Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-28
RURAL IMPROVEMENT.
A PROGRESSIVE UNDERTAKING IN
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY.
The Ten-Biock System for the Number
ing of Country Homes-Guide
Boards and Distances.
LErom the Pacific Rural Press. /


some of the more progressive citizens of
Contra Costa county have been holding
meetings in several of the school districts
for the combined purpose Of selecting
pleasing names for the entire system OF
roads of the county and securing the meas
uring of the roads, the numbering of the
residences according to the Textbook sys-
TEN, and the erecting of guide-boards at
all the crossings and functions. j
Eight or ten meetings have taken place,
and two more are arranged for, after which
perfecting and finishing committee is to
take charge of the movement, and after
making it systematic and harmonious
whole, present it to the Board of Super
visors for their action.
1t may be interesting and useful to other
communities contemplating similar move
ments to know the progress which has
been made by Contra Costa and the situa-
ton at the present time; also the princi-
plies which have governed some parts of
the work which is being done.
The first meetings we're held at the
school-house in one of the interior dis
tricts. The afternoon was rainy, and but
few were present, several of whom were
ladies. But they were earnest and inter
ested in the work. and a commencement
was made. A report was sent to the
county papers and to other school districts,
and another meeting was called for two
weeks later. After two meetings in the
country school-house, this series of meet
ings moved from one town to another and
finally reached the county seat. Other
meetings were held in distant parts of the
county and one in San Francisco during
the same time. The ladies have kept up
their interest during the entire progress of
the work. The County Surveyor was re-
quested by resolution to prepare a de-
scrip;ive list of the roads of the county
for use in the work. This he did promptly
The county press has been ready and will
ing with their assistance, but most of the
people were occupied with other thoughts,
and their interest in the movement de-
veloped slowly. But those who interested
themselves in it from the first realized
that the unknown quantity figured largely
in the undertaking and they determined
to stay by the proposition, and now they
confidently expect to secure very salts
factory results.
SELECTING NAMES FOR COUNTRY ROADS.
In this work it is perhaps even more
important to avoid and discard with good
taste and judgment than it is to make Sc
lections carefully. The selection of d few
Objectionable names would mar the SYM
metry of the whole and be a constant
source of irritation for years afterward to
person of fine sensibilities. The names
which If not particularly good are at least
not Objectionable are almost endless. The
two important things which have been
avoided are naming the roads for a resi-
dent or the name of farm or residence
upon it. 1t would hardly be satisfactory
to those whose names were not selected.
Also to avoid giving the road the name of
either OF its termini. While such name
would be appropriate when travelling the
road in one direction, it would not be
equally SO if going in the opposite one.
The first place to search for names is
among the legends, historical associations,
landscape features, botanical features, etc.
of the locality. In most counties there
would probably be more roads than names
of this class could be found which would
be applicable to them, and it would be-
come necessary to look elsewhere to supply
the deficiency. They may be found
among the patriotic and sentimental, as is
done in France, using such words as re-
public, democracy, people, commonwealth
American, national, liberty, independence,
etc. Names of national personages, prom
inent people in any walk of life, authors,
mus 'ans, educators, jurists, Indian and
mythogical names, naval vessels, famous
hors..- localities, the special industry of
the sd, might be drawn upon with pro-
priet,
liz tontra Costa there is quite foreign
population, and foreign names are used in
some cases. The word "road" is not inya-
rIably used, but other equivalents are sub
stltuted, so as to give a pleasing variety.
Highway, road, route, way. crossing, drive,
local flor local road having no outlet,
connex for a short road, useful mostly
to connect other more prominent roads,,
all are used with appropriate adjectiyes.
NAMES SELECTED.
The following are some of the names
selected
"Contra Costa Highway" for the road
leading from the county seat south, com
pleteiy through the county. 1t is the
only name in which the word highway is
used; and it will be Familiarity known as
the highway"
"Alhambra Way" for the road from
Martinez TO Pinole, through the cele-
brated Alhambra valley.
Rio VISTA" river view, for the road
along the bluff over the river west of Mar
tinez.
Mountain Drive" for the road leading
TO the summit of Mt Diablo.
"Camino Diablo," for the road around
tie base of Mt Diablo.
Golden Gate Way" for the road west
from the town of Walnut Creek to the
ridge overlooking San Francisco and the
Golden Gate. Alameda will be asked to
continue this name farther, possibly to the
bay, opposite the Golden Gate
Via Concordia" for a road near the
town of Concord.
Concord Lateral for road extending
out of the town of Concord, like the lateral
branches of tree.
"Pacheco Landing Local" for the local
road to the landing of that name.
"Willow Pass Road" for the road
through the pass, and extending in either
direction.
Lime Ridge Crossing for the road
over the ridge and connecting two other
roads.
walnut Way for aroad in the vicinity
of the town of Walnut Creek, along por-
ton of the upper part of Walnut creek, in
which locality are numerous native Cali
fornia walnut trees.
Other names are Granville Way 'Ig-
nacio Vista" Starr King Wav,"'s'White
Oak Road, "Yia Dante" Gamma Cana.
da, Z Stanley Road ~Esperanza Drive. y
E'Kit Carson Road" aCastro Connex.n
"Zig Tag Route Via Roma"
THE TEN-BLoCK SYSTEM.
On account Of the close proximity to