The record-union., 1893-09-23
MISTAKEN CRITICS.

MISTAKEN CRITICS.
The Stockton Independent falls into the
error that a number of the press and
good many of the people interested in
the late Road Convention made, namely,
that the purpose OF the convention was to
instruct delegates in good road-making.
Let US inform the Independent and all
others who accept the error as verify that
neither in the call nor in the minds of the
callers of the convention, nor by any
one else, was any such purpose conten-
plated. 1t was the farthest possible re-
moved question from the scheme of the
gathering.
What earthly value would there have
been in floor Instructions how to build
good road? That is a matter concerning
which the literature of the subject is
library in itself. There is no issue in the
subject at all; the science or the art of
road construction is settled upon few
lines, differing only in methods as to
details. How could the Road Convention
have added to the literature or the in
formation of the subject except. perhaps,
in the discussion of the difference be-
tween natural conditions here and at the
East and in Europe?
When it comes to that, so great is the
extent of California territory, so varying
the conditions. geological, climatic. topo-
graphical and otherwise, that all such de-
bate must of necessity be confined to
counties, or districts, similar in topogra-
ply, supply of material, character of soil,
geological formation and so on.
No, the true purpose, let our contem-
porary understand, of the late Road Con-
vention was to promote popular educa-
ton upon the subject of the economy of
good roads as contrasted with bad roads;
to awaken a spirit Of inquiry concerning
our present uneconomic system; to ex-
pose to public view the fact that we are
wasting our substance so far as we apply
it to road building; to encourage the
study of the experience Of other States in
highway construction; to consider espe-
cially the question of ways and means;
of the division of the burdens of road
construction; the question whether we
should have a State, county or district
highway system.
The Independent complains that there
was one good road builder in the conven-
ton who had no opportunity to tell what
he knew about road construction. The
gentleman never presented himself as an
expert. But that he was not called out is
in itself the very best evidence that the
assembled delegates knew perfectly well
that neither they nor anyone else could
learn how to build good roads in two
easy lessons in one and half days; that
they knew the prime purpose of the
assembly to be to discuss ways and
means, not the placing of substructures
and the grading, surfacing and draining
of roads. All that will be in order when
the great body of the public, and notably
the farmers of the State, are enlightened
upon the other great question, that good
roads are cheaper than poor ones, and
when they shall have agreed that main
highways ought to be constructed at the
general and not at agricultural cost alone;
when they are of one mind as to the best
financial methods to be pursued to raise
the means to build roads: when they are
settled upon a common judgment as to
what the road laws OF the State should be;
whether it is wiser to attempt to fit the
feet of all the counties into one size o
shoes, or to bring local self-government
so much closer to the people that those of
each county may be free to legislate on
road questions as their need requires.
No, the Road Convention did well; it
resolved upon three lines of general pol
icy that are distinct and great advances.
1t started the educational agitation and
laid out clear plans for its continuance,
and that was enough and far more than
was expected. The Independents idea
seems to be that there should have been
little or no debate, but that the body
should have resolved itself into school,
with certain roadbuilders as teachers,
who should have talked at the conven-
ton. which should then have resolved,
for instance, that macadam road is bet
ter than a Telford; that forty-foot road
is better than a sixty-foot track; that
stone set on edge is stronger than one
laid upon its side; that three round stones
will not make a wedge, etc. Had the
convention done such useless work as
that. it would have been valueless to the
State. The regret is that such journals as
the Independent are so quick to criticise
q new movement so freely and condemn
that of which they have not accurate
knowledge.
AS TO NEWSPAPERS.
Charming ". Huntington in the Social