Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-07-01
OPEN THE GATE.

Our neighbors in Amador complain bit
Hterly, that, after having gone to great ex-
pense in building a fine road to our border,
that they might come into our market to
trade with US, we have fenced them off 1t
the boundary line, and compelled them to
go long way around to get into the
county. Their complaint, as published in
yesterdays REcoRD-UNIoN, presents a
strong case. The reports of the matter
from day to day as discussed in the Board
of Supervisors and published in these col
umns, have disclosed most uneconomic
spirit in the local administration.
There are no more effectual methods for
killing off town than to breed silurians
and fence in the place by closing roads
The first induces ossifcation of public
spirit; the second process sets up an ex-
clusiveness that hurts no one SO much as
the people guilty of it, Roads, and plenty
of them, and good ones, too, leading into
the agricultural section, are the roots and
sap-feeders of a market town. Cut them
off, and the tree will die. No narrow
policy should direct our administrators in
answering to the demands made for good
and direct roads. When we stand and
bicker over the technicalities of opening a
road mile or two long, that will, if open
pour fine stream of trade into the county
we manifest suicidal policy, and we prac
tically say to those who wish to be oul
customers: "We do not want you to trade
with u.s."
We do not care rush for the two-penny
objections raised to opening the road
They cut the smallest figure in the case.
Whether it is case of the closing of a
dedicated road, or whether the people
closing it have right to do so, is matter
of slightest consequence. 1t is enough to
know that the people of broad, wealthy
and populous section of a neighboring
county want free passage-way over the
shortest route into our county, in order to
market their produce here and buy their
supplies of our merchants. Wise economy
dictates, therefore, the opening of the
mile or so of road, even if we have to
buy off the claimants who have shut it up
with gates. Certainly there is evidence suf-
ficient concerning the many years use of
the road to make strong presumption in
favor OF the, county, and therefore the issue
can be settled at cost-if settlement is
best-that is pitifully small compared to
the benefits the road will bestow upon the
commerce of the county. 1t may be that
the case in favor of the county is strong
enough to justify legal battle; but how
ever this may be, all such stone walls as
closed roads over routes demanded by
trade should be broken from the founda-
ton up and clear way made for the in
coming of business.
1t is intimated-we do not know with
how much of justice-that non-action in
favor of opening the road referred to by
the Amador people, is due to political
fear; that is, the Supervisors fear the
vengeance of the road-closers might be
melted out at the ballot-box. We would
prefer to think, and shall believe until
1t is better established to the contrary, that
the Supervisors are misled, or that they
hesitate upon the issue of right or wrong
In the law. But however that may be, we
do know that if the Amador people want
road into the county more direct thar
they now have, and have done their share
In securing such road, Sacramento county
cuts Its own throat, so far as Amador trade
is concerned, when it says ego about the
long way or stay OUT In all such cases
the traders will stay out. They will seek
another and nearer market place, which
will be built up at the expense of the place
that refuses to open the gate when the
man with money to buy knocks for ad
mission. 1t is simple justice to record that
in the action had in the Board of Super
visors on the subject matter, Messrs. Teb
bets and Black voted for the opening O.
the road in question