The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-03-01
FARMERS INSTITUTES AND ROADS,

The Farmers Institute is to hold n
session here to-day-and these institutes
move in right direction and ought to
prove exceedingly valuable-and one OF
the subjects to be discussed is rural postal
delivery. AS a matter of necessity such
consideration must embrace the whole
subject of good roads. The farmer organ
izations could do no better work now.
and for long time to come, than to de-
clare for the good-road agitation that is
now active throughout all the East
In this State we are behind wofuIlv in
this matter. We recognize that condi-
lions here are peculiar; that we have an
enormous territory; that while a good
road law could be made applicable to
valleys and foothills, in mountain conn
ties the same law might work hardships.
But this is no reason why we should not
study the subject and a bill to aid that
inquiry is now before the Legislature.
and should pass.
The bill gives the Surveyor General
power and makes it his duty, through the
instrumentality of County Surveyors. to
gather all the data of conditions, needs
and results, economic and otherwise. of
our present system. This is to be done
without cost to the State. When he has
gathered all the essential facts relative to
each county, in committee with two other
State officers, concise statement is to be
made by them, conclusions reached. and
comparisons made with facts and systems
elsewhere obtaining, and this will include
such information as the good-road ex-
hibition at the Worlds Fair will give.
The whole will then go to the Governor.
who will refer the report, or so much of it
as he sees fit, to the next Legislature.
We apprehend that the result of this
data gathering will be found in some
such conclusions as these. l. That our
roads are mostly too wide; that they are
with slight exception constructed accord
ing to now elsewhere abandoned and I'M
economic methods. 2. That more than
one-half the tax laid upon farming lands
Tor road purposes is practically wasted.
). That under proper system, compre-
hensive and according to the best experi-
ence, good, permanent roads can be con-
structed in California for three-fourtbs
the present cost, and maintenance had for
one-third present cost: 4. That under q
proper system saving of millions can he
effected to rural and towns peonle in
1essened distances by reason of more
rapid transit; in capacity of teams to baul.
lin lessened wear and tear upon vehicles
and horsetiesh; in lessened cost of franc
portation all around. 3. That a nronar
system will greatly enhance land values
and better the markets by renderino
them more timely accessible. 6 That
rural life will be made more desirable and
town trade more prosperous. :. That =
road system should be uniform in the
burden of construction and maintenance
since all people are equally interested in
it. s. That the present district and patch
work system is bad, because it is not
uniform upon any line of road. lacks
comprehensiveness, excludes the use of
the best road-making machinery. and the
utilization of the best skill in road-mak-
ing.
If farmers institutes will take I'D and
discuss these subjects, they will do an
immense good. For that even the best
road-making communities in this State
are ill-informed upon good road construc-
ton. may be stated without sensible peo-
pie taking any offense. The proof is
found in present conditions, compared
with the fact that in Sacramento County.
in ten years, we have expended nearly
$500, 900 on roads alone; that in Sonoma
County S35O,OO0 has been spent upon
roads alone in five years, but in both
combined there is not $4,000 worth of
roadways, such as the science of road
making demands.
What we need is a system under which
The whole people contribute to construc-
ton of main or trunk roads, leaving the
cross or tributary roads to district juris-