The record-union., 1893-08-05
THE TRUE PURPOSE.

The Oakland Morning. Times publishes
the call for the State Road Convention of
September 7th quite in full. and editori-
ally gives it it's warm Endorsement, say
ing that it holds it to be one of the most
important conventions ever asked for in
this State. 1t adds that the agitation for
better roads is prevalent throughout the
United States, but nowhere is the neces-
sity for it greater than in California
This Endorsement and criticism is all
the more important, since it comes from
a representative journal of a county that
has better roads than any other in the
State with perhaps a single exception,
and we are not sure that any exception
should be made. The Times, referring to
that matter itself, says:
Alameda County should be well represented
IN ms convention our roads are neither
very BAD nor supereXcellent. but under proper
ana s5 5stematic manipulation they could be
readily made the best in California. Alameda
county should be famous tor its drives. We
should not be content with merely good
roads, but they should he of such quality that
IneIr use would be IL comfort and q pleasure
as wei as necessity. We are favored to a
greater extent Inan any other section OF the
State with picturesque and scenic possibil-
Tues, the only draw back to which is the con-
ultlon OF our roads. IN many instances these
IOaus are 0nty Mt Tor heavy te3ming when
they should be in condition for smooth riding
IN light vehicles. Let it be the object OF the
Alaneua delegates to the Road Convention to
secure this sort of improvement for this
county.
That ought to be the object of all the
delegates. to secure for each county the
best possible road conditions. 1t is true
that peoples state of civilization is to
be judged by the condition of the high
ways they use. On that basis California
is doing herself great injustice. She is
pronouncing against her real merits.
The one thing to which we wish to call
the attention of our contemporaries of the
interior in the few days remaining before
the convention assemblies, is the necessity
of impressing upon the agricultural mind
that it is not a scheme to exact more
taxes, but is actually, primarily and
throughout, scheme to reduce taxation,
to lessen the cost of road maintenance,
and al the same time give the people from
three hundred to a thousand per cent.
better roads than they now have. 1t is
found that the farmers are largely oppos-
ing the convention under the false idea
that it is proposition to consult as to
means to expend more money on roads.
and make the owners of lands foot the
bill. Bless their souls the contrary is the
truth. 1t is proposed to show the farmer
by undeuiable testimony that he is pay
ing out every year from eighteen to
twenty-one cents tax on the hundred,
when he can get better returns from the
payment of about half the sum. 1t
would seem that such proposition ought
to make every farmer in the land hasten
to put his signature Of approval to the
call. Yet it is a fact that in one of the
agricultural counties Board of Super
visors of farmers has sent to the Com
mittee of Promotion this brief and sig
nifcant letter of declination: 1--WE do
not want to be represented in your con-
vention." The day will come when the
people of that county will, for very
shame, beg to have that letter destroyed
and blotted from the memory of man.