Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-14
TURNPIKES WANTED.
A MEETING OF CITIZENS IN THE
INTEREST OF GOOD ROADS.
An Association to Be Formed for the Pur-
pose of Improving and Beautifs ing
Highways.

&4ikuWdySs
A meeting of prominent citizens was
held yesterday at the chamber OF com
merce rooms in accordance with call
issued some days ago by the following
gentlemen: E. p. Johnson, f. A. For
rester, George r. Shatto, E. F. Spence,
II. Sinsabaugh. D. w. Field, o. w.
Baldwin, E. w. Jones, DIR. John L.
Davis, W. H. Workman, Cornelius Cole,
George II. Bonebrake, DIR. M. Hagan,
G. J. Denis, Charles J. Ellis, Charles
Cassat Davis, J. M. Quinn, G. M. Wells,
L. j. Carran.
Senator Cole, who was unanimously
chosen chairman, announced the object
OF the gathering to be the formation of
the Los Angeles County Highway and
Forestry association.
Mr.. Wells said that the idea was orig
mated by E. A. Forester, but as that
gentlemen was too bashful, he would ex-
plain that the measure under considera-
ton was a most important one. 1t in
volved the adornment of highways with
trees, and the improvement of roads.
| The picture was drawn of what could be
done, by making broad, smooth high
ways through the county, lined with the
splendid vegetation peculiar to Southern
California. The question in general is.
shall the citizens organize for the pur-
pose OF identifying the city, the streets.
| and the woods through the county. This
cannot be done by individual effort, but
requires combined effort. Mr.. Wells ad-
vocated the bringing of the roads and
streets under the same improving meas
ures used to beautify the parks. This
city, he thought, would in short time
be the greatest tourist city in the world.
and it should be beautified accordingly.
Major Bonsall, at Mr.. Forrester's re-
quest for his views, said that he felt a
great interest in the improvement of the
highways, and their adornment. In
eastern states measures were under way
TOR the making OF permanent highways,
and the same should be looked after
here. A committee should go to Sacra-
mento with bill providing for the build
ing OF turnpikes on a scientific basis.
Here people ride all the year, while in
the east they only can use their roads
about half the time, yet Southern Cali
fOrnia in its roads is behind the rest of
the country.
Senator Cole said: "Tnis county is
noted for bad roads, in spite of the
heavy taxes paid for thirty years past.
OF my own knowledge 1 know of old pub
lie roads being closed SO that people
could get paid by the county for opening
them again. The road laws should be
amended by getting our representatives
to see that the necessary reforms are
made. That is why this association
should be formed.
There is no decent road in this coun-
ty leading to this city. It il high time
that this subject should be considered.
No matter is of more Importance to this
community than good public roads,"
Mr.. Whitcomb, of Glendora, said that
the roads had been somewhat bettered
during the past few years, but still were
far from what they ought to be. He
had planted ahnnt 1000 trees hy the
roadside during the past year. He
thought that the construction of good
roads between centers of population was
most excellent measure, and was heart
lily in favor of the move.
On motion of Mr.. Wells it was decided
as the sense OF the meeting that the Los
Angeles County Highway and Forestry
association should be organized.
w. U. Masters OF Pasadena, repre-
senting Mayor Lukens of that city, said
that If the association was formed as a
county society for improving county
highways, with the accent on the county.
ne would promise the support of Pasa-
dena people, but that the outside peo-
pie were only indirectly interested in
the improvement of.the city.
Mr.. Forester explained that the verv
point was the improvement of county
roads, and that the benefits of the or
ganization were to extend to all parts of
the county.
A committee, consisting of Supervisor
Forester, Mr.. G. M. Wells, John w.
Cook of Glendora, Mayor T, p. Lukens
OF Pasadena, and Senator Cele, was ap-
pointed 70 arrange for organization. A
meeting was called for Tuesday after
noon next, at 2 O'Clock, at the chamber
of commerce rooms.
Mr.. Crow of Riverside moved that
representatives from all parts of the
county be invited to attend the next
meeting, which action was unanimously
sustained, and the meeting adjourned.
An Tvraa.r-<..a