The record-union., 1893-09-09
STATE ROAD CONVENTION.
Second Day and Last-The Conyen-
ti0n a Success.
1t Resolves on a PoIicy-It Provides for
Its Future-It Sets in Motion
Good Road Agitation.

Mr.. Plunkett. in behalf of c. a. Wet
more, presented a paper on Road Pro-
motion" which was read. 1t asked for
national bureau for education on the SUBJ
jects of road construction and mainte-
nance; also for preparation of Road En-
gineers; also that in counties road build
ing should be by local authority, under
supervision of Board of State Engi-
neers; also for issue Of a national cur
rency to be used for road purposes, irri-
CATION OF arid land, etc. Several other
financial propositions were set forth. Be
fore the reading was completed the con-
vention ordered the paper laid on the
table as being too financially involved
for consideration at this time.
Professor Emory L. Smith of Palo Alto
presented resolution creating an Edu-
catiOnal Committee consisting Of j. A.
WOodson and two engineers to ascer-
tain the literature Of good roads and in
form delegates Of it and to devise means
to disseminate information upon road re-
form. Professor Smith read brief paper
on the importance of such information
being disseminated. The resolution pre-
vailed.
Mr.. Eager of Solano moved that the
proceedings and all papers introduced
and statistics gathered for it be printed
1or distribution. The motion was lost.
Mr.. Miller of Sacramento moved that
each Board Of Supervisors be asked to
contribute its share to the fund to COM
pletea and print and distribute the literature
provided for in MIR. Smiths resolution.
1t was amended to request the delegates
to present the proposition TO their super
yisOrs.
1t was finally resolved to postpone the
matter until the Committee on Resolu-
tions was heard from.
The Committee on Resolutions pre-
sented its report:
1. faVorlng engineering supervision of
roads i'll each county, a state Road Bu-
reau or Commission, to advise and direct
road constructions that chief roads should
be built by the State.
2. That each county should have en-
gjneering supervision of roads.
}. That the question of bonds for road
construction be deemed local and not a
subject for the conventions.
l. That broad tire system be advised
according to weight carried.
.. That the contract system for main
tenance Of county roads is wise and
should be encouraged.
g. That the ten block system of num-
bering roads be approved.
7. That the League of Wheelmen should
DE thanked for its warfare against bad
roads.
s. That chief roads should be general
charges upon the whole county and road
districts should be abolished,
9. That sprinkling OF roads is essential
70 their preservation.
10. That the convention consider in
what portion of the State, if any, the new
road law Is satisfactory.
H. That management of public roads
should be taken out Of local politics.
II. That an Executive Committee be
chosen to prepare road bill for the next
Legislature, in accordance with the sup-
gesuons OF the convention. Such bill to
bo submitted to the next convention
SAID committee to organize a plan of ac-
tlcn, collect statistics and devise methods
Tor construction, Improvement and MAIN
tenance Of public roads in the State
The proposition for a State Road Com
mission was first taken up and debated.
Mr.. Flanagan and Mr.. Vann opposed
any state Commission. Mrs. Reed
thought the people equal to building good
roads if once educated on the subject.
Mr.. Ostrander Of MERGED moved to
strike out all referring to a Governors
Commission.
Mr.. Green of Colusa moved as a SUBJ
stitute to request the Legislature to pass a
general road law giving the Supervisors
1ull power to make road regulations. He
explained his substitute at length-that
Is to let Supervisors legislate for each
county fully as to roads.
Mr.. Linscott OF Santa Cruz said that the
Supervisors can now create their own
Road Commission.
The whole matter was laid on the table.
on motion of Price of Butte, to hear the
report further, on the ground that the
SUBJECT was covered by another section of
the report.
The proposition that chief highways
should be maintained by the State was
tabled.
The bond question was then taken mn
and MIR. kilcher of Placer opposed shV-
ing at IL; the convention should say yes
or no on the question, and not dodge and
declare 1t local question. The BODY
ought to have courage to speak out for or
against. lie moved as a substitute the
resolution of yesterday offered by dele
gate from Sacramento, that it is the sense
Oi the convention that it is more econ
omical to borrow for good roads on lono
time than to suffer annual taxation for
long time for present ones"
MI yobe OF Tehama thoughtthat would
mean dlsrespect to the committee.
MIR. Hoag OF san Bernardino earnestly
advocated the bond system, the use Of
capital for hire, and cited Southern Cali
fornia's experience as evidence of the
wisdom of borrowing.
Mr. Nann of Colusa opposed bonds
ana wanted the convention to leave the
bond issue to the counties, the people of
W which are competent to judge for them
selves.
Mr.. Plunkett of Alameda opposed the
substitute, and thought the bond matter
should be left to the counties.
Woodson of Sacramento said it wac
error to suppose the convention was called
to learn how to build good roads; that il
an engineering proposition and matter
OF study; the convention is called to con-
slider ways and means. and to suprest
ideas and educate public intellirence on
the road question.
MIR. Johnston of Sacramento wanted
the question discussed. He said the dele
gates were not afraid to debate it. as the
morning paper had said they WERE
The question was on the resuscitation of
the resolution moved by Mr.. FIlcher. 1t
was lost, and the committee resolution or
proposition was adopted.
The ten block system of Contra Costa
OF numbering roads, as proposed by the
committee, was taken up.
Mr. Hussey of Alameda felt some dis
appointment that, after the Committee of
Fromotion had labored so hard to erect
the convention, that the body had not
taken hold of some of the questions with
greater ylgor and courage as to good-road
systems. He favored the Contra Costa
road-num berlng system. Under il roads
are named and numbered according to a
system that enables any spot to be found
on a road, and its mileage to be ascer-
teiAeH, JUst as house number is found
IN city. The numbers are according to
blocks of one-tenth OF a mile each or 5sS
feet. On the right even numbers. on the
lett the odu numbers are placed.
Mr.. Mccullough of San Francisco said
anyone couIu go easily III Sacramento to
any point because of the numbers of
streets one way and letters another. and