The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-15
THE ROADS.
Active Talk of Some of the State
Press
On the Road Question and the State
Road Convention Call for
September Next.

Colusa Gazette: The convention which
meets at Sacramento on September 1th,
to take into consideration the best meth
DDS of securing to the people the best
possible kind Of roads throughout the
State, will have duty to perform OF the
greatest importance to the farmer and
country producer generally. The Gazette
has always been an advocate of good
roads, and will steadily continue their adj
vocacy until the best roads that can be
made are available to our citizens. While
not expert in the matter of roads in gen
eraI, we do know that a Superstratum OF
gravel produces the most satisfactory
road surface, other conditions being
equal. That is, if good substratum is
laid and allowed to properly harden, by
the roller process or by any other method,
and gravel is then placed over all TO
sufficient depth, the best results may be
obtained and good road created. Gravel
appears to be deSideratum, and while it
may be difficult in some sections to pro-
cure this article, still deposits fare so
plentiful in creek bottoms and the beds of
old streams that arrangements could be
made for the transport Of sufficient
quantities at reasonable rates to sup
ply the demand. Colusa County is GER
tainly not badly off in the matter of
roads, but the eYer-recurrIng OVerlowS
in the bottom lands render regular sys-
TEN of road repair necessary. We hope
that the labors of the convention will be
in the interests OF better system for the
maintaining of good roads when created.
1t would seem to us that so important a
matter as this demands direct and intelli-
gent supervision at all times, and the APP
pointment Of paid Superintendent for
the State in general, with local inspectors,
would do much to insure an eXcellent
network of roads But the main question
of hafnra no &c ha
method of constructing good roads from
available material. Perhaps the finest
roads in the United States are the blue
limestone roads of Kentucky. Hard as
flint, smooth as billiard table and dur
able as the stone itself, they are not
equaled, certainly not eXcelled, by roads
anywhere. But while limestone is drug
IN kentucky it is not SO here, and where
available it is too valuable for mere road
purposes.
Bggs Argus: For many years the peo-
pie of Butte and other counties in the
northern portion of the State have been
wondering why it is that part OF Calitor-
MIA shows so little progress and remains
almost at a standstill, if not actually
retrograding. They have asked what
they must do to induce some of the
growth seen in this end of the State, and
have wondered and wondered in vain
why, with theirGnmistakable wealth of
natural resources, people give them the
go-by for other sections. The answer is
furnished in the resolutions passed at the
Oroville meeting opposing the bonding
scheme. There is no need to 90 step
further. When leading citizens put
themselves on record as opposed to i'm
provement of any kind, no matter how
badly it may be needed, then it is idle to
expect enterprising men in search of
homes or investments to locate in such
! backward communities. In refreshing
! contrast to the action OF Butte County is
that Of the people of Kern. Recognize
| ing that public improvements are neces-
! sites and that it is but Just to mort
gage the future for the sake of
the present, the people of this county
in mass meeting assembled decided that
the issuance of bonds was the proper
method of meeting the imperative de-
mand for roads and improvements.
This very action sets Kern County down
at once as an enterprising, tar-sighted
! community, desirable place for enter
| prising, energetic men, and the result is
foregone conclusion. New people are
| coming in almost every day, capital is
| being invested in substantial business
blocks and handsome residences, and
! this section is known all over the State as
one of the most enterpriSing and pro-
gressive in California. This is said in no
unfriendly spirit toward Butte County,
| which possesses natural advantages III
the greatest abundance. But so long as
the spirit evidenced i'll these resolutions
prevails, so long will there be an absence
ofdevelopment and growth of population.
| Sutter County Farmer: The Road Con-
vention to meet in Sacramento on Sep
! TENDER 9TH is bringing out much interest
/ in this all-impOrtant matter, and every
/ section of the State should see that it has
the proper representatives there to learn
! what they can for the benefit of the pub
/ lie on the road question. There is moth
| ing that is more important in any local
ity and which is used more if good or
complained more about il bad than roads.
This has been the bugbear to almost
every county in the State, and in pro-
| portion has cost more than any other
improvement, yet there is but small adj
vance made in the system so far. If there
is to be any good come Of the convention
let every county be represented and get
it, and we have no doubt that if the proper