The record-union., 1893-08-18
ROAD LAWS.
The New York Systom and the Cali
fOrnia Compared.
rSanta Rosa Democrat.

TSanta Rosa Democrat
Last winter. after the meeting of the
Legislature. four or five citizens Of Santa
Rosa met for the purpose Of discussing
the question of good roads, and Of recon-
mending to the Legislature then in ses-
sion any changes i'll the law that it might
suggest. At that meeting plan was
proposed for a general road tax on all
the property OF the county, to be ex-
pended on the main county roads, leav
ing the district tax money to pe ex-
pended, as now, on neghboring roads
connecting with the main highways,
which were to be improved at the cost
Of the general road tax.
The members of the Legislature from
SonOma County were consulted, and Sen
ator Ragsdale and Assemblymen Drees
and Sims actively interested themselves,
and succeeded in getting into the law
the authorization OF the levy OF such
general road tax 70 be used on the main
county roads, as designated by the Super
Visors, leaving the district money as
heretofore collected, to be used on the
district or neighborhood roads. This
law is now in force. and under its pro-
visions the main roads can be gradually
improved at the expense OF the whole
county, while the district or neighbOr-
hood roads can be kept up and improved
by the district money. Under this sys-
TEN all the roads i'm the county can be
improved and gradually brought up to
the standard without going into debt, a
portion of the main roads being inn
proved each year until the whole field is
covered.
IL happened while this change in the
law was making in Sacramento that the
Legislature in New y ork was also formu-
lating new road law. We are indebted
TO County Surveyor Davis for a copy OF
the Highway Manual of New \ ork, !"
Q 1 IL "a.
ture OF that state, published in Albany,
and fresh from the press. We note with
interest that the plan adopted by the New
| York Legislature, after full discussion
of the subject, in all the light that could
be thrown upon il by the deep interest in
better roads now sweeping like a wave
over the Eastern States, embodies the
identical principle and method as pro-
posed by the little coterie of interested
/ iaymen who met in January last in this
city to discuss plans for road improve
ment.
Under the improved New York road
law of log3 Boards of Supervisors are
authorized to designate certain roads in
each county as main or county roads
which must be Leading market roads,
running III all directions through the
/ county. reaching from the productive
! farming communities TO the point where
market can be secured or a shipment
made. This designation not to include
the cross roads which connect leading
roads, but only those roads most useful
TO the people tor general travel. Under
this law funds are provided to improve
the Leading tnoroughfares, leaving the
! cross or neighborhoOd roads to be worked
in the ordinary way, out Of the district
! fund.
/ This system, it is coutended, avoids the
, objection to National or State control OF
roads; IL recognizes home control in the
amount OF money to be expended and the
method of Its expenditure, which is
wholly with the Supervisors, who are
/ close to and have quick responsibility
To the people. They are taxed for the i'm
/ provement, and can change the taxing Of
| ncers if the power to tax IS abused or the