The record-union., 1893-06-23
OFFICE OF


also to the press of the State TO give the
call publicity and approval.
The document reads as follows:
OFFICE OF
The COMMITTEE OF PROMOTION.
SACRAMENTO, June 10, 1893.
To the Honorable the Board i Saper-
CfsorS OF ............... County, and to -4U
Other Organizations Indicated Herein;
The ''Good Road Agitation" that has so
interested the people of the Eastern States
in the last three years, and which has re-
suited in so much good. such beneficial
legislation and the adoption of so many
economic reforms, has doubtless had
your attention and commentator.
During the last session of the California
Legislature the subject was first given at
Iention in this State in public way.
After long consultation with many of the
most earnest and careful friends of the
State, those who feel that some consulta-
tion OF general character should now be
had to put California abreast with the
best thought and action of the day on this
subject, have resolved to call a STATE
ROAD CONVENTION to be held in Sacra-
mento at the State Capitol, on the 1th day
OF September 1893, and that the Sacra-
mento County Humane Society, which
has the honor of having first suggested
such conference, shall inaugurate the
movement by issuing the call.
The Board of Supervisors of Sacra-
mento County has unanimously approved
the movement and appropriated means to
aid the work OF issuing the call and ar
ranging for the conference, and his eX-
cellency, the Governor. has given the
movement approval and encouragement.
1t would too greatly extend this COM
munication to set forth in fullness the OBJ
vious purposes of the convention and the
good that it is believed may be accom-
plished by the Inauguration of the move
ment. We may, however, be pardoned
for here referring lbriehy to some of the
purposes of the proposed conference OF
representative citizens on the subject of
good roads and economic road construc-
tiOn and maintenance.
/. To disseminate information concern
ing the advances made in recent years in
the matter of road building and economic
methods therein. To this end il is i'll
tended to secure, if possible, the presence
at the convention of some of the most ex-
perienced and distinguished men of the
East who have made the question a
study and have borne official and other
relations to the agitation.
>. To gather data for consideration rel
ative to the cost of road construction and
road maintenance i'll California, and to
compare the same with the cost in other
States and countries under systems that
have proved more economical and be-
neticent.
8. To ascertain and consider the rela-
ton of such costs to the economy of pro-
ductiOn, and the relation they bear to
profit and loss in production of articles
the producer consumes or sells.
4. To ascertain the influence of good
and of bad roads upon the conditions and
results of rural life; upon taxation; de-
Velopment of the resources of the State;
the settling up of the State, and upon all
trade and industry.
). To consider the influence and effects
I
used IN transportation of products and
the people; the cost of feed for such ami
lnals; the cost of vehicles and their main
tenance; time consumed in travel, in
shipping and marketing; the bringing of
farm and town nearer together or the
putting of them farther apart, and the
effect of good road agitation in max ing
rural postal delivery probable.
q. 70 consider the differing conditions
relating to road construction and mainte-
nance in the several counties of this State
the question of trunk line construction
in the counties and its relation to col
lateral road lines.
Z. To consider propositions and plans of
road construction in the light of expert
ence and scientific knowledge. and what
systems, if adopted in this State, would
most conserve economy and public and
private good by reducing the time of
movement, lessening the cost of produc-
hauling capacity, conserve humanity to
draft animals, lessen wear and tear Oh
vehicles, reduce largely the cost of road
maintenance, enhance the values of prop-
erty and render rural life and possessions
more desirable.
The committee may here be permitted
TO state that at the National Farmers
Congress held at Lincoln, Neb. in No
vember last, it was announced, and ac-
cepted as reasonably accurate, that eco
nomical road improvement, in the light
of approved methods of construction.
proper materials employed, correct drain
age grading and care, would save $780,
000, 900 annually to the people of the Ma
tiOn in the transportation of products
alone, and enable 2,000,0O of the 20 OOO 900
draft animals now used to be dispensed
with. and that such animals would repre-
sent saved investment or capital amount
ing to Sl70,0O0.OO0, and in iced saving
of 81 ,000, 900 annually.
The committee is in possession of GER
titled statistics showing that in some
counties in this State from SOS. 900 to
$4,000 have been expended in the last
ten years per county in road-making and
repairing, and that not Is, and in some
cases not 10, per cent. of visible or appre-
ciable results now remain.
The Massachusetts Highway Commits
sion this year reports that the annual loss
to the people of that Commonwealt from
nance is, at the lowest, s.. .00O, 900, and that
this sum, properly expended, would in a
single year put the roads into such con-
dition as TO reduce loss by reason OF wear
and tear to a nominal sum.
The Congress of the United States has
considered this subject of such supreme
importance that at its late session it ap-
Dropriated money to enable the Depart
ment of Agriculture to investigate the
question: "W hat are the most economic
methods of road building ?''-this, with a
view of enlightening the people upon the
snbiect of saving to agricultural and COM
Inercial interests possible by the adop-
ton of improved methods of road build
ing and administration.
County Supervisors are therefore re-
ouested and urged to attend the couven-
ton of September 9th as Supervisor dele
oates, but if the entire board cannot at
fend. TO name a committee therefrom to
Tenresent il. Boards of Supervisors are
also requested TO select and name three
representative citizens of their county as