The record-union., 1893-06-09
IT NOW APPROVES
What Good Work in Sonoma Resulted
In in the Matter of Roads.
LSanfa Rosa narrnnn,.af

0OOO w OFk III SOnOma hGSuILOQ
In In the Matter of Roads.
Santa Rosa Democrat
The RECoRD-UNIoN is real earnest on
the road convention question, and the
more we think of it the better we like the
idea. 1t cannot fail to be useful in draw
ing attention TO the important subject and
IN suggestions as to the ways and means
In the several counties of the State in the
matter of road improvement. This would
help any local plan Of operation that
might be agreed upon for special counties.
Sonoma County is somewhat different
from many OF the other counties of the
State. 1t has very large roll of assess
able wealth, and under the law author
lZlng general road tax levy could raise
sufficient money in four or five years to
nacadamiZe the main roads without GO
ing INTO debt. There are about 1000 miles
OF road i'll the county, of which about 100
miles can be called main roads, and ii
thoroughly thrown up, drained and mac
adamized would afford an outlet from all
parts oil the county To all its leading towns
and centerS of population. For instance,
a road from Santa Rosa to Petaluma,
! thence TO Sonoma and thence up the So
mona Valley to Santa Rosa, would be a
belt road OF fifty miles, which would ac-
commodate great number OF people and
afford an outlet for hundreds OF miles OF
neighborhood roads. q, 1t would inciose IN
lis circuit one of the choicest portions of
the State. Another road OF thirty miles
from Santa Rosa to Cloverdale, and a road
from Santa Rosa 10 the coast, would make
an outlet for the remaining tributary
roads in the county.
II these roads were built the county
would be traversed by a good road from
north to south and from east to west,
which would make good outlet for ali
the tributary roads. The tributary roads
would in the meantime be improved by
the district money which as usual would
be appropriated to that purpose. The
existence Of baSalt rock in this county is
an advantage in road building. Through
Sonoma Valley III the many rock quar-
rles there Is already at convenient dis
lance sufficient broken rock to ma adanl-
iZe that part of the road. In other paris
OF the county where gravel could not be
had the cheapest material would be the
country rock broken for the purpose,
which, it is admitted, makes a better and
harder surface than any other material.
If the main roads which are the basis of
the system were built alter the plan pro-
posed, the side roads would soon be inn
proved in like manner, for there is moth
ing so forclble as good example. One
we'll built, well-drained and thoroughly
macadaniized road would be worth its
cost as an exhibit of the saving in good
roads.
One of the worst pieces OF road in this
county was strip below the old Stock ton
place on the Laguna road. 1t was clay
soil, always wet, and a perpetual bill OF
expense. When Robert Crane was SUI
pervisor, Road Overseer Russell was au-
thoriZed to thoroughly grade and gravel
the road for a distance Of about three
quarters OF a mile. 1t was thoroughly
graded, ditched on each side, and gray
eled, at an expense OF 800, the gravel be-
ing reasonably convenient. This was in
1880. Thirteen years have elapsed, and
there has not been ten dollars spent on it
since, though under the wear and tear OF
constantly increasing travel. 1t has
been in good condition at all times and
seasons.
1t is a standing example of the econ
omy OF good work once Tor all. Ii only
tive or ten miles year are built, let it be
we'll done and ended. 4 little in each
township each year will soon connect the
whole county by good system of main
roads. 1t is idle TO throw away another
million of dollars and then have no roads.
Now, as TO the cost, levy of two mills
on the 800 of property valuation for four
years would build the main roads herein
recommended. 1t would cost a man
worth 81, 900 about s. year for four years.
and higher assessments i'll proportion. 1t
would add hundreds of dollars to the
value OF farms and town property, and
when the work was done it would be paid
for. No bonds and no interest. 1t might
be done for S2O0,0 all told, and it would
add S2,OOO,OJO the wealth of the county.