Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-29
STREET GRADING.
SOME SUGGESTIONS REGARDING THE
CITIZENS COMPANY.
Its Requirements in the wav of Capital
Advantages Possessed over Pri-
yate Contractors.

Evidently there is no likelihood of thu
gentlemen who conceived the idea of form
ing citizens street grading company al
lowing the enterprise to be stillborn. The
more the subject has been discussed and
considered, the more feasible does the plan
seem to be. The present season has dem.
onstrated in what an awful condition our
streets can be placed by prolonged rains
and while they are in that condition, pub.
lie sentiment is ripe for action. That the
proposition to have the streets all improved
by grading and graveling at less expense
than is now entailed by such work, is a
safe one, there remains no doubt. Com
petent engineers have given estimates that
show that good streets can be had at com
paratively low figure, if ell the people will
take hold and help along the proposed en-
terprise-some by taking stock in it, and
the others by placing no obstacles in the
company's way.
The company that it is proposed 10 or
ganize among citizens will need consider
able backing in the way of subscriptions to
its capital stock. In all probability stock
holders will not be called on for more than
one or two dollars out of each ten SUBJ
scribed, but the remainder would be there
ready for call, which would give the COM
pany good financial backing and standing.
The first assessment might be small, and
should be spent in examining into the
plans before the company. 1t will cost
time and money to get figures on tram
ways, steam wagons, gravel-pits, steam
shoyels, etc. Surveys could be made along
the proposed lines of street work, and after
the company gets all its figures, so that it
can estimate approximately as to what the
cost Of grading will be, proposition can
be submitted to the Trustees that they will
grade street at certain figures and will
agree that if the Trustees order this street
improved they will have bid in at or
below these figures when the time comes
for bidding. Private contractors could not
afford TO give their figures away in advance
like this, but the public grading company
could, as it will be in business simply to
enable people to get work done at fair fig
ures and it would accomplish its task if it
caused other contractors to underbid it.
One great trouble heretofore has been
that when a street was ordered improved
people had no idea at what prices contracts
would be let, and to avoid the possibility
of choosing between high prices and doing
the work themselves, they have simply re-
monstrated.
If citizens generally, as they should,
would subscribe for stock, the company
would be popular, as no one would prob
ably subscribe so much as to cause them
enough anxiety as to profit and loss on
their investment. In other words, the
public would have confidence that the
company was not out for any great profit,
and would be satisfied with what would be
reasonable.
a large company could afford to buy
gravel pits, tramways, steam wagons, ETC.,
to an extent that would be impossiblein the
case of a private contractor. Whenever it
is found that property-holders have not the
ready means to improve their property this
company could advance the money or al
low the owner to pay on the installment
plan. Should it happen that the company
had not enough capital for such credit
might easily be organized, and there are
many citizens willing to put money into
such company and be satisfied to earn q
small interest.
1t may be that the company will find it
practicable to take contracts and sublet to
kther parties, to whom they might agree to
furnish grading material by means of their
tramway, steam wagons, or otherwise.
The following is a copy of the form of the
agreement prepared by Mr.. D. A. Lindley
to be signed by subscribers to the capital
stock of the proposed citizens grading COM
pany:
We, the undersigned, being DESTROYS of pro-
mo:ing the improvement of the streets of Sacra-
mento, hereby agree, one with the other to
subscribe for the number of shares set opposite
our resp active names, in a corporation formed
under the terms of. and complying with the
conditions herein set forth:
First-That a corporation be formed with
capital stock of not less than $4,000 nor more
than 100000 divided into shares of par value
of 500 each.
Second-Thst the business of said corporation
be that of grading, grayeling macadamizing
and paving streets or roads in Sacramento city
and in sacramento county; buying and selling
gravel, gravel pits, stone, stone quarries and
real estate, building and owning roads or tram
ways, wagons or other devices for the Transports
ton of material used in grading; borrowing or
loaning money for the improvement of streets;
doing all business incidental to improving and
streets, roads or sidewalks.
Third-That this shall not be binding until
subscriptions hereto shall have aggregated at
1nacf S1Q 20 NIT al CT