The record-union., 1893-10-18

be considered here, and some limit must
be set to amount. We should take $780,
600 and go ahead. The city will also be
benefited by it and is in favor of it.
BUILD TO THE COUNTY LINE.
Mr.. Hamilton favored building the
main roads to the county line, in order
that residents who pay an equal share OF
taxes with those here can have the en-
joyment of good roads also.
G. B. KatZenStein pictured the DEMENT'S
from good roads and said money could
be got for per cent. and we ought not to
waste time.
SHOULD EXPEND IT WISELY.
Mrs. Jones thought most of the Opposi-
ton arose from the idea that the money
would be unwisely expended as in the
past, or that there might be some jobbery
III 1t. She thought the graveled roads
were as good as the city streets. If the
money were expended under the direc-
tion of competent engineers it would be
all right. The guarantee Of judicious eX-
penditure is one of the main points at
issue, and the people were anxious that
it should be carefully used.
A delegate stated that the Supervisors
of Kern County pledged themselves to
consult an Executive Committee and
competent engineer, and to employ none
but Kern County people in the construc-
ton of the roads, and that carried the
measure.
SATISFIED WITH DIRT ROADS.
J, A. Simons would like to ask whether
in the past four years the work done with
road graders by the farmers had not
given satisfaction. He had been dis
satisfied with the roads in the past, but
was not now. The farmer was short
sighted who did not see that it was giving
him good roads. The worst roads are
near the city. The road tax will remain.
but he believed it would be made less by
the present practice. He might like
macadamized roads, but they were too
expensive. He did not want graveled
roads-dirt roads graded up were good
enough.
NEED TO BE ENLIGHTENED.
w. NJ. Sims thought if we hung back
for fear the Supervisors would expend
the money injudiciously we should
do both the present and future
the people to be benefited need to be en-
lightened as to their own interests by
outsiders. He wished the farmers to re-
member that under the bond system they
would build sixty miles of permanent
road by contract. Road built half mile
or a mile at a time cannot be built as
cheaply as large number of miles, and
Supervisors would have competent en-
gineers figure on cost and would adver-
tiSe for bids, and everyone would know
what was being done. All large work, by
law, must be done by contract, open
and above board, and the people can
scrutinize every step and see that all is
straight. There need be no fear that the
Board of Supervisors will not respect the
wishes Of the people and Of their COM
mittee.
SOME OPPONENTS LEFT.
J. W. Wilson said that seven or eight
years ago a proposition to bond the
county for $I50000 and build good roads
was before the Board of Supervisors, and
the people from the country put on their
war-paint and came in to see about it, and
the board backed down. For the past six
months the subject of good roads had
been agitated again, and he was sorry to
see that some of the old opponents OF the
plan were here still. The work would go
on, however, and the county is bound TO
have the roads.
f. r. Dray stated that the law says the
work must be done by contract, and it
will have to be so done. There is no other
way to do It,
WANTS GOOD ROADS.
Gillis Doty was not opposed to bonds.
He said the residents Of Elk Grove had
built three miles of good, hard road, six
teen feet wide, and graveled at fifty cents
wanted good roads. The people want
good roads to Gait. Elk Grove and other
small towns to build them up. They
want to take their produce to the winer-
les and to ship from the small towns.
They will never consent to build roads
twelve miles out from the city and stop
there. Let it be understood that the
money is to be expended in the whole
county where most needed-tairly and
Squarely-and there will be no trouble.
DR.. Mckee said it cost SO, 900 to gravel
the three miles of road, and it made it as
good as any in Santa Clara County. The
country people were not in favor of
macadamizing twelve-mile stretches OF
road.
A LEVEL-HEADED LADY.
Mrs. Shields said that the sentiment of
the people along the American River was
in favor of good roads. Let us have good
roads, and bond, if necessary, to get them.
They will improve our comfort, improve
our property and improve our pockets.
SANTA CLARA's ADVANTAGES.
Supervisor Jenkins stated that dirt
roads can be graded for 500 per mile.
Santa Clara County has great advantages
in road building. 1t lies between two
mountain ranges, with rivers bringing
down heavy material TO make ROADS from,
and the winter rains constantly renew the
supply. We have little good road al
Elk Grove and some spots at other places.
The best material is at Elk Grove. The
bills paid by the county for the three
miles there was s., 400. and the citizens
contributed nearly as much more. At
the Florin corner the road was graveled
six years ago, and demonstrated the fact
that coat of gravel on a good roadbed
will make good roads. Santa Clara raises
a large road tax. This year it is $4,000.
Mr.. Woodson said that the Chairman of
the Board of Supervisors from that county
told him at the State Road Convention
that the assessment roll of the country III
that county had grown from Sl0,000.000
to S34, ,0000 900, on account of the improve
ment in the roads and public spirit there.
THE CITY PAYS HALF.
G.. w. Hancock thought the question
was direct tax or bonds. There is not
money enough for a tax. Sacramento
was generous in offering to take on her.
self half the cost and yet some farmers
object. 1t seemed as if they'd rather pay
ali the cost OF maintaining their roads
than divide it with the city. He owned
property in both city and county, and
was interested in this question of good
roads. 1t is a question of having them
now, or never having them.
LET OUR CHILDREN PAY.
Mayor B. Z. Steinman said he also
owned property in the country as well as