the gate to remain until the Nav
session, at which time further action would
De taken. At this meeting petition, the
petitioners of which, with few exceptions.
being disinterested persons, was received
from Sacramento county requesting that
the obstruction remain. 1t was now de-
clded that the gate should stand at the op-
ton OF the Board. Mrs Dickinson having
now received this concession promptly
erected second gate at the point where
Prothero had failed to secure one, placing
1t IN his line of fence, thus securing gate
where twice it had been taken out by the
Sacramento Board, whose order has not vet
been repealed or rescinded.
at this stage of proceedings Amador
county came In and at the June term
offered petition containing the names of
24o citizens, praying for the removal of
.hese distractions. The petition was so
large and SO warmly pressed that the Board
called special meeting for June 10Th to
consider this matter alone. 1t was agreed
that the Road Committee should visit the
locality and view the road on Saturday.
June 18th, and County Clerk Hamilton
was ordered to notify all interested parties.
Mr.; Hamllton's notice read Thursday, June
I4th. In consequence of this blunder the
committee viewed the road on June 10Th,
instead of the 14th, and it being in Sacra-
mento county, in the midst of those OPP
posing the removal of the gate, they were
consulted while the Amador people, who
expected to meet the committee on the
l4th with large delegation, were at home
unconscious of the proceedings.
The majority committee, consisting of
Messrs. Greer and Bates, examined the
road on June 18th, and after consulting
freely with the protestants in the absence
OF a fair representation of the 240 Amador
petitioners who were seeking to be heard
IN the matter, took the authority upon
themselves to notify verbally all parties
that 1t would be unnecessary for them to
appear before the Board in Sacramento on
the 10th. The evidence upon which they
assumed the authority was simply ram
bling neighborhood talk, and that of one
side only.
The Amador people have only insisted
that they be allowed the privilege of ap-
pearlng before the Board that they might
submit evidence of the worth. benefit and
necessity of the road. This evidence they
have IN abundance proportionate to their
large petition and they have only asked to
submit 1t legally. In that they have been
thwarted by this majority committee. In
consequence of this there was only one
Amador man present at the special session,
and this man was refused the privilege of
addressing the Board
Messrs Greer and Bates submitted ma
Jority report of the Road Committee to the
erect that the commit, ee were unable to
nnd sufhclent evidence of the highway be-
ing a public road, and that it ran parallel
with certain stage road, which afforded
ample accommodations.
Mr.. Tebbets, the third member of the
committee, objected to the report, and of
tered resolution that that part of It relat-
ing to the doubt as to the road being
public highway be stricken out. This was
seconded by Mr.. Bates the roll called. re-
sulting, Bates, Tebbets and Black yeas:
Greer and Ross Chairman noes
The Chairman then declared that he
would not announce the vote, and, not
withstanding the protests of certain mem.
bers OF the Board as to his action, he per-
| sisted in his position.
His objection as to the road running
| parallel is so absurd and SO faulty that il
| scarcely deserves mention. The road from
Sacramento to Plymouth leaves Michigan
Bar mile to the north. 1t is the custom
| OF the stage to leave the regular road, and
| by branch drive to Michigan Bar. and
then by road running sourheasgagain
reach the main road mile or so east. This
last is the parallel road referred to, and is
parallel only for three-eighths of mile.
The road, in reality, is almost at right
angles to the one in question.
The vote was the final result of what the
Amador people had expected would be an
honest and fair investigation, and from
which they had hoped to secure an open
road direct to Sacramento, where it has
been their custom to trade for years.
This is the history of the affair. There
is political aspect to the matter, which
alone explains the peculiar and inconsistent
action OF the Board.
Certain of the members were stanch in
their position for fair investigation, but
they were overruled by the majority, and
their continued protests were unheeded.
1t isquite evident that the time is not op-
perfume for movement in the opening OF
the Michigan Bar and Plymouth road A
political campaign is near at hand and as
pirants Tor political favors are too tenacious
of any influence which would hazard q
vote.
Amador citizens unfortunately are not
courted by Sacramento political aspirants
They have not the influence of the ballot
to aid them, but the small number who
seek to maintain gates over the three
eightbs OF mile road on thoroushfare OF
ten miles carry with them the fate of these
huctuating office seekers. 1t is time tina,
there was an end to such wire pulling and
rag chewing" 1t behooves the citizens OF
Sacramento county, especially the mer-
chants who do q large amount of business
with Amador people, to see what are the
proceedings of this body. 1t is supposed
to be guardian of the interests of the
county. but there has certainly been one
instance in which they have totally ignored
this duty.
| LAID TO REST.
Funeral Yesterday of the Late John