The record-union., 1893-09-09

wheeled was taken up. A motion to
tao4e and leave the matter to the Super
Vlsors was made.
Mr.. F1lcher suggested that the cOnven-
uon refer all things TO the Supervisors
ana ADJOURN, if ii had not courage to
speak lie said wide tire regulations in
fIacer had saved the people immense
sums. We should not tax ourselves to
build good roads and then tolerate ma
chimes 10 grind them out.
MIR. Barton OF Placer urged adoption
and showed how wide tire system in
Placer Keeps the roads good and the mar
row tire cuts them up. Placer has fine
natural roads; some counties have not,
but wide tires on all soils are beneficial.
Mr.. Reed OF CaIaVeraS asked ii the con-
ventiOn was to confess its complete ina
bIlity to grapple with the road question.
1t Is cowardly and shows a disposition to
dodge and refer everything to the Super
visors. He moved 10 adjourn si1,e dle.
lie was tired of this spirit of objection
from certain quarters.
MIR. Gilbert OF Fresno favored the wide
tire resolution, and held that we should
have general regulation on that subject.
Mrs. Craig read a sketch OF the New
York law, liking tire width and wheel
tracking width, and said that it is there
success.
Mr. Mccullough of San Francisco said
the convention was not trying to make q
road law, but to suggest useful ideas for
thought by the people, and present road
officials with subjects for action.
Mr.. Skillman OF Sonoma said that in
his county the narrow tire destroys every
good road Sonoma builds.
The committee resolution was unan-
imousiy adopted.
The proposition as to the necessity of
road sprinkling systems was adopted.
The proposition as to inquiry to ascer-
tain where the present road law is satis-
factory was taken up.
A Sierra delegate said the supervisor
superintendent" system was a success.
Mendocino reported the same and also
that the contract system is beneficial
Merced reported the new law an i'm
provement.
Mr.. Reynolds of Butte spoke interest
ingly on the subject of road adninistra-
ton, and said laws had less to do with
good roads than enterprise and intelli-
gence by the people.
Mr.. Neale OF Contra Costa said the new
road law was an improvement. Mr..
Greeninger Of Santa Clara said his county
has fine roads, graveled and sprinkled
and it works under the present law, trust
ing the Supervisors to do for the county
the very best, whether by contract or by
days work.
Mr.. Clifford Of Napa said that in the
last seven years Napa has built good
roads; the now law, as rule, is approved.
If the 10000 acres of Government land in
Napa were sold there'd be more good
road mileage.
The whole question was referred to the
Executive Committee.
The proposition that road management
should be taken out of local politics was
taken up.
Mir. Barton of Placer opposed it. He
believed i'll American politics and the in
dlvldual exercise of political privilege.
Mir. Filcher of Placer favored putting
the road question into politics, but to
keep it out OF jObbery. Max c road re-
form political issue and pledge parties
to it.
MIR. De Turk of '5onoma moved to table
the resolution. Carried.
The next proposition was that county
roads should be maintained at general
expense.
Mr.. Miller of Sacramento offered a sub
stitute, that was ruled out Of order. that
outlined an original road administration
system.
The proposition of the committee was
amended so as to read that trunk lines of
roads should be maintained at general
county expense, leaving road districts as
they are.
The proposition as amended created
lively debate in which De Turk, Punk
ett, Miller Of Sacramento and many others
interestingly engaged. A recess was
taken at noon until 1870 p. NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The convention reassemb bled at ]: 80 p. NJ.
The trunk line proposition was taken up
again, and the amendment that trunk
lines should be had at general expense Of
the county and road districts remain. was
approved, and the resolution as amended
was adopted.
The proposition that the contract sys-
tenn for maintenance Of county roads be
approved, was taken up.
Mr.. Filcher Of Placer held that original
building of roads can often be best done
by contract, but in maintenance the COM
plant IS, in Placer, that the contractor
for maintenance often fails to perform.
Mr.. Linscott of Santa Cruz said that in
bis county the contract system worked
admirably. They built there their best
roads by contract, and Santa Cruz has
every reason to be satisfied. But one
sent out by the day to repair roads does
not do it half the time; he loafs and does
indifferent work.
Mr.. Flanagan of Mendocino said that
if the contractor does not do his work the
Supervisors can 60 on and do the work,
and take the cost out of the contract
price.
MI ~ AllbAOSh vi 1GlAdIlld Sdlu LldG LDo
remedy for neglect by contractors is in
the hands of the Supervisors; they need
not pay except the work is done strictly
according to specifications. But the CON
tract system viii not work on all roads.
He favored leaving the law so as to give
discretion to the Supervisors to apply the
contract system when they think it best.
An amendment was moved to make the
resolution read: Contract system for
frnrflOn and
other amendment was moved to add 'in
the discretion of the Supervisors,
Mr.. Price of Colusa spoke to the first
amendment holding that by day labor
the limit of legal days labor is short, but
the farmer works from dawn to dark.
By contract it is different. He gave
instances of the loafing by day labor
workers employed by Supervisors. He
held that the contract system is the basis
of all beneficial work. If there is fault in
it, it is due to the Supervisor of the dis
trict, who has full power to compel faith
ful performance.
The two amendments were considered
and the amendments accepted by the
Committee on Resolutions and the reso-
luton adopted unanimously and with
spirit.
The proposition to erect an Executive
Committee Of seven TO be named to draft
a road law, to agitate good road matters
and to call a future convention, collect
statistics and submit the whole to that
convention was taken up. 1t was
amended to make the committee nine
instead of seven.
Mr.. Price Of Colusa pointed out what
the proposition meant, and urged such
agitation as Will lead up to results that all
so much desire. This Executive Com
mlttee should go to work at once, and put
afoot work TO accomplish that which this
convention cannot do in few brief hours.
1t Is a rnattar of rnersi stanr n1rcnrin,n n,,d