Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-28
GRAVEL FOR THE STREETS.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY TONS CAN
BE HAULED IN A DAY.
Trial Trip of the Road Engine of the
Citizens Company-Its Effect
on Teaming.

Yesterday the Doan steam wagon, which
it is intended to employ in hauling to the
city wagon-trains of gravel for the Citizens
Street Improvement Company, made its
trial trip to the gravel pits near Brighton.
The train consisted of five large wagons re-
Gently constructed by j. F. Hill & Son,
each having capacity of forty cubic yards
of gravel, or seven tons.
The motor is not only powerful ma
chine, but a rapid traveller, capable of
making from six to eight miles an hour.
1t made successful run to the gravel pit,
where the five wagons were loaded BY
about o'clock P NJ
When all was in readiness for the return
Mr.. Doan (the inventory threw open the
throttle, but the engine could not move
the heavy train from its position in the
soft ground. After several unsuccessful at
tempts two OF the wagons were detached
and the first three were readily hauled out
into the road, where they were left while
the engine backed into the cut for the
other two. These were then hauled out to
the road and connected with the Others
and the engine started off with its full
train for the city. After running a short
distance 1t was discovered that the engineer
had not attended to the water supply. and
the motor was run to the Smith place near
by to fill up the tank.
All this caused delay, but such things
will not likely occur again. The machine
has demonstrated its ability to run into the
city at least $50 tons of gravel per day,
equal to sixty or seventy ordinary wagon
loads. As already stated yesterdays trip
was intended simply as trial one, to de-
ternine how the machine and wagons
worked.
Among those present yesterday to wit
ness the operations of the road engine
were Captain Roberts. ]. F. Hill, President
Luhrs, of the Improvement Association,
A: Leonard, John Blair, D. A Lindley and
RECORD UNION reporter.
large number of teamsters had also
gathered at the gravel-pit TO see how things
worked. They have no particular affection
for the road engine, fearing that it will
lessen the demand for their teams, and
were not little pleased when the great
machine pulled and blowed and surged in
lis efforts to start the train from the gravel
pit In good-natured way they "chaffed"
those operating the machine
Take off five of the wagons" shouted
one.
Bet yer keg of beer yer don't get ter
town tonight said another.
'Haw gee! git up thereW
Take off yer engine an let me pull them
wagons out with my mules %
These and similar calculations were
hurled good-humoredly at the captain of
the motor by the crowd assembled on the
bank overlooking the pit wherein the train
was stalled, but they were taken in good
part.
Captain Roberts and Mr. Doan say thev
are well pleased with their trial trip, and
have no doubt whatever of the successful
working of the road engine in hauling
large gravel trains
1t would be well for persons accustomed
TO driving about the city, especially women
and children, to avoid meeting the road
engine on its trips through the city, as
some horses are frightened by it when in
close quarters. When it begins its regular
trips to anc from the gravel-pit the route
Will be published for the benefit of those
driving nervous and timid horses.
Persons living in the country, wao have
been accustomed to travelling out the J.
street road to Brighton Junction, should
hereafter take the M-street road. In due
course OF time horses will perhaps become
accustomed to the uncouth monster and
pay no heed to it, but at first are apt to be
frightened.
The teamsters say that if the road engine
proves success they cannot compete with
1t in hauling gravel, and that other street
contractors cannot compete with the Citi-
zens' Company in bidding for contracts.
This, If true, means that in future streets
can be inn roved at much less cost to the
property-owners than at present. And
that is the main point in view If the
streets were not graveled at all-and past
experience has shown that the great ex-
pense thereof operated as barrier to street
improvement-then these same teamsters
wo1ld have no gravel to haul.
On the other hand, the success of the
Citizens Company means the ordering
up and improvement of streets on large
scale. This will greatly increase the de-
mand for teams to haul away the surplus
earth to make room for the gravel, and those
now employed in hauling gravel will have
all they can do on the streets. Such, at
least, is the argument advanced by the
Directors of the Citizens Company, and it
is apparently sound one. They are de-
sirous of seeing all the city teamsters en-
ployed, and believe that the success of the
Street improvement Company will entail
an increased demand for teams.